RESEARCHERS in China have engineered two new chemical compounds that deliver the pain-relieving benefits of cannabis while avoiding the high risks of addiction and tolerance typically associated with the drug.

The study, published in the journal Cell, could mark a major step forward for millions of people living with chronic pain who are searching for safer alternatives to opioids.

Although cannabis has been used medicinally for thousands of years —from ancient Rome to modern clinics — its application remains tightly limited. The key challenge, according to lead researcher Li Xiaoming, a professor and vice president at Zhejiang University, is “dissociating toxicity from efficacy.”

In other words, scientists have struggled to keep the therapeutic effects while eliminating the “poison” responsible for cognitive impairment and dependency.

The breakthrough centers on a specific protein in the brain called the cannabinoid receptor 1 (CB1). Researchers describe a receptor as a specialized “lock” on the surface of a nerve cell: When a chemical “key,” such as cannabis, fits into the lock, it triggers a signal in the brain.

Li’s team found that the CB1 receptor functions like a fork in the road, sending signals along two different pathways. One pathway mediates therapeutic effects such as pain relief, while the other drives side effects including addiction and drug tolerance.

Conventional cannabis-based drugs act as imprecise keys, activating both pathways at once. To address this, the researchers used artificial intelligence models to design “biased” compounds.

These precision-engineered molecules are designed to engage the receptor in a way that selectively activates the pain-relief pathway. Li likened the process to performing chemical “surgery” with molecular precision.

In laboratory experiments, the two new compounds proved effective against both inflammatory pain — caused by injury or swelling — and neuropathic pain, a chronic condition stemming from nerve damage. Importantly, the animals showed no signs of addictive behavior and did not develop tolerance over time.

(SD-Agencies)