This Notice of Special Interest (NOSI) is being issued by the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH) with participation from multiple NIH Institutes, Centers, and Offices (ICOs). This NOSI aims to promote mechanistic research of therapeutic benefits of minor cannabinoids and terpenes in the cannabis plant. Minor cannabinoids are defined as any and all cannabinoids from the cannabis plant other than Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ9-THC). Cannabinoids of particular interest include the following: Δ8-THC, Cannabidiol (CBD), Cannabigerol (CBG), Cannabinol (CBN), Cannabichromene (CBC), cannabichromevarin (CBDV), tetrahydrocannabivarin (THCV), Tetrahydrocannabivarin acid (THCVA), tetrahydrocannabinolic acid (THCA), carmagerol, cannabicitran, sesquicannabigerol. Terpenes of particular interest include the following: Myrcene, ß-caryophyllene, Limonene, α -terpineol, Linalool, α-phellandrene, α-pinene, ß-pinene, β-terpinene, and α-humulene. This NOSI intends to support highly innovative basic and/or mechanistic studies in appropriate model organisms and/or human subjects aiming to investigate the impact of minor cannabinoids and terpenes on mechanisms underlying their therapeutic effects. Preclinical studies of combinations of minor cannabinoids with terpenes or other natural products that may enhance their therapeutic benefits and/or abate unwanted effects are encouraged.
The mechanisms and processes underlying potential contribution of minor cannabinoids and terpenes to symptoms relief and functional restoration may be very broad encompassing different pathological conditions and diseases. This NOSI encourages interdisciplinary collaborations among experts from multiple fields, such as pharmacologists, chemists, physicists, physiologists, neuroscientists, psychologists, endocrinologists, immunologists, geneticists, behavioral scientists, clinicians, or others in relevant areas of inquiry.