A new discovery about the endocannabinoid system is changing what we know about brain communication.

Since the early 1990s, we've known that our bodies produce substances that closely resemble the active ingredients of cannabis. These so-called endocannabinoids are an essential part of the endocannabinoid system —the internal regulatory network involved in processes such as mood, sleep, appetite, pain perception, and stress recovery.

But although scientists have known for decades that these substances exist, one major mystery remained unsolved:
How do these endogenous cannabis substances move through our brain?

New research from Manon Boot and her team is finally changing that — and the results are downright fascinating.

Your brain makes its own cannabis

Endocannabinoids are natural messenger substances that your body produces itself. The best-known are anandamide (named after the Sanskrit word ananda , meaning "bliss") and 2-AG ( 2-arachidonoylglycerol ).

These substances allow nerve cells to "talk" to each other through special receptors (such as CB1 and CB2). This helps your body maintain balance—also known as homeostasis .

You can compare it to an internal communication system that is continuously adjusted:
When you experience stress, pain or sleep poorly, the endocannabinoid system tries to restore that balance.

The surprising transport: fatty vesicles

Until recently, scientists assumed that endocannabinoids, like dopamine or serotonin, floated freely between brain cells . Because 2-AG is a fatty substance, it was thought that it could easily move through the cell wall.

But the new research shows something completely different.
Boot and her team discovered that 2-AG doesn't just travel freely through the brain , but is packaged in tiny fatty vesicles — microscopic spheres that act as mini-taxis for this natural cannabis chemical.

“It is as if the message is not whispered directly, but first neatly placed in an envelope,” says chemist Mario van der Stelt, co-researcher on the project.

A groundbreaking discovery, because it shows that our brain uses a previously unknown form of communication.

This is how it was discovered

The research team developed a special biosensor that allowed them to monitor in real time when 2-AG is released in the brain.
Thanks to this technology, they saw that 2-AG did not appear everywhere at once, but in specific places – exactly where the small fat vesicles were active.

On further analysis, they found that each vesicle contained an average of about 2,000 molecules of 2-AG .
When they subsequently blocked the formation of these vesicles, the release of 2-AG also decreased significantly.

The evidence was compelling: without fat vesicles, no endocannabinoid transport.

Why this matters so much

This discovery isn't just a fun fact. It changes our understanding of how brain cells communicate with each other —and opens up new avenues for medical applications.

We already know that the endocannabinoid system plays a role in pain relief, anxiety, mood and memory.
Now that we understand how substances like 2-AG move through the brain, researchers can look for targeted ways to influence this process.

That means:

• New natural treatments for pain, anxiety or stress.

• More targeted therapies for neurological disorders.

• And possibly even a better understanding of how CBD from the cannabis plant supports this body's own system.

What this means for natural balance

At CBD & Herb, we closely follow these kinds of discoveries — not just because they are scientifically interesting, but because they directly relate to what we consider important:
supporting the natural balance of body and mind.

CBD Spain 's CBD oil, developed by Peter Vermeul , closely follows this principle. By carefully working with all-natural extracts that gently stimulate the endocannabinoid system, CBD helps restore that inner balance.

The science behind this process — such as that of Manon Boot — is helping us increasingly understand why and how CBD works .

Want to know more?

Curious about the full details of this research and the deeper workings of the endocannabinoid system?
Then read the extensive article by Peter Vermeul:

• Mystery Unraveled, Endocannabinoid Travel in Fatty Vesicles Through the Brain - pdf NL
• Mystery unraveled, Endocannabinoids travels in Fatty Vesicles Through the Brain - pdf EN

Discover how this discovery bridges the gap between modern neuroscience and the natural power of CBD.