(-)-Trans-Δ9-Tetrahydrocannabinol-Like Discriminative-Stimulus Effects of Gabapentin in Cannabis Users.

A recent study by Dr. Joshua Lile and his colleagues demonstrated the capability of gabapentin to produce marijuana-like effects in humans. The finding is unexpected since the primary binding site of gabapentin is not thought to be any of the cannabinoid receptor subtypes. Gabapentin (Neurontin®) (Figure 1) is an FDA-approved medication for the treatment of epilepsy and neuropathic pain and several cases of its off-label use are also known. Several case reports have indicated gabapentin misuse/abuse [1-4] but the in vivo pharmacology and abuse potential of gabapentin have not yet been directly characterized. Thus, there is a clear need to characterize the in vivo pharmacology of gabapentin including its abuse potential.