National Pet CBD day – April 21, 2024

History of National Pet CBD day

Cannabidiol is a compound commonly found in cannabis plants. While it’s present in both hemp and marijuana, C.B.D. is mostly extracted from hemp due to its legal status. The first documented use of the cannabis plant in medicine can be traced to 2737 B.C. in ancient China. The Chinese Emperor Sheng Neng infused cannabis into cups of tea to treat several illnesses, including malaria, rheumatism, and gout, and to improve brain and cognitive functions. In 1839, Irish physician and medical researcher William B. O’Shaughnessy published his research. In his study, O’Shaughnessy described the effects of cannabis and its potential as an anesthetic. At the time, his research was controversial and, therefore, not given any attention. However, through that study, he unwittingly paved the way for the discovery of cannabinoids. In 1937, the U.S. government began prohibiting the usage of marijuana, starting with the Marihuana Tax Law.

In 1940, British chemist Robert S. Cahn identified the complete structure of cannabinol (C.B.N.). Two years later, American chemist Roger Adams successfully isolated C.B.D. for the first time from marijuana. In 1963, Dr. Raphael Mechoulam identified the structure of C.B.D. and, in 1964, successfully isolated T.H.C., Tetrahydrocannabinol, the most active constituent of the cannabis plant. Mechoulam research on cannabis earned him the title “Godfather of Cannabis Research.”

As the benefits of C.B.D. began becoming public knowledge, individual states started taking steps to decriminalize cannabis. In 1973, Oregon became the first state to decriminalize cannabis. In 1996, California became the first state to legalize medical cannabis. Alaska, Washington, and Oregon took the same step a year later. As of 2021, 19 of the 51 states in the U.S. have passed laws to legalize cannabis for recreational use.