The System Behind the Stigma: Understanding the Endocannabinoid System

In her book, Cannabis is Medicine, medical cannabis physician Dr. Bonni Goldstein says,

“To those who don’t ‘believe’ in cannabis as medicine, I ask ‘Do you know about the endocannabinoid system and what medical conditions are associated with its dysfunction?’ If they cannot answer this question, they are not knowledgeable enough to comment on cannabis as medicine.”

---

There’s something so powerful in Dr. Goldstein’s question. She isn’t asking for blind belief… she’s asking for understanding.

The endocannabinoid system (ECS) is a relatively recent discovery in biology. The journey started in 1964 when Raphael Mechoulam and colleagues at Hebrew University successfully isolated tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), which is the compound of cannabis that has psychoactive effects. In 1988, Saint Louis University Medical School’s Dr. Allyn Howlett and colleagues discovered the first cannabinoid receptor. They were able to trace the path of the THC compound that was isolated by Mechoulam 24 years prior.

Cannabis research has continued to show how the ECS and the plant work together to support homeostasis in the body and overall wellness. When I began to understand how deeply the ECS intertwines with our physical, mental, and even spiritual well‑being, I had a newfound sense of appreciation and trust in cannabis as a healing tool for living beings, including myself.

Let’s look at a recent study that adds to what Dr. Goldstein says about cannabis as medicine:

A 2025 review published in Current Issues in Molecular Biology examines fibromyalgia, a chronic pain/tiredness/cognitive fog condition that affects about 4 million, or 2%, of US adults. The research finds that multiple elements of the ECS — endocannabinoids themselves (like anandamide), their receptors (CB1, CB2), and the enzymes that build up or break down those messengers — show notable dysfunction in people with fibromyalgia.

The research also explains how this dysfunction correlates with more intense pain, worse fatigue, mood disturbances, and how targeting the ECS (via receptor modulation, for example) may offer new and more holistic therapeutic paths.

---

What is the endocannabinoid system? How does it support the body, mind, and spirit?

The body
The ECS is a network of receptors (like CB1 and CB2), endocannabinoid molecules (like anandamide and 2‑arachidonoylglycerol), and enzymes that synthesize and degrade these molecules. The ECS is a “far-reaching system by which our bodies learn, feel, motivate, and keep themselves in balance.” Its job is to support homeostasis by helping the body respond to stress, balance inflammation, and regulate pain perception. It also supports sleep, appetite, and mood.

When there’s inflammation in the body, ECS activity increases to help resolve it. And any disruption in that ability can leave someone vulnerable to chronic pain, sleep problems, and metabolic disorders.

Mind
Psychological and emotional health are deeply connected to the ECS. This system modulates neurotransmitters, like serotonin, dopamine, and GABA, which affect mood, anxiety, the sense of reward, and overall cognition.

Studies link ECS dysfunction with depression, anxiety, and even neurodevelopmental conditions like autism spectrum disorders.

Spirit
“Spirit” is a more elusive word, like “smoke,” ironically.

It’s often defined as our sense of meaning, connection, purpose, inner calm, or transcendence.

While scientific literature doesn’t always use that language, some of what we call spirituality aligns with what the ECS supports: stress resilience, feeling grounded, capacity for awe or connection, and the ability to regulate emotions and process difficult experiences.

When the ECS function is strong, people say they sleep well, have more ease with stress, and experience more emotional stability — all wellsprings of spiritual well‑being. Some lifestyle practices that are often thought of as “spiritual,” like meditation, mindfulness, or being in nature, have also been shown to modulate endocannabinoid levels or receptor activity.

---

Putting it all together

When the ECS is working well, it helps us feel more whole: our bodies hurt less or not at all, we sleep better, and our moods are more stable. The mind is more present and the spirit less burdened.

When the ECS is stressed and unable to do its job, the consequences ripple out: people can experience chronic pain, mood disorders, immune imbalance, and even breakdowns in our sense of meaning or connection with others and with ourselves.

Dr. Goldstein’s point is that rejecting cannabis as medicine without fully understanding the ECS is like refusing to drive a car (or criticizing those who do) because you don’t understand how the engine works.

The car gets you where you need to go, and you can safely operate it without being a mechanic. But if you dismissed cars entirely just because engines seem mysterious and complicated, you’d miss out on an accessible way to get from point A to point B.

Assessing what cannabis might do, or whether it has a place, means nothing if there’s no understanding about the biological system it works with.

In my next post, I’m sharing about my journey with cannabis and the power of using it intentionally.

Long live cannabis! The people’s God-given plant and medicine.

I hope this post was helpful. What cannabis topics would you like to learn more about?

Thank you for reading!

Disclaimer: The information shared here is for educational purposes only and is not medical advice. I am not a healthcare professional, just someone who enjoys researching cannabis and its effects on the human body. Please do your own research and consult with a qualified provider before making any health-related decisions.