The chemistry of cannabis
How Israeli scientist Professor Raphael Mechoulam discovered the crucial compounds in one of the world's most widely-used drugs.
The Israel scientist Raphael Mechoulam has been researching what’s thought to be the world’s most popular drug since the 1960s. In 1964, he isolated Tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC – the compound that gets cannabis-users high. Later, professor Mechoulam discovered another compound called CBD, or Cannabidiol, which has medical benefits without any kind of psychoactive effect. Recently, CBD has had a revolutionary impact on treating health conditions such as epilepsy. Prof Mechoulam talks to Claire Bowes.
(Photo: A marihuana plant in India. Credit: Getty Images)
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- Thu 5 May 202207:50GMTBBC World Service
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- Thu 5 May 202221:50GMTBBC World Service East and Southern Africa & West and Central Africa only
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