Described herein are substituted 2-(azetidin-2-on-1-yl)alkanoic acids, alkanedioic acids and 2-hydroxyalkyl alkanoic acids, and 2-acyl alkanoic acids, and derivatives thereof, that are capable of modulating activity at the cannabinoid-1 (CB1) and/or cannabinoid-2 (CB2) receptor. Also described herein are methods for treating mammals in need of relief from disease states associated with and responsive to modulation of the CB1 and/or CB2 receptor activity.