On March 9th, 2023 Raphael Mechoulam passed away at the age of 92 however, he has a legacy that will never die. He has been named the father of cannabis research for his pioneering and research into this overly restricted drug. “Most of the human and scientific knowledge about cannabis was accumulated thanks to Prof. Mechoulam,” - Hebrew University President Asher Cohen. “He paved the way for groundbreaking studies and initiated scientific cooperation between researchers around the world. Mechoulam was a sharp-minded and charismatic pioneer.”
Mechoulam is best known for his work in the isolation, structure elucidation and total synthesis of THC(Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol). He also synthesized CBD (cannabidiol) and CBG (cannabigerol). Raphael Mechoulam published more than 450 scientific articles. Being a prolific researcher he got the ball rolling in terms of communication between scientists and broadening the general acceptance of the plant as something other than an illegal drug and started broadening scientific minds to the miracle of cannabis.
In 2017 Mechoulam helped form The Hebrew University Multidisciplinary Center for Cannabinoid Research allowing for more researchers to continue their multi pronged analysis into everything cannabis has to offer. While we study this plant we’re also learning more about ourselves as human beings. How we react to the plant, how different parts of our body respond like our endocannabinoid system, CB1 and CB2 receptors, and many more things to come.
Raphael Mechoulam has been Honored and awarded multiple times for his contributions to our knowledge, and our community as a whole. Professor Mechoulam contributed the first pioneering steps into cannabis research in our age. He has provided through his efforts the majority of human and scientific knowledge on cannabis. We look forward to years more of communication and research happening into Cannabis and all it has to offer. A sincere thank you to Professor Raphael Mechoulam; the more we know the more we can destigmatize a plant that was wrongfully used to incite hate crimes that has had a severe negative generational impact on America.