MEDICAL CANNABIS SATIVA (MARIJUANA OR DRUG TYPE): THE STORY OF DISCOVERY OF Δ9-TETRAHYDROCANNABINOL (THC)

This review paper highlights about the story of the discovery of Psychoactive constituent, Δ9-Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) isolated, purified and identified from the Cannabis sativa (Marijuana or Drug type). Medical Cannabis sativa is also commonly known as marijuana, Bhang, Ganja, and Charas, which are still banned in India as An illicit drug. Sales and cultivation of Medical Cannabis (marijuana type) are still illegal in India. According to Ayuverda in India, the medicinal properties of Cannabis was well documented more than 3,000 years ago. This was the first Indian evidence to support the medicinal value of Cannabis plants. Cannabis sativa and Cannabis indica are widely found in the Himalayan mountain regions and other parts of India, China, Bhutan, Pakistan, Afghanistan and Nepal. However, the chemistry of biomolecules responsible for narcotic activity of Cannabis was unknown till 19th century.. This has created a wide interest of many scientists to study Cannabis and its compounds. The official discovery of Cannabidiol (CBD) in 1963 and Δ9- tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) in 1964 isolated from Cannabis sativa at Israel's Weizmann Institute of Science is commonly attributed to Dr. Raphael Mechoulam, known as the Godfather of Cannabis Science. Professor Raphael Mechoulam was active in Cannabinoids research work at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem in Israel. He died at the age of 92 on 9th March 2023, and his outstanding contribution in the field of Cannabis research work is very much appreciated. Finally, the contribution of Dr. Roger Adams and the Nobel laureate Dr. Alexander Robertus Todd, Robert Sidney Cahn and Frantisek Santavy and Roger G. Pertwee towards the Cannabinoids research work were also deserved mentioning. Finally, the Cannabis medicines, Sativex (Nabiximols), Epidiolex and Dronabinol are available in the market and used by Doctors prescriptions. This review paper is written in the Memory of Professor Raphael Mechoulam and Dedicated as a token of respect for his outstanding contribution in the field of Cannabis Science Research.