Abstract: The endocannabinoid transporter and FAAH are sites of modulation that allow pharmacological enhancement of protective endocannabinergic signals. Selective inhibitors of the transporter and inhibitors of FAAH caused additive augmentation of endogenous signaling events mediated by the cannabinoid CB1 receptor. Disruption of such signals has been shown to prevent neuronal maintenance processes and increase vulnerability to brain damage. Here, blocking endocannabinoid inactivation enhanced cannabinergic activity and ameliorated cellular disturbances associated with excitotoxicity. Modulating the endocannabinoid system in this way also prevented excitotoxic behavioral abnormalities including memory impairment. Collectively, these results indicate that increasing endocannabinoid responses by inhibiting the endocannabinoid transported and/or the inhibiting FAAH leads to molecular, cellular, and functional protection against excitotoxic insults like stroke and traumatic brain injury.