Given the remarkable cognitive and neuropsychiatric impairments linked to cannabis use, most of the anatomical and functional data on the endocannabinoid (ECB) system has been gathered from higher brain regions like the prefrontal cortex, leaving aside structures that integrate the sensory systems. However, considering the conservation of cortical organization across areas and species, studying the latter would not only impact the understanding of the perceptual effects of cannabinoids, but potentially provide insights into the neural circuits involved in more complex behaviours.To this end, we used DAB immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence to analyze and compare the distribution of the CB1 receptor and the FAAH enzyme across the striate and extrastriate cortices (V1,V2,V4,V5) of the vervet monkey and their relationship with key excitatory and inhibitory elements of the cortical microcircuit.The laminar distribution of CB1R and FAAH was characterized by moderate to dense labeling of the extragranular layers and weak labeling of layer 4. At the cellular level, CB1R and FAAH showed a complementary distribution. CB1R mainly found in axons, whose somatic origin was identified (at least partially) in cholecystokinin-expressing interneurons. These axons often surrounded pyramidal cells and parvalbumin-positive interneurons, which expressed FAAH in their somas and proximal dendrites.Together with the data from other mammal species and brain areas, these results suggest some degree of modularity in the cortical expression of the ECB proteins at the anatomical level. The visual system could, therefore, provide an experimental model to test the effects of cannabinoids on brain functioning and behaviour.