Renowned Scientist Raphael Mechoulam Passes Away
Raphael Mechoulam, a renowned Israeli scientist who is widely regarded as the father of cannabis research, passed away on September 2, 2021, at the age of 90. His death was confirmed by the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, where he had been a professor of medicinal chemistry since 1972.
Mechoulam was born in Bulgaria in 1930 and moved to Israel with his family when he was a child. He received his Ph.D. in organic chemistry from the Hebrew University in 1958 and went on to conduct groundbreaking research in the field of cannabis.
In the 1960s, Mechoulam and his team were the first to isolate and synthesize delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the main psychoactive compound in cannabis. This discovery paved the way for further research into the plant’s medicinal properties and led to the development of synthetic THC-based medications such as Marinol.
Mechoulam’s research also uncovered the endocannabinoid system, a network of receptors in the human body that interacts with cannabinoids such as THC and cannabidiol (CBD). This discovery has led to a better understanding of how cannabis affects the body and has opened up new avenues for medical research.
Throughout his career, Mechoulam received numerous awards and accolades for his contributions to science, including the Israel Prize in chemistry in 2000 and the Rothschild Prize in chemical sciences and physical sciences in 2012. He was also a member of the Israel Academy of Sciences and Humanities, the National Academy of Medicine in the United States, and the Royal Society of Chemistry in the United Kingdom.
Mechoulam’s passing is a significant loss for the scientific community and the cannabis industry. His groundbreaking research has had a profound impact on our understanding of cannabis and its potential as a medicine. His legacy will continue to inspire future generations of scientists to explore the therapeutic properties of this remarkable plant.
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