THE PAST OF CBD
How long have cannabinoids have been important to man, and how important are they?
Cannabinoids have been vital to human existence for as long as there have been humans, as they are an integral part of human biochemistry. The Cannabis plant may have been used by man for only thousands of years, but endogenous cannabinoids, also known as endocannabinoids, have always been an integral part of our being.
In the United States, doctors began prescribing Cannabis extracts to treat various conditions as early as the 1800’s, but did not know which molecules in the plant were giving beneficial effect. By 1896 cannabinol had been discovered, with cannabidiol (CBD) following in 1940. In 1964, Drs. Mechoulam and Gaoni isolated tetrahydrocannabidiol (THC), the principal activate component in Cannabis. In 1988, Howlett and Devane discovered CB1 cannabinoid receptors at which THC was active. It was later found to be active at CB2 receptors as well. Research between then and now also revealed distribution and function of cannabinoid receptors, and enzymes regulating endocannabinoid metabolism.
