Including endocannabinology in the university curriculum is urgent

Endocannabinology, the study of the endocannabinoid system (ECS), has been gaining prominence in the field of medicine due to its importance in the homeostatic regulation of the human body. Despite its discovery in the 1990s, this area of knowledge has not yet been comprehensively integrated into university curricula. The inclusion of this topic in undergraduate courses is urgent and essential for the training of healthcare professionals better prepared to deal with the complexities of the human body.

This issue will be one of the main topics discussed at the Brazilian Medical Congress of Endocannabinology (CBCann) 2024, which will take place on September 14 at the WTC Events Center in São Paulo. The event will feature renowned experts, such as Dr. Ana Houni, who emphasizes the need to incorporate the study of the ECS into the training of future physicians.  

"The ECS has been described for a long time, but it is still not part of university curricula. It is a system for regulating the body's homeostasis, influencing all other systems: cardiac, endocrine, neurological, etc. Therefore, it is a fundamental subject to be taught to every future physician. It makes no sense that after 30 years of its discovery and with the possibility of modulation by phytocannabinoids, the subject is not being taught in colleges," says Houni.

CBCann 2024 will offer a unique learning opportunity, including a lecture by Dr. Allyn Howlett, responsible for the discovery of the CB1 receptor, one of the fundamental components of the ECS. Participation in the event will allow future healthcare professionals a first contact with this fascinating area of knowledge, essential for a more integrated and efficient medical practice.  

The inclusion of endocannabinology in curricula would not only broaden the education of physicians but also contribute to advances in preventive and therapeutic medicine, benefiting society as a whole.  

Learn more about CBCann here: