CBD is everywhere right now, but where did it come from?
Who discovered CBD? When was CBD discovered? And how was CBD discovered?
These are questions the history buffs among you may be asking on a regular basis, so allow us to be the bringers of information, as we are wont to do, and give you a brief (yet surprisingly detailed) history of CBD, its discovery, and how we got from there, to where we are now.
The History of CBD
It may surprise you to learn that CBD (cannabidiol) was discovered before THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) despite the latter being the focus of the majority of scientific research into cannabis-related products and their effects until fairly recently.
The assumption of many is that CBD was discovered in the last few years, due to the recent revolution that has surrounded CBD products, but its history can be traced all the way back to the 1940s.
It was a chemist and Harvard graduate, Roger Adams, who first extracted CBD from a cannabis plant, and like so many scientific discoveries over the years, he did it by accident.
Not only was the discovery accidental, Adams, amusingly, didn’t notice he had done it, and it wasn’t until several years later that he and other scientists realised what had happened, and set about researching the possible health benefits offered by CBD.
The history of CBD begins in earnest in 1946, when Dr Walter S. Loewe started studying the effects of CBD by testing on lab animals. Simultaneously, Dr Raphael Mechoulam (who wins the award for the best-named scientist on the CBD list) started his work.
Mechoulam is often cited as the scientist who actually discovered CBD, as he identified the three-dimensional structure of the molecule at this point.
Things stayed pretty stable for a few years from there until the next big jump forward in the 1960s (perhaps unsurprisingly).
Research was carried out on primates during the ‘60s, and the success of these experiments led to the first CBD oils being created and distributed for therapeutic use.
Another 20 year jump to the next big phase, and our good friend Dr Mechoulam makes another appearance (the man worked hard!) alongside numerous other scientists named Carlini, Cunha, Gagliardi, Lander, Pereira, Pimentel, Ramos, and Sanvito.
The study carried out by Mechoulam et al identified positive effects of CBD on patients with epilepsy.
CBD Discovered in the Present Day
The study above was the beginning of numerous scientific studies that have been carried out, exploring the possible health benefits of CBD on a variety of conditions.
The effects of CBD on epilepsy are still being studied, with a 2017 study into the effects of CBD on children with epilepsy showing positive results.
So, where do we go from here?
The truth is, nobody knows. You may well meet people, or read articles from people who claim to know, but if we’re all being honest, we can’t be sure.
Research is ongoing, and there are advocates for CBD who are intent that the health benefits of CBD products should be taken into account.
As the disclaimer above states, we can’t give our opinion on that at this point, due to UK law. But the links above are a good place to start with conducting your own research (Google is your friend on that one).
There’s an abundance of information available on the internet which will introduce you to various scientific studies as well as a plethora of anecdotal evidence about CBD, and its effects.
All we know for sure for now, is that the CBD products we sell are 100% legal under UK and EU law, so if you want to form your own opinion, you are free to do so.
What happens next remains to be seen, we can see what way trends are moving, and it’s clear that the stigma that was attached to CBD for a long time is starting to life.
But when it comes to knowing what will happen next, or when, we don’t know yet. We are enjoying taking the journey with you, and we will be sure to let you know as soon as there is any new information.
Until then, if you fancy trying CBD products for yourself, be sure to let us know what you find, and if you have any questions, please do not hesitate to let us know in the comments.
And that brings us to the end of our quick dive into the history of CBD. We’ve gone from the past to the present, and we can’t wait to explore the future with you all!
Do you have an opinion on CBD in the future? Be sure to let us know in the comments below. Also, be sure to let us know if you find a CBD scientist with a better name than Dr Raphael Mechoulam!
Disclaimer:
The products we sell do not have proven health benefits. While research is being carried out, these products are not, and should not, be considered to be medical products.
Any information we give in these articles is taken from scientific research, but should not be considered as a statement of fact. Links and information included in these articles do not reflect the opinion of Plant & Hemp. Any link to scientific studies is for information only, and not intended as a proof of any specific fact, or to validate any specific opinion.
We are simply bringing you the information needed to make an informed decision on what you want to use CBD for, and what you are comfortable using our products for.
CBD products should not be used as a replacement for any prescribed medication, under UK and International Law.