A Simple Guide to Endocannabinoids

How CBD Works With the Endocannabinoid System

Estimated reading time: 11 minutes

Endocannabinoids and the human Endocannabinoid System (ECS) are intricate and integral parts of the body that are critical for nearly all ongoing physical processes. They influence everything from memory and sleep to emotional processing, pain control, and immune responses.

But what is the Endocannabinoid System and why do it and Endocannabinoids matter? How do cannabinoids like CBD and THC interact with the system? This guide breaks down everything you need to know about the Endocannabinoid System and how cannabis affects the body.

The Endocannabinoid System Explained: How It Works

One of the primary functions of the Endocannabinoid System is to maintain homeostasis. This state of internal stability can be disrupted by outside forces, such as injury or inebriation. When something goes awry, the ECS goes to work sending signals throughout the body to relieve pain or alleviate stress.

The Endocannabinoid System doesn’t act in isolation, either. It’s constantly interacting with other messenger systems, including those affected by cannabinoids found in hemp and cannabis. Compounds like CBD, Delta 8 THC, and Delta 9 THC are known to influence activity in the system by interacting with its receptor network. Some may gently support balance and relaxation, while others can produce feelings of euphoria depending on how they bind to these receptors.

To understand how this system keeps everything in sync, it helps to look closer at its main components—endocannabinoids, the body’s own messengers; phytocannabinoids, the plant-based counterparts that can connect to the same pathways; and the molecular enzymes that keep it all in check.

What are Endocannabinoids?

Endocannabinoids are your body’s natural “tuning” system. They help your body maintain its rhythm when things try to throw it out of whack. They move through the nervous and immune systems, attaching to cannabinoid receptors to tell cells when to speed up, slow down, or relax. Imagine you skipped a meal, had a long day, or you are just dealing with a lot of stress. These molecules show up to bring everything back into harmony.

Your body makes endocannabinoids naturally as needed, and special enzymes break them down as soon as their job is done. This on-demand cycle keeps the process precise and prevents overstimulation. In simple terms, endocannabinoids help to quietly keep your body steady without you ever noticing.

When people talk about endocannabinoids, they’re usually referring to two main ones: anandamide and 2-AG.

• Anandamide gets its name from ananda, the Sanskrit word for “bliss,” giving the molecule the nickname, the Bliss Molecule. This endocannabinoid works mostly in the brain, where it helps regulate how nerve cells communicate.
• 2-AG (2-arachidonoylglycerol) is the body’s multitasker. It can be found in both the brain and immune cells, and it connects with both the CB1 and CB2 receptors in the body to help manage a variety of processes throughout the body. While anandamide handles the finer adjustments in the body, 2-AG helps to maintain the broader balance that keeps different systems in sync.

Phytocannabinoids vs Endocannabinoids

The body creates endocannabinoids on demand to keep internal systems stable, while phytocannabinoids come from plants like cannabis and Echinacea. Both connect to the CB1 and CB2 receptors in the Endocannabinoid System, but they do so in different ways.

Endocannabinoids, like anandamide and 2-AG, act quickly to break down almost as soon as they deliver their signals. They handle how cells communicate and ensure that your body maintains a steady state.

Phytocannabinoids, like CBD and THC, are similar to endocannabinoids, but they enter the body from external sources. THC reaches the same cannabinoid receptors, but it stays active for much longer, amplifying and prolonging receptor activity. CBD, on the other hand, works differently. It does not connect to either the CB1 or CB2 receptors in the body, but it does influence how the receptors respond and inhibit the production of enzymes that break down endocannabinoids in the system. Research is ongoing to determine exactly how these phytocannabinoids affect the ECS and what potential therapeutic benefits are possible.

Together, endocannabinoids and phytocannabinoids demonstrate the shared chemistry between the human body and nature. Endocannabinoids regulate from within, while phytocannabinoids can extend or adjust that natural process.

Molecular Enzymes

The Endocannabinoid System works like a finely tuned feedback loop, and molecular enzymes act as the system’s control mechanism. They make sure that endocannabinoids appear only when needed and disappear as soon as their work is done. Without these enzymes, the system would flood with constant signals, forgoing its role in maintaining balance within the body.

Two key enzymes manage this cycle:

• FAAH (Fatty Acid Amide Hydrolase):
  FAAH is the enzyme that is responsible for breaking down anandamine and related compounds. It acts kind of like “Pac-Man,” rapidly chewing up the endocannabinoid to turn off its signal.
• MAGL (Monoacylglycerol Lipase):
  MAGL is the enzyme responsible for breaking down 2-AG into glycerol and arachidonic acid once it finishes transmitting its signal through the CB1 or CB2 receptors. This swift cleanup maintains short, controlled bursts of communication within the Endocannabinoid System.

Together, FAAH and MAGL act as the ECS’s “reset button.” They ensure every endocannabinoid interaction is temporary and purpose-driven. While endocannabinoids and phytocannabinoids both interact with this enzymatic system, only endocannabinoids rely on it completely.

The body uses these enzymes to regulate its natural compounds, but cannabinoids from hemp and cannabis—like CBD, Delta 8 THC, or Delta 9 THC—can influence how FAAH or MAGL behave. This interaction is one of the many reasons plant cannabinoids can subtly shift or extend the body’s own endocannabinoid activity.

What Does the Endocannabinoid System Do?

The ECS controls communication across nearly every major physiological system in the body. It helps maintain the body’s “sweet spot,” by adjusting how cells send, receive, and interpret signals.

There are three core components of the Endocannabinoid System: endocannabinoids (the messengers), cannabinoid receptors (the receivers), and molecular enzymes (the regulators). Together, these components fine-tune how the body manages processes like stress response, energy balance, mood, and immune response.

When something interrupts the body’s natural rhythm and tries to throw you out of sync, the ECS releases endocannabinoids to bind to the CB1 and CB2 receptors. This triggers a wave of signals focused on restoring normal function. Enzymes break the endocannabinoids down as soon as their jobs are done, resetting the system for future use.

In essence, the ECS maintains communication between different parts of the body, including the brain, organs, and immune system. It supports the body’s ability to adapt and maintain balance—even when faced with constant change—by keeping cellular messaging efficient and proportional to any given stressor.

The Endocannabinoid System and Cannabis

The discovery of the Endocannabinoid System in the early 1990s actually stemmed from scientists trying to understand how THC works. Experts are still trying to completely understand the functions of the ECS, but it has been determined it plays a hefty role in sleep, mood, memory, and appetite. 

It turns out THC works by essentially hijacking the system through the CB1 and CB2 receptors. CBD, on the other hand, doesn’t even connect to the body’s cannabinoid receptors. Instead, it has the intriguing ability to boost your own endocannabinoids. CBD inhibits enzymes from breaking down endocannabinoids in the system, allowing more of them to build up.

CBD

CBD helps the Endocannabinoid System stay balanced by supporting what’s low and calming down what’s too active. If the body doesn’t make enough of its own endocannabinoids, CBD can help raise those levels. If the system becomes overstimulated, CBD can help tone it down. This ability to adjust in both directions is one reason researchers are studying how CBD supports balance in areas linked to stress, mood, and brain activity.

Many people are exploring CBD for the elderly as part of a general wellness routine. It interacts gently with the body’s natural signaling pathways, so CBD offers a potential way to support everyday comfort, relaxation, and overall well-being without the intoxicating effects associated with THC. Its versatility and potential benefits makes it appealing for those seeking a plant-based option to complement an active, mindful lifestyle.

THC

THC directly engages the ECS by binding to CB1 and CB2 receptors, just like the body’s own endocannabinoids do. When THC binds to these receptors, it amplifies signaling and often produces feelings of euphoria or altered perception. 

Because THC activates these receptors more intensely and for longer periods than natural endocannabinoids, it temporarily heightens the ECS response. Research is ongoing as to how this interaction could help shape mood, memory, and sensory experiences.

The Legal Impact of CBD on Researching Endocannabinoids

Legal shifts in the United States have played a major role in opening the door to more serious scientific research on endocannabinoids and the Endocannabinoid System. Among those changes, the 2018 Farm Bill stands out as a turning point—and more recently, high-profile advocacy has brought fresh attention to the role of CBD in elderly care and general Endocannabinoid System health.

2018 Farm Bill: The Turning Point for Endocannabinoid and CBD Research

Before 2018, cannabis—whether hemp or marijuana—was broadly regulated under the Controlled Substances Act (CSA). This made actual study of cannabinoids incredibly difficult, thanks to licensing issues, restrictions on sourcing plant material, and overly strict oversight.

The Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 (commonly called the “2018 Farm Bill”) changed that. It redefined “hemp” as any cannabis containing less than 0.3% Delta 9 THC by dry weight. Additionally, it excluded hemp from the CSA’s definition of marijuana. Because of this, hemp-derived CBD is no longer treated like a Schedule I substance by the federal government.

What this legal reclassification allowed:

1. Easy commercial cultivation of hemp nationwide.
2. The ability to transport hemp and hemp-derived cannabis products across state lines.
3. More accessible sourcing of CBD and other non-psychoactive cannabinoids for research.
4. A pathway for private and academic labs to study both the Endocannabinoid System and CBD in human populations without the same legal burden they faced with Schedule I cannabis.

In short: thanks to the 2018 Farm Bill, research into CBD and the ECS is far less legally demanding. This helps move studies out of the theory stage and into clinical trials and actual real-world data.

Modern Advocacy and Public Interest

Public interest in the Endocannabinoid System and cannabinoids like THC and CBD has only accelerated in recent years. Even national figures have helped spotlight cannabis and its connection to the ECS. For instance, a 2025 social post by President Donald Trump through an organization called the Commonwealth Project drew national attention to the idea of the potential benefits of CBD for the elderly. While this isn’t a scientific endorsement directly, it shows how public awareness of endocannabinoid research continues to grow beyond just research circles.

The combination of legal reform, expanding consumer awareness and understanding, and renewed scientific interest is transforming the way researchers study the Endocannabinoid System and its complex interaction with cannabis.

Understanding Endocannabinoids, Cannabis, and the Endocannabinoid System

The more we learn about endocannabinoids and the ECS, the clearer it becomes that this system is one of the body’s most important balancing tools. It quietly influences how we respond to stress, rest, and even joy without us realizing it.

Plant cannabinoids like CBD and THC simply tap into the same complex network of receptors as their endocannabinoid counterparts, showing just how interconnected the human body is with the cannabis plant. Changing laws and growing awareness are shifting the conversation around cannabis from small scientific communities to the center of modern wellness.

If you’re curious about exploring potential hemp-derived benefits yourself, browse CannaBuddy’s carefully curated collection of third-party tested CBD, Delta 8, Delta 9, and THCa products to learn how different cannabinoids and functional alternatives fit into your lifestyle.