Before the hype train with mainstream icons like Kim Kardashian on board, CBD was long an obscure cannabinoid that only a handful of scientists believed in. In fact, its long and bumpy road stretches back to ancient times.
Many sources cite Sheng Neng, an ancient Chinese emperor, as the first known cannabis user. A document from the year 2737 BC. BC shows how he used cannabis-infused tea as a remedy for malaria, rheumatism and others.
In 1839, William O’Shaugnessy, an Irish medical researcher, conducted the first study that provided insight into the therapeutic potential of cannabis and sparked the interest of the scientific community.
During the last decade of the 19th century, Queen Victoria apparently relied on cannabis to relieve her menstrual cramps, according to the records of her private doctor.
Evidence of CBD’s rocky relationship with the law is the fact that it was discovered by Roger Adams in 1940 just 3 years after cannabis was illegalized in 1937. As a reference, THC was not isolated until 1964, largely attributed to Roger Adams’ discovery.
In 1946, the first CBD-specific study by Dr. Walter Loewe carried out on laboratory animals.
In the 1970s, things started looking for CBD legally.
In 1973, Oregon became the first state to legalize medical cannabis. In 1978, the medicinal potential of cannabis was officially recognized by the Controlled Substances Therapeutic Research Act.
This, of course, opened the door to studies in particular on cannabis and CBD.
In 1980, Dr. Mechoulam conducted a study that shed light on the anti-seizure properties of CBD. After several years and studies of CBD as a cure for epilepsy, we are entering the pivotal year 2018 when the FDA approved the first CBD drug, EPIDIOLEX, for the treatment of epilepsy. This victory cannot be celebrated without mentioning the famous case of Charlotte Figi, a young Colorado girl plagued by 300 epileptic seizures per week, reduced to 2-3 per month with CBD.
Now, CBD seems to have finally escaped the stigma of its parents’ illegal past. People from all walks of life and status are trumpeting its power, including many famous UFC fighters like Nate Diaz, which is clear evidence not only of the cannabinoid’s legitimacy and effectiveness, but also of its long overdue mainstream acceptance.
“Better late than never” was seldom more appropriate.