In this report, we describe experiments in which cannabinoid receptor ligands were evaluated for effects on the development of a peritoneal inflammation when elicited in mice with thioglycollate broth or staphylococcus enterotoxin A. The cannabinoid receptor agonists [(−)-11-hydoxy-Δ⁸ tetrahydrocannabinol-dimethylheptyl] (HU-210) and {(R)-(+)-[2,3-dihydro-5-methyl-3-[(4-morpholinyl)methyl[pyrrolo[1,2,3-de]1,4-benzoxazin-6-yl](1-naphthalenyl) methanone} (WIN 55212-2) blocked the migration of neutrophils into the peritoneal cavity in response to these inflammatory stimuli. This effect was caused by a delay in the production of the neutrophil chemoattractants, KC and macrophage inflammatory protein-2. HU-210 and WIN 55212-2 blocked neutrophil chemokines and neutrophil migration whether administered subcutaneously (s.c.) or intracerebroventricularly (i.c.v.). Their modulatory effects on the inflammation were antagonized by centrally administered [N-(piperdin-1-yl)-5-(4-chloropheny)-1-(2,4-dichloropheny)-4-methyl-1H-pyrazole-3-carboxamide hydrochloride] (SR141716A), a selective cannabinoid CB₁ receptor antagonist. This latter observation, and the ability of the cannabinoid receptor agonists to suppress the peritoneal inflammation at relatively low doses when administered i.c.v., indicated a role for central cannabinoid CB₁ receptors in the anti-inflammatory activities of HU-210 and WIN 55212-2. The cannabinoid receptor agonists had no effect on monocyte migration elicited by thioglycollate, despite their ability to suppress monocyte chemotactic protein-1 levels in lavage fluids. The cannabinoid CB₂ receptor antagonist, {N-[(1S)-endo-1,3,3-trimethylbicyclo[2.2.1]heptan-2-yl]5-(4-choro-3 methylphenyl)-1-(4-methylbenzyl)pyrazole-3-carboxamide} (SR144528) inhibited the peritoneal inflammation in a manner analogous to that of HU-210 and WIN 55212-2 when administered i.c.v., but it did not appear to act through central cannabinoid CB₁ receptors. The present results add to the body of literature indicating that cannabinoid receptor ligands have diverse anti-inflammatory properties.