The cannabis plant, also known as weed or marijuana, was not "discovered" by a single person but has a long history of human use dating back thousands of years. Cannabis originally evolved in Central Asia and was first used as herbal medicine in Asia around 500 B.C. The earliest physical evidence of cannabis use dates back about 2,500 years ago in Central Asia, where it was burned for its intoxicating fumes. The oldest written record on cannabis use comes from the Chinese Emperor Shen Nung around 2737 B.C., who prescribed marijuana for various ailments. The psychoactive compound tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), which is responsible for the intoxicating effects of cannabis, was discovered much later in 1964 by Israeli researcher Dr. Raphael Mechoulam, who is considered the "father of cannabis research" for isolating THC and advancing scientific knowledge about cannabis.
In summary:
- Cannabis use dates back thousands of years, with early medicinal use recorded in ancient China by Emperor Shen Nung.
- Archaeological evidence shows psychoactive cannabis use about 2,500 years ago in Central Asia.
- The active compound THC was discovered in 1964 by Dr. Raphael Mechoulam.
This history shows a long timeline of cannabis use and research rather than a single individual discovery.
