To evaluate the functional relevance of decreased endocannabinoid release and upregulation of cannabinoid receptors in human chronic pancreatitis, CB1 and CB2 receptors were blocked on pancreatic stellate cells (the major contributors of extracellular matrix protein production; all antagonist results from three independently performed experiments) which had been isolated from human chronic pancreatitis tissues. The gene discussed is CNR1; the disease is chronic pancreatitis.