Dr. Raphael Meshulam, the scientific giant and pioneer who first studied the effects of the cannabis plant and synthesized THC, has died at the age of 92 at his home in Israel, according to an announcement made by American Friends at Hebrew University. His death was as monumental as it was unexpected and the reaction was swift from all corners of the cannabis industry, an industry that made his unprecedented scientific discoveries possible in the first place.
The Bulgarian-born scientist was arrested early in his career for carrying five kilograms of what he called “fantastic smuggled Lebanese hashish” while on a bus in Tel Aviv. Dr. Meshulam was in possession of cannabis for analysis, not for smoking. Although this scientific giant’s epic journey began in rather auspicious fashion, the soon-to-be icon will be interrupted by nothing else in his determined quest for answers about the powerful plant.
Historical results
Dr.. mashulam Twin Historical Results He led his research team at the Hebrew University School of Pharmacy including isolating THC, the psychoactive component found in all cannabis plants, as well as CBD or cannabidiol, the dominant and potent component in cannabis with a wide range of medicinal and therapeutic benefits.
Dr. Meshulam’s findings cannot be underestimated given their undeniable importance, hence his well deserved title as the “Father of Cannabis”.
He immigrated with his family to Israel from Bulgaria in 1949, joined the scientific staff at the Weizmann Institute in Rehovot, Israel (after graduating with a PhD from said institution) and became a professor at the Hebrew University in 1972.
Dr. Meshulam was a fierce advocate for legal cannabis, often expressing his displeasure with the strict drug laws in the United States and around the world. When the scientist and his team discovered more about the magical plant’s healing powers – particularly in the areas of cancer and epilepsy – he expressed his frustration to New York times in 2017. “Israel has more clinical trials than the United States right now, which is absurd,” said Dr. Meshulam.
In the 1990s, Dr. Mechoulam discovered an endocannabinoid system that does nothing less than regulate homeostasis in humans (and how we all, in turn, process cannabinoids).
As the tale of this hugely important figure in the history of cannabis grows, Dr. Meshulam is said to have begun to study cannabis—something he has done his entire adult life—simply because he wanted to go into a not-yet-crowded scientific area. Also, the fact that he resided in the relatively small country of Israel prompted the world’s most famous cannabis researcher, “Let’s give cannabis a chance.”
Until his death, Dr. Meshulam was the head of the Hebrew University’s Interdisciplinary Center for Cannabis Research, the largest center of its kind in Israel, and an institution of global importance conducting advanced research in cannabinoids, cannabinoids, and endocannabinoids.
“Dr. Raphael Meshulam pioneered the paradigm shift from cannabis being a recreational experience to a high medical opportunity,” hemp now Publisher and CEO, Eugenio Garcia.
“With cannabis being relatively new, there are leaders who have made really remarkable strides in this field. With the passing of Dr. Meshulam we have lost another legend. We are grateful for his vision and mission to unlock what cannabis can do for the planet and heal people.”
in 2020, hemp now Travel to Israel to explore cannabis culture and take part in the annual Canna Tech Conference hosted in Tel Aviv.
“When we were filming Our documentary In Israel, Dr. Meshulam was very generous with his time,” says Garcia. He invited us to the university to take part in a dialogue about the science and benefits of cannabis. It was great to connect with him personally.”
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