A Quick Synopsis of CBD History and Research

Cannabis is one of the first plants ever documented for use in medicine, going back about 5,000 years. Fast forward to the mid-1930s, when a researcher named Cahn worked out the structure of cannabinol, one of what are now known to be over 140 cannabinoid compounds found in the cannabis plant. In 1963, Dr. Rafael Mechoulam — still active in the field today and widely considered the grandfather of CBD research — and his lab in Israel discovered and described the chemical structure of CBD.

So if CBD was discovered roughly 60 years ago, why is it only now becoming widely known? Politics and myths kept this compound sidelined as a medical tool for most of those decades. And what wasn’t known 60 years ago was how CBD actually acts on the body — it wasn’t until the early 1990s that CBD receptors were finally described.

Your body makes CBD molecules naturally, and it has a CBD system, just as it has a nervous system and a vascular system: the endocannabinoid system (ECS). Just as a breakdown in those other systems — diabetes, hypo- or hyperthyroidism, testosterone or other hormone problems — can cause medical conditions, a breakdown in the ECS can contribute to problems like chronic pain, fibromyalgia, and autoimmune diseases. Researchers are still working to understand exactly how all of this functions.

Because of non-scientific marketing hype and inconsistent product quality in the CBD market, the science behind CBD has often gotten diluted. The endocannabinoid system, when functioning well, provides balance in cells, tissues, and every organ in the body.

At the University of Arizona College of Medicine and Pharmacy, there are ongoing studies and discussions concerning the use of CBD in pain management, cancer treatments, depression and anxiety, seizure disorders, diabetes care, sleep disorders, autoimmune diseases and more. It’s known that certain cannabinoids slow the spread of some cancer cells in early research, and there’s hope of finding a way to help stop these cancers. Other work, led by Dr. Vanderah at the University of Arizona College of Medicine and Pharmacy, examines the usefulness of non-psychotropic CBD in pain management, especially cancer pain, as part of a broader task force effort to help decrease reliance on opioids.

Dr. Ben González, MD, is Medical Director of Atlantis Medical Wellness Center.

Editorial content only. This article is reporting and analysis, not medical, legal, or investment advice. Hemp and CBD regulations differ by state and change frequently. Verify current rules in your jurisdiction before making decisions.