PSYCHIATRIC DRUG SHOWS PROMISE

University of California, Irvine, researchers said Monday that they've
created a marijuana-like chemical to treat psychiatric disorders.

The brain naturally creates marijuana-like anandamide to block the
production of dopamine - a suspected culprit in schizophrenia and
Tourette's syndrome. UCI researchers created an anandamide analogue
that has a similar affect on dopamine, said UCI pharmacology professor
Daniele Piomelli.

The drug has been tested on rats and is probably a long way from human
consumption, but Piomelli hopes it will eventually be an alternative
to current sedating dopamine blockers on the market.