Scientists create detailed 3D image of brain’s marijuana center

Scientists have successfully created a new, detailed, 3D image of the receptor in the human brain that makes marijuana smokers feel "high," a new study published in the journal Cell claims.

The detailed 3D image shows how molecules like THC, a key psychoactive ingredient in marijuana, bind to this receptor that is located in the surface of nerve cells.

The new map, which provides scientists with a clear picture of the receptor, is expected to help researchers determine why medications designed to mimic marijuana's medicinal properties without the "high" effect may cause side effects.

Co-author Zhi-jie Liu, a professor of molecular structural biology at China's ShanghaiTech University, said they needed to understand how marijuana works in a person's body because it contains some compounds that can be dangerous.

Speaking on the topic, Liiu said, "We need to understand how marijuana works in our bodies. By doing both the basic science and understanding how this receptor works, we can then use it to help people in the future."

The new model of the marijuana receptor could also be helpful in understanding how recreational drugs called synthetic cannabinoids affect people's health. Synthetic cannabinoids' harmful effects have become a major health issue in the U. S., where more and more users of these synthetic compounds are visiting emergency rooms.