A (Very) Brief History of Cannabis

Cannabis has been used for its medicinal properties dating back thousands of years from the ancient Egyptians and Romans to Queen Victoria. The stigma surrounding cannabis has limited the amount of research and created a serious misunderstanding of the plant and its different properties. Due to prohibition in the early 20th century, cannabis made a jump from being one of America’s largest cash crops to a dangerous drug associated with crazed users. Independent researchers have since learned of cannabis’ many benefits through various trials with patients dealing with a wide range of conditions. This has given the medical community and the rest of the world insight into the healing properties of this seemingly magical herb. 

Dr. Raphael Mechoulam, “The Father of Cannabis”, has been studying cannabis for over 50 years and is responsible for isolating the most well-known compound of cannabis, tetrahydrocannabinol or THC. He did so by isolating all of the different components of the plant to determine which one was causing the psychoactive experience. This ultimately led Dr. Mechoulam to continue his research and eventually discover the CB1 and CB2 receptors; the receptors along with endocannabinoids were eventually named the endocannabinoid system (ECS). CB1 and CB2 receptors are found in the brain and many parts of the body making cannabis effective for a wide range of conditions. Since the discovery of the ECS, researchers have been working to uncover how the endocannabinoid system interacts with the rest of the body and how cannabis can help provide support. 

Cannabis has been shown to benefit conditions including, but not limited to, Alzheimer’s, Anorexia, Arthritis, Cancer, Chronic Pain, Crohn’s Disease, Epilepsy, Fibromyalgia, Glaucoma, HIV/AIDS, Inflammation, Multiple Sclerosis (MS), Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Seizures, and Severe Nausea (for a more detailed list of conditions click here).