19. Endocannabinoid System Deep Dive with Mauro Maccarrone, PhD, MS

Our guest in this episode is Dr. Mauro Maccarrone. Mauro is a pioneer in endocannabinoid research. In 1997, his team identified the receptor targets for the first two endocannabinoids that were discovered by Professor Raphael Mechoulam earlier in the decade: anandamide and 2-AG. Since then, the endocannabinoid system has been the focus of his research. At CannMed 2021 he will present “The Complex Endocannabinoid System and the Challenge of Developing Selective Drugs towards its Distinct Elements”. Dr. Maccarrone’s understanding of the ECS is exceptional and I really enjoyed picking his brain on some of the topics that have come up in conversations with other podcast guests. Topics discussed include: - The technical challenges that prevented researchers from understanding the endocannabinoid system until the early 90s - How the discovery of the endocannabinoid system changed medical research and drug development - The difference between endocannabinoids and phytocannabinoids - The large number of enzymes involved in synthesizing and cleaving each endocannabinoid and how blocking or enhancing those enzymes can affect the concentration of endocannabinoids in a person’s body - How endocannabinoids work together to create an entourage effect - How an increased level of endocannabinoids can help you forget a painful experience like childbirth or a difficult run. - Why researchers need to agree on a standardized formulation of cannabinoids to use for research Thanks to our Sponsor: Cannabis Science and Technology Cannabis Science and Technology focuses on educating the legal cannabis industry about the science and technology of analytical testing, quality control/assurance, extraction, cultivation, and processing/manufacturing. In October Cannabis Science & Technology launched a new brand, Cannabis Patient Care, which is an educational resource for patients, doctors, nurses, pharmacists, and caregivers on the latest research, benefits, and treatment options cannabis provides for a variety of illnesses. Also check out The Hemp Coffee Exchange and use the promo code “drinkhemp” to get 10% off your purchase. Additional Resources: - CannMed Community Facebook Group (https://www.facebook.com/groups/1436733683204493) - Endocannabinoid signaling at the periphery: 50 years after THC (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4420685/) - PubMed archive of publications featuring Dr. Maccarrone (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/?term=Mauro+Maccarrone)