text: The History Of Cannabidiol | CA Cannabis Report
  Cannabidiol(CBD) is a natural remedy used to alleviate plenty of health conditions. It's one of the 100+ cannabinoids that exist in Marijuana plant and accounts for 40% composition of the plant's extracts. In addition, CBD is not psychoactive, unlike Tetrahydrocannabinol(THC), a cannabinoid that results in a "high" sensation when you consume it. Consequently, scientists recommend CBD for medical applications while THC finds major applications in recreational activities. Manufacturers extract cannabidiol from the marijuana plant and then dilute it with a carrier oil, particularly, hemp seed oil or coconut oil to obtain the popular CBD oil.
  You can use CBD to relieve pain and a variety of mental disorders such as depression and anxiety among others. Cannabidiol has a rich history dating from the early years of the twentieth century to the current times when several countries are legalizing marijuana.
  Let's delve into a deep view of CBD history.
  The Momentary Death of Marijuana and Hemp Industry
  The discovery of marijuana came at a time the marijuana industry was facing a rough time due to the ban on marijuana in the year 1937. During the previous years, the application of marijuana products was legal provided that the products were regulated and properly labeled. Harry Anslinger, an anti-cannabis prohibitionist drafted the infamous Marihuana Tax Act of 1937 and the bill was signed into law on August 1937. The law required product regulators to impose tax levies on hemp and cannabis products, a move that negatively affected the commercial production of marijuana.
  A Harvard graduate and scientist known as Rodger Adams successfully isolated cannabidiol from the cannabis plant in 1940. Surprisingly, Adams did not realize that he brought a monumental change in the cannabis industry since he didn't know what he had isolated. He just noted that cannabidiol existed as a separate entity in marijuana. However, scientific research and studies in the later years proved that Rodger had discovered an elemental substance.
  Following the isolation of cannabidiol by Adams, Dr. Walter S. Loewe began testing the effect of cannabinoid, specifically THC and CBD, on lab animals. From the test of cannabinoids on rats and mice, Dr. Loewe was able to determine and document the effects of CBD and THC in animals. He observed that CBD didn't produce perceptible results on the animals. However, he noted that THC resulted in a certain state of excitation. Adam's and Walter's experiments were heavily documented and provided a reference for future scientists.
  The Formal Description of CBD Structure
  The description of the chemical structure of cannabidiol in 1963 by an Israeli scientist, Raphael Mechoulam is marked as the greatest moment of CBD history. Raphael took a step further than Adam by defining the chemical structure of CBD and THC, a critical achievement for the cannabis industry. In addition, Raphael tested the two common cannabinoids on primates and was able to conclude that THC is the psychoactive substance in cannabis, consequently, paving way for the application of CBD in the health sector. CBD was first marketed by the British Pharmacopeia in the form of a CBD tincture made by suspending cannabis extract in alcohol.
  Legalization of cannabidiol in the US
  Upon the release of cannabidiol medication by Britain, other countries followed suit. The state of New Mexico legalized cannabis as a medicine in the year 1978. This was followed by wide protest considering that the general public did not comprehend the facts about CBD and cannabis. However, the law was still passed. California completely legalized cannabis in 1996, a step that was set to revolutionize the cannabis and CBD industry.
  In 1980, together with international scientists, Dr. Mechoulam set to investigate the application of CBD in the treatment of epilepsy. The study proved to be a success with the discovery that CBD treatment led to the reduction of the frequency of epileptic attacks. This was not widely accepted due to the social stigma of cannabis until a notable treatment of a Charlotte Figi who was suffering from Dravet Syndrome, a chronic epileptic disorder. Prior to the CBD medication, Figi experienced about 300 seizure attacks per month. Following the treatment, the seizure frequency dropped from 300 to 3 attacks per month. This gained immense attention among health experts, scientists and the general public and consequently, cannabidiol was formally recognized as a medication that could help save lives.
  The CBD industry has been marked by significant changes and development. The US government patented the first CBD patent in 2007 followed by the approval of CBD for medicinal purposes by the FDA in 2017. CBD is legal in all US states and is widely used to treat pain, sleep disorders, stress, and anxiety. In addition, there are ongoing research and studies to investigate the effect of CBD on cancer patients.
  Cannabidiol has a long history dating from the usage of cannabis before the passing of the Marihuana Tax Act of 1937. The isolation of CBD from marijuana followed by the description of its structure were elemental steps in CBD history. It was not until the treatment of Charlotte Figi through CBD medication that cannabidiol gained massive popularity.