Now accepting Telehealth appointments. Schedule a virtual visit.
Cannabis has been used for centuries for its medicinal properties, but modern science has revealed why it works — and it all comes down to the way plant-derived cannabinoids interact with our brain’s chemical messengers, called neurotransmitters.
By understanding how phytocannabinoids from the cannabis plant influence our body’s own signaling system, patients and physicians can better appreciate how medical cannabis may provide relief for a wide range of clinical conditions.
In the early 1990s, researchers discovered that humans (and most animals) have an endocannabinoid system (ECS) — a network of receptors, enzymes, and naturally produced cannabinoids (endocannabinoids) that help maintain homeostasis, or balance, in the body.
The ECS influences key processes, including:
Mood and emotional regulation
Pain perception
Sleep-wake cycles
Appetite and digestion
Immune system activity
The two main ECS receptors are:
CB1 receptors – Found mostly in the brain and central nervous system, influencing mood, memory, pain, and coordination.
CB2 receptors – Found primarily in the immune system, helping regulate inflammation and immune response.
Neurotransmitters are chemicals that transmit signals between nerve cells. Some of the most important ones related to cannabis’s effects include:
Dopamine – Involved in reward, pleasure, and motivation.
Serotonin – Regulates mood, anxiety, and well-being.
GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid) – A calming neurotransmitter that helps reduce overactive nerve firing.
Glutamate – Supports learning and memory, but can also contribute to pain signaling if overactive.
The ECS can influence these neurotransmitters by either boosting or dampening their activity — which is where cannabis comes in.
Phytocannabinoids are cannabinoids produced by the cannabis plant. The most well-known are:
THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) – Binds strongly to CB1 receptors in the brain, influencing mood, pain perception, appetite, and more.
CBD (cannabidiol) – Does not bind strongly to CB1 or CB2, but modulates receptor activity and indirectly affects neurotransmitter function.
CBG, CBN, CBC – Less common cannabinoids with emerging research on their therapeutic roles.
When phytocannabinoids enter the body, they interact with the ECS, which in turn affects neurotransmitter release. This can lead to therapeutic effects such as:
Pain Relief – THC and CBD can reduce glutamate release in pain pathways while increasing dopamine to improve mood and resilience.
Anxiety Reduction – CBD increases serotonin signaling and enhances GABA’s calming effects.
Neuroprotection – Certain cannabinoids help prevent excessive glutamate release, which can protect brain cells from damage.
Improved Sleep – THC can shorten the time it takes to fall asleep, while CBD may improve REM sleep cycles.
Chronic pain and neuropathy – Reduced overactive nerve firing and inflammation.
Anxiety disorders – Modulation of serotonin and GABA pathways.
Multiple sclerosis – Reduced muscle spasticity via CB1 receptor activation.
PTSD – Regulation of fear and memory processing through ECS and neurotransmitter balance.
Epilepsy – CBD reduces hyperactive neuronal firing by influencing GABA and glutamate activity.
Medical cannabis works because it speaks the same biochemical language as our body’s own endocannabinoids. By influencing neurotransmitters like dopamine, serotonin, GABA, and glutamate, phytocannabinoids can help restore balance in systems disrupted by disease or injury.
For patients, this means a natural tool that works with the body’s own chemistry — and for physicians, it offers a scientifically grounded treatment option that can complement traditional therapies.
If you’re exploring whether medical cannabis could help you or your patients, understanding the link between neurotransmitters and phytocannabinoids is the first step toward informed, effective care.
