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Cannabidiol is a major non-intoxicating Cannabis compound that is prescribed for the treatment of seizures in children with rare treatment-resistant epilepsy, and has been suggested to have extensive therapeutic potential including in the cardiovascular system. However, the mechanisms underlying the cardiovascular effects of cannabidiol remain elusive. Therefore the goal of this project was to further the understanding of the cardiovascular effects of cannabidiol and the interaction of cannabidiol with the cannabinoid receptors. More specifically, the project aimed to examine the local vascular and haemodynamic effects of cannabidiol, and the potential mechanisms involved in cannabidiol-specific cardiovascular effects. This study also aimed to pharmacologically characterise the cannabinoid receptor type 1 (CB1) activity of cannabidiol using the rat vas deferens bioassay. As previous studies using the isolated vas deferens bioassay have been performed in modified physiological salt solution (PSS) without Mg2+, this study sought to standardise the assay by examining the effect of varying Mg2+ concentrations on neurotransmitter-induced contractions in the vas deferens. To examine the vascular effects of cannabidiol, wire myography was used to quantify clinically used concentrations of cannabidiol (0.3-3 uM) on the effects of various contractile agents in rat isolated small resistance arteries. The effects of cannabidiol in small resistance arteries were compared with larger conduit arteries, given the morphological and functional differences between different artery types. The potential vascular mechanisms of action of cannabidiol in small resistance arteries were further investigated by pretreating arteries with various inhibitors prior to the treatment with cannabidiol and subsequent contractions. The vascular actions of cannabidiol were further compared with its actions on the contraction of various isolated non-vascular tissues – bronchial, urogenital, cardiac and