Metabolically labile cannabinoid esters: a 'soft drug' approach for the development of cannabinoid-based therapeutic drugs.

Biphenylic ester derivatives, designed by using a 'soft-drug' approach, proved to possess good binding properties toward cannabinoid CB(1) and CB(2) receptors and, at the same time, their metabolically labile ester portion would promote a rapid systemic inactivation. This may constitute a possible solution to the psychotropic side effects encountered when cannabinoids are therapeutically employed as local analgesic or antiglaucoma agents.