Background Pruritus can be caused by numerous drugs and diseases, but the pathogenesis of pruritus is still not clearly elucidated. It has been shown that the endocannabinoid system plays an important role in regulating pruritus and influences the occurrence and development of pruritus. Objective To review home and abroad literatures relating to the regulation of endocannabinoid system on pruritus in recent years. Content Cannabinoid receptor 1 agonist reduces pruritus while its antagonist induces pruritus. Cannabinoid receptor 2 antagonist, endocannabinoids simiar compounds and fatty acid amide hydrolase indirectly inhibit pruritus. Furthermore the antipruritic effect of endocannabinoids may be partly mediated by transient receptor potential vanilloid type. Trend The endocannabinoid system could serve as antipruritic targets for different etiology of itch, but the mechanisms via which the endocannabinoid system regulate pruritus remains unclear, requiring further study and discussion.