Adversity is a part of life. No one reading this will be spared from the loss of a loved one. Nearly 90% of people will be involved in a life-threatening or traumatic event in their lifetime.1 The question is not how we can avoid hardship—but how we respond to it. Some gene variants influence how to respond to stress. Do we roll over and wallow, or start planning how to overcome it? One of the genes involved is the cannabinoid receptor 1 (CNR1).2 If ‘cannabinoid’ sounds familiar, you’ve made the right connection. One compound that binds to this receptor is THC, the psychoactive component of cannabis. But it does more than that—our cannabinoid receptors are important for regulating hunger, pain, mood, and memory.