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Can Cannabinoids Unlock a Better Understanding of Our Bodies and Brains?

Scientists are digging into the workings of the endogenous cannabinoid system — and finding it helps regulate a multitude of biological functions.

ByGabe Allen
Credit: Tinnakorn jorruang/Shutterstock

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The oft-quoted adage to never “get high on your own supply” takes on new meaning in light of the endogenous cannabinoid system (ECS). As it turns out, you don't need THC, CBD or any other drug to feel its effects.

One namesake of the ECS is the plant Cannabis sativa, more commonly known as marijuana — the first known cannabinoids were discovered in cannabis. The ECS's other namesake is the Greek prefix endon, meaning "within." When neuroscientists began to investigate the chemical effects of marijuana, they stumbled upon a natural system that is present in all humans, regardless of their propensity for pot smoking. In fact, your body rewards you with a flood of endogenous cannabinoids every time you get vigorous exercise.

“There’s very clear evidence that running produces more endogenous cannabinoids [than marijuana],” says Hui-Chen Lu, professor of psychological and brain sciences and director of the Gill Center for ...

  • Gabe Allen

    Gabe Allen is a Colorado-based freelance journalist focused on science and the environment. He is a 2023 reporting fellow with the Pulitzer Center and a current master's student at the University of Colorado Center for Environmental Journalism. His byline has appeared in Discover Magazine, Astronomy Magazine, Planet Forward, The Colorado Sun, Wyofile and the Jackson Hole News&Guide.

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