Cannabidiol (CBD) has quickly earned its place as one of the most talked-about natural remedies on the planet—and for good reason. It’s used to help ease everything from chronic pain to anxiety and depression. But what exactly is it?
CBD is one of 80+ cannabinoids found in the marijuana plant, making up about 40% of its extract. Unlike its cousin THC (tetrahydrocannabinol), the compound responsible for that well-known “high,” CBD isn’t psychoactive. That’s why it’s widely favored for medical use, while THC remains the go-to for recreational effects.
To make CBD oil, manufacturers extract cannabidiol from the plant and dilute it with a carrier oil like hemp seed or coconut oil. The result? A versatile, widely available product used to support physical and mental well-being. But CBD isn’t just some overnight wellness trend. Its roots trace back over a century, and its story is tightly tied to the evolving perception of cannabis around the world.
The Momentary Death of the Marijuana and Hemp Industry
The discovery of CBD came at a time when the cannabis industry was going through a serious rough patch. Back in the day (before things got political), marijuana products were legal as long as they were properly labeled and regulated. But that all changed in 1937.
Enter Harry Anslinger, a fierce anti-cannabis crusader, who drafted the now-infamous Marihuana Tax Act of 1937. When signed into law that August, it didn’t technically outlaw cannabis, but it made it hard to grow or sell. The new law slapped heavy taxes on hemp and cannabis products, which quickly choked the life out of the legal cannabis market. This marked the beginning of a long, complicated era of restriction and stigma, one that would take decades to start reversing.
Discovery of Cannabidiol
In the 1940s, Rodger Adams, a Harvard-educated chemist working at the University of Illinois, made history, though he didn’t know it at the time. He successfully isolated cannabidiol (CBD) from the cannabis plant, but he had no idea just how significant his discovery would be. All he knew was that he’d found a unique compound hiding in marijuana. The full impact of that breakthrough wouldn’t come to light until years later.
Building on Adams’ work, Dr. Walter S. Loewe began testing cannabinoids, specifically CBD and THC, on lab animals. His experiments on mice and rats revealed something fascinating: CBD didn’t cause any noticeable effects, while THC triggered clear signs of mental stimulation (aka that well-known high).
These early experiments laid the scientific groundwork for what we now understand about cannabis. Thanks to Adams and Loewe, future researchers had solid evidence to build on.
The Formal Description of the CBD Structure
st forward to 1963, and we hit one of the biggest milestones in CBD history. Israeli scientist Dr. Raphael Mechoulam, often referred to as the “father of cannabis research,” did what Rodger Adams hadn’t: he cracked the chemical structure of cannabidiol. Not just CBD, but THC too.
This breakthrough was a game-changer. Understanding the structure meant researchers could finally study how cannabinoids work and what they do to the human body. Mechoulam even went a step further by testing both compounds on primates. His experiments confirmed what earlier studies had only hinted at: THC is the one responsible for the psychoactive “high,” while CBD is non-intoxicating.
This discovery cleared a major path for CBD to step into the medical spotlight. Shortly after, the British Pharmacopeia began marketing CBD in the form of tinctures (cannabis extract suspended in alcohol), marking its official entry into the world of medicine.
Legalization of Cannabidiol in the US
Upon the release of cannabidiol medication by Britain, other countries followed suit, though not without pushback. In 1978, New Mexico became the first U.S. state to legalize cannabis for medical use. The move sparked a wave of controversy and protest, largely because the public still didn’t fully understand the difference between CBD and THC, or the medical potential of cannabis in general. Still, the law passed—and it set the stage for bigger changes ahead.
Then came a turning point: California’s landmark decision in 1996 to fully legalize medical cannabis (read, Compassionate Use Act). That bold move did more than open the door for other states; it helped transform the global conversation around cannabis and CBD. What was once taboo was now gaining traction as a legitimate medical solution. That also sparked a wave of commercial marijuana cultivation, as growers rushed to meet the rising demand for regulated, medical-grade cannabis.
Cannabidiol and Epilepsy
In 1980, Dr. Raphael Mechoulam, this time teaming up with international researchers, set out to explore something big: Could CBD help treat epilepsy? Their study showed promising results, revealing that CBD significantly reduced the frequency of epileptic seizures. But despite the breakthrough, the findings didn’t gain much traction at the time. Why? Because marijuana still carried a heavy social stigma, and many weren’t ready to separate cannabidiol from its misunderstood reputation.
That all changed years later with the remarkable story of Charlotte Figi, a young girl suffering from Dravet Syndrome, a rare and severe form of epilepsy. Charlotte endured around 300 seizures a month until her parents turned to CBD as a last resort. The results were nothing short of life-changing. Charlotte’s seizures dropped to around 3 per month. Her story captured global attention and turned heads in the medical world. Suddenly, CBD was no longer a mere chemical compound but a lifeline.
Cannabidiol Today
The CBD industry has been marked by significant changes and development, and the last two decades have been nothing short of transformative. In 2007, the U.S. government filed its first cannabidiol-related patent, officially recognizing its potential therapeutic value. A decade later, the FDA gave CBD the green light for medical use, opening the door to regulated treatments and broader acceptance.
Today, CBD is legal in almost all 50 U.S. states and has become a go-to remedy for managing pain, anxiety, stress, and sleep disorders. You’ll find it in everything from oils and capsules to gummies, lotions, and even bath bombs. And the research isn’t slowing down. Scientists are now investigating how cannabidiol could support cancer patients, particularly in managing symptoms like nausea, pain, and inflammation.
But while the industry has made huge strides, state laws can still vary; always check the fine print depending on where you live. For instance, Idaho only allows CBD products that are 100% THC-free, while Nebraska permits only hemp-derived CBD.
Ezekiel Maina is the brains behind ContentGenics, where he pairs creativity and strategy to craft B2B and B2C content that real people love to read. He has written for brands like House Digest, iFoundries, Harmony Home Medical, Postaga, and BeamJobs, and covered topics like home improvement, real estate, freelancing, digital marketing, career growth, food & travel, automotive, durable medical equipment (DME), and Cannabis. By day, he’s crafting content, catching up with clients from his home office, lost in a good book, or occasionally chasing nature and greenery in another county. By late evening, he’s typically deep in a documentary rabbit hole on Netflix or YouTube.
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