Summary: The Endocannabinoid System
The discovery of the major psychoactive ingredient in cannabis, tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC, was in 1964 by Israeli Scientist Dr. Raphael Mechoulam (Backes 17). Researchers later discovered a complex network within our bodies that respond to chemicals similar to THC, that our own bodies produce known as endocannabinoids. Closely related to the widely known Omega 3 fatty acid, endocannabinoids modulate and regulate numerous functions and systems of the body such as pain, stress, and anxiety levels. The endocannabinoid system is responsible for eliminating aversive memories within the amygdala, the part in the brain whose function regulates fear and emotional memory. A recent study demonstrated that “abnormal endocannabinoid signaling in the