We investigate the endocannabinoid system and the effect of active principles of the plant Cannabis sp. on physiopathological processes involving the central nervous system. To this end, the synaptic terminal and the nuclear fraction of the rat cerebral cortex, as well as the photoreceptor cell of the bovine retina, are employed as central nervous system (CNS) models. The models of neurodegeneration investigated include ageing, injury induced by beta-amyloid peptide and high and prolonged light intensity.