Cannabis: Professor Raphael Mechoulam - Discovery of THC in 1964, Anandamide in 1992

Raphael Mechoulam is an Israeli professor for Medicinal Chemistry and Natural Products at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. While working on research at the Weizmann Institute of Science in 1964, Michoulam succeeded in the isolation, structure elucidation and total synthesis of delta9-tetrahydrocannabinol, the main active principle of cannabis.

This video discusses what THC does to the brain, it also touches on the 1992 discovery of Anandamide, also known as N-arachidonoylethanolamine or AEA, which is an endogenous cannabinoid neurotransmitter found in human organs. When the compound is released into the brain it affects memory, appetite and pain. It was isolated and its structure was first described in 1992.

Over the past few years, Professor Mechoulam, has become a great inspiration to activists, doctors, scientists and citizens worldwide for his dedication and continual striving to find cures to devastating human ailments, such as P.T.S.D. and chronic pain.

Source: Botany of Desire

http://www.pbs.org/thebotanyofdesire/

Learn more: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anandamide

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• Raphael Mechoulam
• THC
• Cannabis
• Research
• Science
• Health
• PTSD
• Anandamide

[TriggerFRESH]

GOD PUT THC RECEPTORS IN OUR BRAINS!! ON THE US DOLLAR IT SAYS "IN GOD WE TRUST".. THAN LEGALIZE WEED!!

[jjheelz]

3 people are cops

[mojothewr]

@cindybin2001 will you please just shut the fuck up?

[cindybin2001]

@munchamushroom Oh that's right, call me a FUCKIN IDIOT. Yep, gotta use the f-word to prove you're a man and all tough. Just call a nice, middle-aged woman a FUCKIN IDIOT because she says we shouldn't use drugs to get high relax and unwind, enjoy life, etc. If you call me a FUCKIN IDIOT, I'll be all shocked and cry and cower in a corner and never dare to speak up against drugs ever again!

[munchamushroom]

@cindybin2001 youre a fuckin idiot.

[cindybin2001]

@from212 Oh that's right, use the sh-word. Gotta say SHIT to prove you're a man and all tough. If you don't swear and smoke pot, people will think you're a sissy and gay and a goody-goody.

[cindybin2001]

@from212 And how about we just don't smoke pot OR cigarettes?? HOW HARD IS THAT? You say you'd much rather have your kids smoke marijuana than cigarettes!!! WELL HOW ABOUT WE DON'T USE EITHER ONE OF THESE??? What is wrong with you people, always using excuses and comparisons like this?? "Pot is safer than alcohol", blah blah blah. WELL WE SHOULDN'T SMOKE POT OR DRINK ALCOHOL! And don't drink cleaning fluid while you're at it, either!! I mean, HONESTLY!!!! GROW UP, PEOPLE!!!

[cindybin2001]

@from212 I can't believe it!!!! Do NOT compare smoking cigarettes to marijuana!!! It's not the same and you know it! I've ranted and ranted against cigarettes, but you know darn well you don't get the same high or buzz or anything like that from cigarettes that you would with marijuana or alcohol! OH you people make me FURIOUS! GROW UP! Stop trying to compare cigarettes and smoking pot! Nobody is smoking cigs to get high and stoned like a pot smoker would!!!

[blacklion1798]

@from212 no you're not wrong. it just annoys me when people say the brain has weed receptors.

[from212]

@blacklion1798 "anandamide, oleamide, 2AG,"

Shit, you got me there Mr. biomedical engineer. I guess you learn something new everyday. But it still doesn't refute the fact that Marijuana is the only street drug that activates the Cannabinoid receptor. Or am I wrong there also?

[blacklion1798]

@from212 dude. it processes anandamide, oleamide, 2AG, and probably a lot of other things nobody even knows about yet. to say that marijuana has its own receptor is wrong. it's just that cannabinoids are the only exogenous chemicals. to say that cannabis has "it's own" [sic] receptor is to imply that it exists solely for the purpose of thc binding to it which is totally wrong.

[from212]

@blacklion1798 Actually, you're both kinda right. There is a Cannabinoid receptor in the brain that reacts EXCLUSIVELY with cannabis, hence the name "Cannabinoid". All other opiate drugs like heroin, opium Oxycontin, etc, affect the opiate receptors in the brain. And all drugs like cocaine, methamphetamine, etc affect the dopamine receptors. Marijuana is the only drug that has it's own exclusive receptor in the brain that is only activated by cannabis and no other drug.