For centuries, the effects of the cannabis plant have been appreciated in many parts of the world. However, the exact chemical composition of the plant was largely unknown for a long time. Cannabidiol (CBD) was only discovered in 1940 and first extracted by a group of chemists at the University of Illinois (USA). At that time, the scientists classified the substance as toxic, but without extensive research results. However, this development was followed by over 20 years in which hardly anyone took a serious look at CBD as a substance. It was not until 23 years after the discovery of the cannabinoid that the chemist Raphael Mechoulam succeeded in determining its exact chemical composition. In 1973, a Brazilian research team demonstrated the reduction of epilepsy symptoms in animals. A few years later, experiments were started on human patients and were successful. The anxiolytic properties of CBD were recognized.
These discoveries triggered far-reaching investigations into the possible medical effects of CBD. During the 1970s, its potential in the treatment of nausea and sleep disorders was discovered. At the same time, interest in the cannabinoid substance THC grew and CBD was somewhat forgotten in research.
In the early 1980s, Mechoulam and his colleagues discovered the antipsychotic potential of CBD for the first time. It was not until 1995 that CBD was openly administered to patients. This was followed by numerous discoveries that indicated far-reaching potential applications for CBD as a medical product. In particular, its effect as an antioxidant was demonstrated several times. As a result of such studies, the legal situation surrounding cannabis also eased in some parts of the world.
Isolated CBD products are therefore now freely available and legal in most countries around the world. The story of CBD has therefore only just begun and we can expect further insights and legal relaxations.