Humans have used plants as medicine for an estimated 60,000 years. Cannabis species specifically have been used for health purposes since 2800 BC. For millennia, plants in the Cannabis genus were used to make paper, ropes and textiles. It was also a food source and used for spiritual practices dating back to the early Paleolithic period. Cannabis plant remnants have been found in China, Israel, Japan and modern-day Tajikistan.
Historically, Cannabis was used for cholera, tetanus, epilepsy, rheumatism and more.
Until the plant was effectively outlawed in 1937, it was widely prescribed by American herbalists and physicians. The Eclectic physicians, for example, relied heavily on Native American and Indigenous herbal practices, including the use of Cannabis. As recently as the start of the 20th century, they included Cannabis in their materia medica, which outlined their herbal practices and guidelines.
Botanists and taxonomists debate whether the plant genus Cannabis contains three distinct species or a single species with subspecies. Those who argue that the genus contains three species identify them as: Cannabis sativa, Cannabis indica and Cannabis ruderalis.
Cannabis sativa that contains less than 0.3% THC is classified as Hemp. British chemist Robert S. Cahn first discovered CBD in 1940, when he mistook a partial CBD molecule for CBN. Two years later, American scientist Roger Adams became the first to isolate CBD for scientific study. However, for the next four decades, little research happened due to drug laws.
THC’s discovery happened in 1964, when two scientists in Israel managed to obtain 5 kg (11 pounds) of cannabis that police had seized. They separated several compounds and identified one – later named THC – as psychoactive after testing it on monkeys and later on healthy volunteers. This discovery allowed for Cannabis plants to be bred for higher THC content, since during the time when Hemp was outlawed CBD was not well-researched or as valued as THC.
Once California legalized medical marijuana, research resumed in the 1990s. In 1992, Drs. Lumir Hanus and William Devane discovered endocannabinoids at Hebrew University, which contributed to the understanding of the entire endocannabinoid system. Since then, preclinical research into cannabinoids and the ECS has grown exponentially.
The 2018 Farm Bill legalized the regulated production and commercialization of Hemp. However, for many reasons, the majority of high-quality Hemp and cannabinoid research still lies in the preclinical stages. The barriers to clinical cannabinoids are multifactorial, including lack of funding and lack of access to adequate amounts of standardized products. Despite these challenges, clinical trials involving various cannabinoids are increasing quickly, and they are expected to show exciting results.
As a vertically integrated company, we grow and extract the Hemp used in Lazarus Naturals products. Since we own and operate our own farms, facilities and lab, we can keep quality high and prices low.
