Cannabis and the Endocannabinoid System | Chip Talks Health

Chip Paul:
Hello everyone, and welcome to another episode of Chip Talks Health. Today, we’re going to talk about cannabis. It’s been a while since we covered this subject, and whether you’re a supporter or not, the points we’ll discuss are important—not just about cannabis, but about all natural products.

Natural products are something the FDA and pharmaceutical industry don’t really want you to know much about. We don’t have a strong mechanism for proving them as helpful for your health. The FDA has a drug development pathway for natural products, but out of the thousands of submissions, only two have ever been approved.

Remember, the FDA is more than 50% funded by the pharmaceutical industry. That’s a huge conflict of interest when it comes to evaluating natural substances like cannabis—or even kratom.

Kratom is a great example. It’s helped thousands of people transition off opioids and move into a more normal life. Does it need more study? Absolutely. Does it carry some risks? Yes. But compared to fentanyl or most opioids, it’s far safer. Kratom illustrates the larger point—natural products often don’t get a fair evaluation.

So today, I want to use cannabis as the framework to talk about natural products in general, because the issues and conclusions are similar.

A Historical Perspective

Cannabis has been with humanity for a very long time—dating back to ancient Egypt and China. In fact, before the written word in China, there was cannabis. The Chinese called it “ma,” and it was such a central part of their culture that one of the first written characters in their language represents cannabis.

Now, I’ll use the terms “cannabis,” “marijuana,” and “hemp” interchangeably, but let’s clarify.

• Cannabis is the plant.

• If it has less than 0.3% THC, the law calls it hemp.

• If it has more than 0.3% THC, the law calls it marijuana.

That’s the only difference: the amount of THC. From a growing and testing standpoint, there is no difference between hemp and marijuana—it’s simply a legal classification.

Cannabis and Politics

Throughout my life, cannabis has been a political football. Since the 1970s, Democrats have often embraced legalization as part of their platforms. Yet the only major federal action came under Donald Trump, with the 2018 Farm Bill, which legalized hemp.

But right after that, the FDA stepped in. They had just approved Epidiolex (a CBD-derived drug) and declared that CBD products could not be freely sold. Companies like Coke and Pepsi were ready to put CBD drinks on shelves nationwide, but FDA action shut that down.

So, while Congress and the President opened a door with hemp, the FDA effectively closed it—again, favoring pharmaceutical interests.

Rescheduling Cannabis

Where are we now?

Cannabis remains a Schedule 1 drug, alongside heroin. That classification says it has no medical value, no research value, and is dangerous. Which is ridiculous—cannabis has been used safely for thousands of years and has never caused a fatal overdose.

Because it’s Schedule 1, researchers face enormous barriers to study it. Funding is limited, approvals are hard to get, and the U.S. has even outsourced much of its cannabis research to Israel.

The Biden administration attempted to move cannabis to Schedule 3 in 2024, but that effort stalled. Trump has indicated he may pick it back up and push rescheduling forward.

If cannabis moves to Schedule 3, it would be treated more like ketamine. That means it’s considered to have medical potential and research value, but still under regulation. It’s not perfect—but it’s a major step forward.

Why This Matters

Rescheduling would allow more research and create a path toward eventual legalization or descheduling. And we need that, because cannabis is more than just a recreational drug—it’s an agricultural product, a wellness tool, and a potential medical ally.

Legalization is where we’re headed. But until then, uncertainty in the industry remains. In Oklahoma, for example, we have thousands of licenses, jobs, and billions invested. Yet at any moment, the federal government could enforce the ban. That’s why rescheduling is such a critical step.

The FDA Problem

The FDA is structurally tied to pharmaceuticals, which makes it difficult for natural products like cannabis to be fairly evaluated. What we really need is a new division under HHS dedicated to natural products—something separate from the pharma-heavy FDA.

This wouldn’t just benefit cannabis, but other natural substances like kratom, plant extracts, and botanicals that show promise for health.

Wrapping Up

Cannabis is the first major test case in how the U.S. will handle natural products. It’s a waypoint—a signpost for what’s to come with many other plant-based therapies.

We must be watchful. We must demand quality, transparency, and science-based regulation. And we must ensure that natural products are given the fair evaluation they deserve.

This is an important topic, and one I’ve spent years working on—from writing laws to consulting with candidates on cannabis policy. If you’d like me to cover more on cannabis or natural products, leave a comment or reach out.

Thanks for tuning in to Chip Talks Health. I’ll see you next week for another exciting episode.

Because not all cannabis products are created equal. Over-commercialization, lack of standardized testing, and poor labeling mean some products may be unsafe or ineffective. Being watchful means checking sourcing, testing, and formulation before use.

They’re all the same plant. The legal difference comes down to THC content:

• Hemp: cannabis with ≤0.3% THC

• Marijuana: cannabis with >0.3% THC

• Cannabis: the plant in general

Cannabis interacts with the endocannabinoid system (ECS)—a regulatory system that helps maintain balance in mood, sleep, pain, inflammation, and more. Cannabinoids like THC and CBD mimic or influence your body’s natural compounds.

Cannabis has a long history of safe use and no recorded fatal overdoses. However, misuse (like heavy daily use) can create dependency, dull motivation, or mask underlying health issues. Quality and dosage matter.

Currently, cannabis is a Schedule 1 drug—classified alongside heroin as having “no medical value.” Moving it to Schedule 3 would acknowledge medical potential, allow research, and reduce barriers for study. It’s a crucial step toward eventual legalization or descheduling.

The FDA is heavily influenced by pharmaceutical funding, which creates conflicts of interest. As a result, natural products often face unfair hurdles in approval and regulation. Chip recommends creating a new division under HHS dedicated to natural products.

Oklahoma Responsible Cannabis Action (ORCA) is an advocacy group pushing for safe, tested, and fairly regulated cannabis. They educate lawmakers, protect small growers, and ensure cannabis policy serves people—not just big corporations.

The ECS responds to more than just cannabis. Sleep, stress management, healthy food, movement, and supplements (like TrueMedX Gut Restore or Metabolic Balance Drops) all support ECS balance naturally.

Chip offers a free educational resource: the ECS for Dummies eBook, available here: Download Now. Or watch on youtube: Medical Marijuana