title: Cannabis and alcohol--a close friendship.
abstract: Cannabinoids and alcohol activate the same reward pathways, and the cannabinoid CB(1) receptor system plays an important role in regulating the positive reinforcing properties of alcohol. Indeed, both cannabinoids and alcohol cause the release of dopamine in the nucleus accumbens. Recent research suggests that ethanol preference, which is dependent on CB(1) receptors, is higher in young mice than in old mice, and higher in female mice than in male mice.
authors.affiliation: Hebrew University Medical Faculty, Pharmacy School Department of Medicinal Chemistry and Natural Products, Jerusalem 91120, Israel. Mechou@cc.huji.ac.il
authors.forename: Raphael
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Mechoulam
authors.forename: Linda
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Parker
mesh_terms: D000375:Aging / Q000523:psychology; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000378:metabolism / Q000523:psychology; D000818:Animals; D063385:Cannabinoid Receptor Modulators; D002186:Cannabinoids / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002490:Central Nervous System / Q000187:drug effects; D000431:Ethanol / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005231:Fatty Acids, Unsaturated / Q000378:metabolism; D005247:Feeding Behavior / Q000502:physiology; D051379:Mice; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D043882:Receptors, Cannabinoid; D011955:Receptors, Drug / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics; D012201:Reward; D012737:Sex Factors
chemical_list: D063385:Cannabinoid Receptor Modulators; D002186:Cannabinoids; D005231:Fatty Acids, Unsaturated; D043882:Receptors, Cannabinoid; D011955:Receptors, Drug; D000431:Ethanol