The oft-quoted adage to never “get high on your own supply” takes on new meaning in light of the endogenous cannabinoid system (ECS). As it turns out, you don't need THC, CBD or any other drug to feel its effects.
One namesake of the ECS is the plant Cannabis sativa, more commonly known as marijuana — the first known cannabinoids were discovered in cannabis. The ECS's other namesake is the Greek prefix endon, meaning "within." When neuroscientists began to investigate the chemical effects of marijuana, they stumbled upon a natural system that is present in all humans, regardless of their propensity for pot smoking. In fact, your body rewards you with a flood of endogenous cannabinoids every time you get vigorous exercise.
“There’s very clear evidence that running produces more endogenous cannabinoids [than marijuana],” says Hui-Chen Lu, professor of psychological and brain sciences and director of the Gill Center for Neuroscience at Indiana University.
