Cannabis is not an ordinary plant. It has extraordinarily deep cultural, medicinal, and scientific significance, from ancient rituals to modern pharmacology. Its history is closely connected to human society, changing laws and developments in health.

What opened new areas of research began when a young, committed scientist, Dr. Raphael Mecholaum, believed this was a subject of great importance, one which warranted far greater investigation, and was willing to persevere and challenge the reluctance of much of the scientific establishment. At that time there were mostly negative views of its legality, and widespread doubts about its effect on health and the dangers of addiction.

While questions remain and cannabis research is still very much a work in progress, there are some benefits which are already acknowledged, and the prospects for major breakthroughs in understanding human beings and health are promising.

Ancient origins

Cannabis use dates to at least 8,000 B.C.E., with archaeological evidence in China and Japan, and other civilizations valued cannabis for its versatility: as fiber for textiles, seeds for nutrition, and extracts for medicine and ritual. In India, “bhang,” an edible cannabis, was integral to Hindu culture and associated with the deity Shiva. Similarly, Assyrians, Egyptians, and Greeks employed cannabis for therapeutic and spiritual purposes. By 500 B.C.E., cannabis had spread across Asia and into Africa and Europe. 

Hemps, which is of the same plant species as cannabis but with minimal amounts of the psychoactive compound, had long been appreciated for its durability and was used in ropes, sails, and paper, critical to early economies: The first copies of the Gutenberg bibles were printed on paper made from hemp fibers; the sails, nets, and rope on Christopher Columbus’ fleet were made of hemp.

Changing laws and attitudes

Over time, societies and countries have differed widely with respect to cannabis attitudes and laws. Below are examples of countries with different histories and current policies:

United Kingdom

During much of the nineteenth century, cannabis was touted as one of the wonder drugs by British doctors in the Empire, a “powerful and valuable remedy in hydrophobia, tetanus, cholera and many convulsive disorders.” By the 1890s attitudes changed as reflected in the House of Commons that stated, “The Lunatic Asylums of India are filled with ganja smokers” and then ordered the Government of India to conduct an enquiry into the use there of what one member of Parliament called “the most horrible intoxicant the world has yet produced.”

In the U.K. currently, recreational cannabis is illegal, but primarily with tough penalties for trafficking, while medical cannabis has been legal since 2018, and hemp is legal. 

Italy

Italian regulations on cannabis went from an absence of formal prohibition in the early 20th century, to strict bans driven by international pressure, which then followed by periods of decriminalization and uncertainty regarding low-THC products. The legal status remains complex, however, with “cannabis light” (very low THC content) widely available but remains subject to legal challenges and recent stricter government regulations. Cultivation of small amounts for personal use was deemed a non-criminal offense. 

France

French regulations on cannabis shifted dramatically after 1915, moving from some medicinal use towards a complete prohibition that intensified throughout the 20th century. In September 2020, while recreational cannabis remained illegal, the laws have shifted towards decriminalization, with small personal amounts resulting in fines. Low-THC (CBD) products are generally legal. A limited medical cannabis pilot program has also been ongoing since 2021. 

Russian Federation

Cannabis in Russia dates back to its ancient cultivations, then followed by Soviet-era eradication, and in the post-Soviet era with strict controls, culminating in today’s severe prohibitions. Even small possession amounts can lead to heavy fines or jail. There has been some recent allowance of some small-scale medicinal/industrial research.

China

China has a long history with hemp for textiles and cannabis use in traditional medicine. The existing liberal policies changed with the 1949 revolution and establishment of the People’s Republic of China (PRC). Currently the PRC enforces strict anti-drug laws, criminalizes trafficking, recreational use, and possession. Industrial hemp cultivation for fiber and low-THC (CBD) is permitted, but not psychoactive cannabis. 

The United States 

Through the 1800s cannabis tinctures were common, but changed with the Marihuana Tax Act of 1937, which criminalized cannabis in the U.S. The Controlled Substances Act of 1970 classified cannabis as a Schedule I drug, with virtually no flexibility for medical research or use. While the federal designation continues, state governments, however, have been pursuing more flexible approaches. For example, California’s Compassionate Use Act (1996) legalized medical cannabis, catalyzing broader reforms.

International treatment

The United Nations Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs, adopted in 1961, labeled cannabis and cannabis resin in its Schedule IV, the most tightly restricted category, reserved for drugs that are “particularly liable to abuse and to produce ill effects” and whose “liability is not offset by substantial therapeutic advantages.”

The removal of cannabis and cannabis resin from Schedule IV is a change in international law that took place from 2019 to 2021, on the basis of a scientific assessment by the World Health Organization. As a result, there are signs that countries, regions, and scientific communities are reviewing the rules of strict prohibition. 

Growing interest in cannabinoid research

Dr. Raphael Mechoulaum, a biochemist, pursued this field of endeavor starting in the 1960s and became known as “The Father of Cannabis Research.” His personal story is compelling and his pathbreaking work on the endocannaboid systems (ECS) is presented in the award-winning and highly recommended documentary, “The Scientist.”

Among Mechoulam’s greatest contributions was the identification of endogenous cannabinoids. In 1992 his group discovered anandamide, named after the Sanskrit word for “bliss,” the findings of which provided the key to the fact that the human body produces cannabis-like molecules. This led to the ECS concept — a physiological network regulating mood, pain, appetite, and immune function.

The key was Mecholam’s reliance on collaboration across many disciplines, including pharmacology, neurology, and immunology. This broadness provided the wherewithal for clinical trials on cannabinoids for multiple sclerosis, chemotherapy-induced nausea, and chronic pain. In short, it catalyzed a paradigm shift that transformed cannabis from a stigmatized substance to an important potential source of therapeutic innovation research. 

The significance of this new acceptance of cannabis has opened unforeseen avenues for personalized medicine targeting the ECS, such as: mitigation of neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s; immune regulation by affecting inflammation, offering targets for autoimmune disorders; possible cancer therapy by affecting the proliferation effects on tumors; and a role in microbiota balance and emotional resilience.

And in the field of pharmacology, it has led to exploring ways to affect the endocannabinoid system through natural compounds, synthetic analogs, and lifestyle interventions, and tailoring cannabinoid medicine for personalized treatments.

Research in cannabis can be considered an ECS human “Rosetta-stone”

Cannabis, once embraced, then forbidden, is part of our cultural heritage, scientific innovation, and therapeutic promise. Its historical journey reflects humanity’s evolving relationship with nature and medicine. At the heart of this transformation stands Dr. Raphael Mechoulam, whose discoveries revolutionized our understanding of human biology and potentially pharmacology.

Today, the ECS appears to be emerging as a master regulator, offering novel pathways for treating pain. It will be exciting to see what more we learn about cannabis and ECS.

Editor’s Note: The opinions expressed here by the authors are their own, not those of impakter.com — In the Cover Photo: Cannabis cultivation workers trimming hemp plants. Cover Photo Credit: Diego Barros.

Tags: Alzheimer’sautoimmune disorderscancer therapyCannabiscannabis lawscannabis researchchemotherapy-induced nauseachronic painDr. Raphael MecholaumECSemotional resilienceMarijuanaMedical MarijuanapharmacologySciencesclerosisSociety