A team of University of California at Irvine and Italian researchers, led by Daniele Piomelli of UC Irvine, identified an “escort” protein in brain cells that transports the endocannabinoid anandamide to sites within the cell where enzymes break it down, reports HealthCanal. The scientists found that blocking this protein — called FLAT — increases the potency of anandamide.

Compounds which boost anandamide’s natural abilities could form the basis of pain medications that don’t produce sedation, addiction or other central nervous system (CNS) side effects, according to previous work by the scientists. These side effects are common with existing painkillers such as opiates.