# Cannabinoid receptor 1

Source: https://onco.cc/targets/cnr1/  
OnCo record `cnr1` (Target). Data CC BY-NC 4.0, attribute "Data from OnCo (onco.cc)"; commercial use needs a licence.

## TL;DR

The CB1 cannabinoid receptor is how dronabinol and nabilone, synthetic cannabinoids approved for chemotherapy nausea that other drugs fail to control, act on the brain; their place is behind the 5-HT3 and NK1 antagonists.

## Summary

Cannabinoid receptor 1 is the brain receptor for THC and for the body's own endocannabinoids. Dronabinol (synthetic THC) and nabilone are approved for nausea and vomiting from chemotherapy in patients who have not responded to conventional antiemetics, and dronabinol also for appetite loss in AIDS; guidelines place them as later options after 5-HT3 antagonists, NK1 antagonists, dexamethasone and olanzapine because of dizziness, sedation and mood effects. Claims that cannabinoids shrink tumours rest on laboratory and small early studies, and no cannabinoid is approved to treat cancer itself.

## Fields

- Kind: Target
- Last checked: 2026-09-04
- Tags: chembl-gap
- Symbol: CNR1
- Class: other
- Biology: A Gi-coupled G-protein-coupled receptor, among the most abundant in the brain, that reduces neurotransmitter release from presynaptic terminals; also present in gut, fat and liver.
- Where found: Brain, including the emetic circuitry of the brainstem; Peripheral tissues and some tumour cells

## Sources

- Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabinoid_receptor_1
- UniProt P21554: CNR1: https://www.uniprot.org/uniprotkb/P21554/entry
- HGNC:2159 CNR1: https://www.genenames.org/data/gene-symbol-report/#!/hgnc_id/HGNC:2159
- ChEMBL target CHEMBL218: https://www.ebi.ac.uk/chembl/explore/target/CHEMBL218

## Connected records

- targets: [5-HT3 receptor (HTR3A)](https://onco.cc/targets/htr3a/), [NK1 receptor (TACR1)](https://onco.cc/targets/tacr1/)

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JSON: https://onco.cc/api/v1/entities/cnr1.json