At the intersection of science
and medicine, government policy, and pop culture, cannabis has prompted
society since the beginning of recorded history. And yet, there is
comparatively little replicable data on the plant, its constituents,
and their capacity to modify human physiology. Over the past decades,
several findings have pointed toward the importance of the endogenous
cannabinoid system in maintaining homeostasis, making it an important
target for various diseases. Here, we summarize the current state
of knowledge on endogenous- and plant-based cannabinoids, address
the issues related to cannabinoid-based drug discovery, and incite
efforts to utilize their polypharmacological profile toward tackling
diseases with a complex underlying pathophysiology. By fusing modern
science and technology with the empirical data that has been gathered
over centuries, we propose an outlook that could help us overcome
the dearth of innovation for new drugs and synchronously redefine
the future of drug discovery. Simultaneously, we call attention to
the startling disconnect between the scientific, regulatory, and corporate
entities that is becoming increasingly evident in this booming industry.