“Heroin (diamorphine) is a highly addictive opioid drug synthesized from morphine. The use of heroin and incidence of heroin associated overdose death has increased sharply in the US.

Heroin is primarily metabolized via deacetylation (hydrolysis) forming the active metabolites 6-monoacetylmorphine (6-MAM) and morphine. A diminution in heroin hydrolysis is likely to cause higher drug effects and toxicities.

In this study, we sought to determine the contribution of the major hepatic hydrolase carboxylesterase 1 (CES1) to heroin metabolism in the liver as well as the potential influence of one of its known genetic variants, G143E (rs71647871).

Furthermore, given the potential therapeutic application of cannabidiol (CBD) for heroin addiction and the frequent co-abuse of cannabis and heroin, we also assessed the effects of CBD on heroin metabolism.

CBD exhibited potent in vitro inhibition toward both heroin and 6-MAM hydrolysis, which may be of potential clinical relevance.”

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/31837295

“Cannabidiol is a potent in vitro inhibitor of the two-step hydrolysis of heroin.”

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0009279719317259?via%3Dihub