A study found that the body's naturally occurring cannabinoids were crucial in stress-induced pain relief such as when a person is seriously injured.

Researchers discovered a compound that blocks the breakdown of the cannabinoid 2-AG, and it is that blocking compound that could be used in treatments.

May Bypass Medical Marijuana Arguments

The work may lead to the development of new drug therapies that "will completely bypass the current arguments over the use of medical marijuana," a report in the journal Nature said.

It made it possible to design a pill with the same pain-relieving effects as smoked marijuana, yet would reduce psychoactive side effects and not have the same 'political baggage' as the drug.

Scientists at the University of Georgia and the University of California, Irvine, took part in the study.

Body's Natural Pain Regulation

Andrea Hohmann, one of the researchers and authors of the report, said: "This is the first time anyone has shown that one of the body's naturally occurring cannabinoids, known as 2-AG, has anything to do with pain regulation under natural conditions."

Her co- author, Daniele Piomelli, discovered the compound that blocks the breakdown of 2-AG