Surprisingly, little follow up work has been done to address the potential utility of cannabinoids in the treatment of withdrawal symptoms. Considering the hyperphagic and sleep-inducing effects of cannabinoids (Dewey, 1986), it is possible that partial or indirect CB1 agonists may have utility for treatment of withdrawal symptoms, but the efficacy of these compounds must of course be weighed against their abuse liability. Furthermore, many alcohol dependent patients are at least regular users of cannabis if they do not qualify for comorbid CUDs, and the potential therapeutic benefit of cannabinoids on ethanol withdrawal may suggest a role for self-medication in the perpetuation of their CUD.
