The History of CBD: Everything You Need to Know
If you're like most people, a few years ago you had no idea what CBD was but now you are likely to see it several times a day. Whether you get an advertisement for a new company on Facebook, try a CBD cream at your local masseuse, see CBD dog treats at Giant Eagle..heck, you probably have a tincture in your bathroom medicine cabinet right now.
Many assume that CBD, originated from the Cannabis plant is a rather new supplement, but CBD history goes back farther than half a century. Cannabis has been around and used in a medicinal capacity as far back as 2727 BC. (Trusted Source) Initially it was mainly used for its fiber. After the Revolution hemp became a cash crop in American colonies suh as Virginia and Georgia. Even one of the first drafts of the Declaration of Independence was written on paper made of hemp!
After the 20th century things began to change as activist groups sought to outlaw marijuana, CBD's intoxicating cousin. This led all hemp production in America to a halt due to lies and propaganda spread by uneducated beliefs that there is no difference between marijuana and hemp.
In 1937, the Marihuana Tax act allowed for hemp that had been taxed and approved by the government to be grown and sold. This allowed for hemp to begin making an entrance into the scene. Researchers were now able to continue testing the plant in order to see what medicinal benefits were hiding behind it. CBD was isolated as a compound by Harvard grad Roger Adams in 1937. This was a massive turning point in the history of hemp research. This discovery soon led to further funding and research into cannabinoids, and six years after the discovery of Cannabidiol, Dr. Walter Loewe and his team began testing CBD and THC on mice and rabbits to begin testing its medicinal benefits.
That same year, Dr. Raphael Mechoulam identified CBD's three dimensional structure. He is often credited as the scientist who discovered CBD. In decades to come the research continued. Dr. Mechoulam made another breakthrough in CBD history when he ran a study which showed that cannabidiol could be a key factor in treating epilepsy in 1980.
How CBD is used today
A recent Gallup Poll shows that 1 in every 7 adults uses some form of CBD. An amendement to the 2018 Farm Bill removed CBD and hemp from the list of "scheduled" drugs owtlawed by the Controlled Substances Act entirely. The Drug Enforcement Administration CAN NOT treat hemp-derived CBD like an illegle drug.
When it comes to natural and holistic healing, people use CBD Oil and other CBD products such as topicals to help treat stress, anxiety, depression, inflammation, chronic pain, sleep deprivation, seizure symptoms, and more. CBD is also used as a supplement to help create balance within the body. Many athletes use CBD Oil after workouts because it will help reduce inflammation and and help their overloaded system get their neurotransmitters back under control by maintiaining homeostasis. CBD Oil has even allowed some people to reduce their painkiller prescriptions.
How will CBD be used in the future
While research is being conducted everyday and more funding is being placed towards finding beneficial uses for CBD, it is not clear what the future will bring for CBD. Research shows that CBD may be beneficial for treatiting many illnesses such as Epileptic Seizures, Fibromyalgia, Diabetes, Arthritis, Insomnia, Cancer Symptoms, and more.
