RIP Cannabis Pioneer Raphael Mechoulam November 1930 – March 2023

Raphael Mechoulam was not only a cannabis pioneer, but also a pioneer for science in general! As one of the world’s most prominent cannabinoid researchers, he discovered the endocannabinoid system and conducted most of his research in Israel. In addition to his prolific cannabis research, Mechoulam also co-invented synthetic cannabinoids (e.g. dronabinol).

Raphael Mechoulam was a scientist who discovered the endocannabinoid system. He was born in 1930 and died in 2023, at age 92. Other than his contributions to science, he is also known for being one of the first people to study cannabis. He studied chemistry at Hebrew University in Jerusalem before moving on to London’s School of Pharmacy and then returning home again to work as a professor at Hebrew University Medical School (HUMS).

In 1964, Dr. Mechoulam isolated THC from hashish for the first time ever; this process led him down his path towards discovering more about how cannabinoids interact with our bodies’ receptors–a discovery which would eventually become known as “the endocannabinoid system.”

Mechoulam discovered that cannabis has cannabinoids and can have a therapeutic effect on humans. He was the first to isolate THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) from marijuana in 1964 and he identified CBD (cannabidiol) in 1970.

He also discovered that D9-THC is the most potent cannabinoid in marijuana and is responsible for its psychoactive effects, while other cannabinoids like cannabigerol (CBG), cannabichromene (CBC), cannabidivarin (CBDV) or delta-8-tetrahydrocannabinol acid (THCA) are non-psychoactive but have their own therapeutic properties like reducing inflammation or treating epilepsy respectively.

Mechoulam also discovered that CBD and THC are two different compounds within Cannabis Sativa L. THC is the psychoactive compound in cannabis, while CBD is not psychoactive and is used for medical purposes.

CBD can be extracted from hemp plants but not marijuana plants because they contain less than 0.3% of THC, which means they’re not considered as having any psychotropic properties according to federal law.

In addition to his work in Israel, Mechoulam also studied at the University of Paris, the University of London and Italy’s Institute for Biochemical Research.

He was born in Bulgaria and moved to Israel as a child. He became a professor at Hebrew University in Jerusalem where he taught for more than 50 years before his death on September 1st 2019 at age 85.

In addition to his prolific cannabis research, Mechoulam also co-invented synthetic cannabinoids (e.g. dronabinol). Dronabinol is used to treat nausea and vomiting caused by chemotherapy and anorexia associated with weight loss in people with AIDS.

In 2018 at 92 years old, Mechoulam had no plans to retire despite retirement age being higher than 100 in Israel. He wanted to continue his research and teach students.

Raphael Mechoulam died March 9th 2023 from complications from Parkinson’s Disease at 93 years old after living a full life with an incredible legacy of scientific discovery.

Born in 1924, Raphael Mechoulam was one of the first people to study cannabis as a medicine, and he spent his career working to uncover its therapeutic properties. His research led him to discover THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) and CBD (cannabidiol), two compounds that have become central to our understanding of how cannabis works medically–but he didn’t stop there! He also discovered endocannabinoids: hormones made by our bodies that activate receptors throughout our nervous system when we consume cannabis products like edibles or vape pens.

Raphael Mechoulam was not just a cannabis pioneer. He also had an enormous impact on the world of science and medicine, in general.

Mechoulam is best known for his discovery of THC in 1963, which led to the identification of other cannabinoids such as CBD and CBN. But what many people don’t know is that he spent most of his career studying the endocannabinoid system (ECS) and its role in regulating human health.

Raphael Mechoulam was not just a cannabis pioneer but also a pioneer for science in general! His legacy will live on through his research and discoveries, which have helped shape the world we live in today.

Thank you for ALL that you did for patients, families, science and this plant.