Use of a CB1 receptor antagonist and/or inverse agonist, preferably rimonabant, for the preparation of drugs useful for increasing motor neuron excitability in the cerebral cortex and/or in the brain stem and/or at the spinal level, as well as a method for increasing motor neuron excitability through the administration of a CB1 antagonist/ inverse agonist receptors, and to the use of a pharmaceutical composition which comprises a CB1 receptor antagonist and/or inverse agonist, preferably rimonabant, for increasing motor neuron excitability in the cerebral cortex and/or in the brain stem and/or at the spinal level.