Methods, formulations and uses of cannabichromene for opioid replacement

Abstract

A method of opioid replacement is described which involves modulating the expression of dopaminergic genes (such as DRD2), as indicative of substance use disorders in individuals utilizing opioids and desirous of opioid replacement. Opioid replacement can involve a decrease in opioid seeking behavior of the subject, who may require pain management. A cannabinoid formulation is described comprising primarily cannabichromene (CBC) together with an excipient. A method is described for detecting the correlation between CBC treatment and downregulation of biomarkers of DRD2 gene expression. An effective non-psychoactive pain management therapy for opioid replacement is provided, as validated based on the gene expression profile of patients, where patient response to cannabichromene treatment can be predicted by such biomarkers. Such a therapy has the potential to reverse the transcriptional profile of DRD2 through tapering of opioid-induced upregulation, and/or through the potential downregulation of DRD2 expression.

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