Scientists capture crystal structures of cannabinoid receptor in action

Until now, scientists only had crystal structures of the human cannabinoid receptor, CB₁ in its inactive, antagonist-bound form, but a new study has obtained crystal structures of CB₁ in its active state. CB₁ is the primary target of delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the psychoactive compound in cannabis. The findings highlight how cannabinoids trigger their effects and provide a framework for designing new medicines that act more selectively on this drug target.