Raphael Mechoulam, the Israeli chemist who first isolated THC, died in his home. He was 92 years old.

The American Friends of the Hebrew University confirmed his death. Mechoulam had been a professor at the university since 1966.

Who Was Raphael Mechoulam?

Raphael Mechoulam was an Israeli organic chemist and professor of Medicinal Chemistry at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. Cannabis research and Mechoulam are essentially synonyms.

This, of course, is likely due to his discovery and isolation of delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the primary psychoactive component of cannabis.

In the 1960s, Mechoulam and his research team were the first to identify and synthesize THC.

This not only illuminated the chemical structure and pharmacology of cannabis but eventually led to the discovery of the endocannabinoid system. 

Medical cannabis wouldn’t be a thing without Mechoulam’s work. His work earned him the title “the father of cannabis research.”

Throughout his career, Mechoulam received numerous awards and honours for his contributions to the field of cannabis research, including the Rothschild Prize in Chemical Sciences and Physical Sciences, the Israel Prize in Exact Sciences, and the Lifetime Achievement Award from the International Cannabinoid Research Society.

Why Did He Study Cannabis?

Raphael Mechoulam’s interest in cannabis began in the 1960s when a cultural shift embraced the plant. But Mechoulam was more interested in science than culture.

“Morphine had been isolated from opium in the 19th century, early 19th century,” Mechoulam said in a 2014 interview. “Cocaine had been isolated from coca leaves mid-19th century. And here we were, mid-20th century, and yet the chemistry of cannabis was not known. So it looked like an interesting project.”

His team isolated THC and its effects on the brain and body. They also isolated other cannabinoids and their effects, including cannabidiol or CBD.

“I was surprised to note that an active compound had apparently never been isolated in pure form,” Mechoulam said. “And that its structure was only partially known. Even the structure of a major crystalline component, cannabidiol (CBD), which had been isolated more than two decades previously, was not fully elucidated.”

And while known as the father or grandfather of cannabis research, Mechoulam also researched the pharmacology of the khat plant, which many people in East Africa and the Middle East often use as a stimulant.

In the West, manufacturers often synthesize it into cathinones or “bath salts.”

“Most of the human and scientific knowledge about cannabis was accumulated thanks to Professor Mechoulam,” Asher Cohen, the president of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, said in a statement. “He paved the way for groundbreaking studies and initiated scientific cooperation between researchers around the world. Mechoulam was a sharp-minded and charismatic pioneer.”

How Did Mechoulam Study Cannabis?

“When we started work many years ago, there was essentially no interest in cannabinoids,” Mechoulam said in a 2019 interview.

He applied for a grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in the United States in the 1960s. They told him that Americans aren’t interested in “marijuana.” That it’s something only Mexicans use. 

Eventually, the NIH reversed course and supported Mechoulam’s research. But this general attitude that cannabis was irrelevant in the 1960s shows that the NIH has always been out of touch.

The current head of its drug abuse sector is the great-granddaughter of Leon Trotsky. She has a clear bias toward the brain-disease model of addiction. Because of one person’s values, funding for research goes one way. It becomes like an ideology. 

For Mechoulam living in Israel, where cannabis was also illegal, he made contacts within police departments for a steady supply. As he said in an interview, “I didn’t have a car at the time. I was on the bus carrying five kilos of hashish. People were just saying, ‘It’s kind of a strange smell.’ We tested that on a few volunteers, including ourselves.”

As Mechoulam wrote in the Annual Review, he and his team “extracted the hashish and, by repeated column chromatography, were able to isolate about 10 compounds — most of them unknown — and elucidate their structures.”

In 1980, he was in Brazil conducting CBD research on people with epilepsy. Within a few months, he and his team found that none of the people in the study reported seizures. 

RIP

Of course, it’s always sad to hear about the passing of a great scientist and innovator like Mechoulam. We will remember his contributions to cannabinoid research for years to come.

An economic winter is coming, but don’t worry; we’ve compiled ten ways cannabis can revive a depressed economy.

When many people hear “cannabis,” they may think of it as a recreational activity or a medical necessity. And it is. But it’s more than that.

So while politicians will inevitably announce “stimulus” and bailouts, the real solution will come from entrepreneurs in a free market.

And since Canada has already legalized cannabis, that’s one hurdle out of the way. Next, cut all the regulations that prevent cannabis from reviving a depressed economy.

Difference Between Hemp and Cannabis

First, let’s briefly discuss the difference between hemp and cannabis.

Centuries of selective breeding have split the cannabis sativa genus into two identifiable crops: consumable cannabis and industrial hemp.

Hemp may be the most sustainable crop on the planet. It is one of the fastest-growing, requires little water, and no pesticides.

It also returns nutrients to the topsoil. Topsoil erosion is a huge problem that, if not dealt with, will result in the starvation of billions before the end of the century.

Ten Ways Cannabis Can Revive a Depressed Economy

#10 – Hemp Biofuels 

We’ve covered this topic before. Naysayers “debunk” this idea based on current hemp strains. But this would be like calculating Canada’s current grain production using wheat stains from the 19th century. You’d conclude that we don’t have enough land to feed ourselves, let alone export.

Likewise, current hemp strains aren’t ideal for biodiesels, but that doesn’t make the idea unworkable. Hemp can create biofuels that power cars and other goods. Transitioning to hemp reduces dependence on Saudi oil and restores Canada’s energy security.

And, of course, creating biofuels creates jobs.

#9 – Industrial Hemp 

Speaking of hemp, we can use it to produce various industrial products. In fact, hemp was once the preferred choice for several consumer products. Consider the jobs created in manufacturing and construction by making hemp paper, textiles and building materials.

Entrepreneurs can produce hempcrete, a sustainable building material made from hemp, lime, and water. It is durable, fire-resistant, and energy-efficient. We can use hempcrete in construction projects, creating job opportunities in the construction industry.

#8 – Clothing Industry 

Right now, a lot of our clothes are cotton-based. Cotton requires pesticides that build up in the soil and contaminate drinking water. Plus, Canada can’t grow cotton. We rely on the United States.

A hemp-based clothing industry not only creates manufacturing jobs but also supports retail.

#7 – Hemp Plastics

Entrepreneurs can use hemp to create biodegradable plastics. A cannabis-hemp plastics industry creates jobs and helps revive a depressed economy, and it’s environmentally sustainable.

#6 – Food 

Cannabis not only helps revive a depressed economy, but it can also relieve food shortages. From protein bars to milk, the growth of the hemp food industry creates jobs in farming and manufacturing, processing plants, and retail.

Ten Ways Cannabis Can Revive a Depressed Economy

#5 – Cannabis Tourism

Tourism is one of the first sectors to notice when people are strapped for cash. However, people don’t stop wanting time off from work. And in a depressed global economy, cannabis tourism may be one of the more affordable options.

That’s why Canada is shooting itself in the foot with these “public health” approaches to legalization. We’ve entirely rejected the idea of cannabis tourism. There are little-to-no consumption lounges, cannabis-centric hotels, or cannabis-infused restaurants.

Gutting the “public health” approach to cannabis legalization and liberalizing the laws will help revive an already depressed cannabis tourist economy.

#4 – Beauty Products 

What sector survives, even thrives, during economic recessions? Beauty products. You can come up with all sorts of reasons why that may be, but the fact is, the Lipstick Index shows how many women consider beauty products just as essential as food and housing.

Entrepreneurs already incorporate hemp oil into beauty products like lotions and shampoos. Growing this industry creates jobs in manufacturing, retail, and marketing.

Ten Ways Cannabis Can Revive a Depressed Economy

#3 – Research and development

With cannabis reviving a depressed economy, you can make money in research and development. Cannabis and hemp research can lead to new discoveries and innovations in medicine, agriculture, and manufacturing.

Create a hemp strain that can survive Canada’s harsh conditions on the prairies, and you could make millions.

#2 – Banking

Cannabis banking remains elusive even in Canada, where it’s legal. The rationale is that Canadian banks are too exposed to the American market and don’t want to piss off D.C.

But considering that this global depression will result from fraudulent banking practices, perhaps the most critical way cannabis can revive a depressed economy is by taking over the money itself.

Cannabis as money? It’s not as far-fetched as it sounds. Money originated as a commodity people liked to have. People like owning gold, but it also works as an effective medium of exchange.

Likewise, people like consuming cannabis, but like cigarettes in prison, grams of cannabis have exchange values that make for effective money.

Cannabis hashcoin to revive a depressed economy? Stranger things have happened…

Ten Ways Cannabis Can Revive a Depressed Economy

#1 – Agriculture

Of course, the #1 way cannabis can revive a depressed economy is through agriculture. Canada is one of the largest agricultural producers and exporters in the world. We should use hemp as a rotational crop to improve soil health and prevent erosion.

As per the 2016 census, there are 193,492 farms in Canada. The average Canadian farm is about 800 acres. To revive a depressed economy, we ease the agricultural sector’s burden by reducing these farms’ taxes and regulations.

Even communist Cuba realizes when shit hits the fan, you need a free market in agriculture. Canadians can support their farmers and future farmers by reducing financial burdens and incentivizing hemp and cannabis production.

Ten Ways Cannabis Can Revive a Depressed Economy

These aren’t the only ways cannabis can revive a depressed economy. And obviously, none of these proposals will work if the Canadian government continues to excessively tax income, capital gains, sales, hotels, employment, carbon, airports, natural resources, businesses, tolls, car tires, guns, fuels, schools, cannabis, alcohol, payroll, customs, and imports.

Once upon a time, Canadians knew they couldn’t compete with the U.S. economy. So our politicians focused on ensuring our business environment was friendly. That our taxes were lower.

As the 1940 Royal Commission reported, “British North American governments did not concern themselves with the daily regulation of the daily pursuits of the people… They took seriously their responsibilities for defence and maintaining internal order but they carried them out with frugal care.”

We’ve clearly lost this Canadian tradition. For cannabis to revive a depressed economy, we’ll have to revive this idea too.

Can cannabis cause psychosis? Public health busybodies will list negative aspects of cannabis as an argument either against legalization or for the “public health” model of legalization (which, in Canada’s case, has been a complete failure).

So if you’re playing public health bingo, you can stamp psychosis next to anxiety, depression, cardiovascular disease, and other “harms” associated with cannabis.

Of course, only .047% of cannabis consumers seek medical help for psychosis. So what’s the rationale behind this belief? Or is it simply reefer madness repackaged as Science™?

Can Cannabis Cause Psychosis? What is Psychosis?

Can cannabis cause psychosis?

Psychosis is a mental health condition characterized by losing contact with reality. People suffering from it usually have symptoms such as delusions, hallucinations, disorganized thinking and behaviour, and difficulty with social interaction and communication.

People suffering from the condition may believe someone is trying to harm them. They may also think that they, or you, for instance, have superhuman powers, like reading minds.

(According to Google’s definition, a symptom of psychosis is not trusting the government).

Someone with psychosis also may experience auditory hallucinations or perceive things that aren’t there. Disrupted thinking and behaviour can result in incoherent sentences and bizarre behaviour.

Psychosis isn’t just one thing. It can involve schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and clinical depression. But it can also be the product of drugs or medical conditions. There is no cure, but many treatment options, including medication and therapy, can help.

Now, just like other drugs, cannabis can induce temporary psychosis. You can say the same for alcohol, amphetamines, antidepressants, steroids, hallucinogens like acid and mushrooms, sedatives, and even caffeine.

The research is pretty conclusive: if you already have psychosis, or are developing it, then using any of the above substances, including cannabis, will worsen the problem.

The people at risk for “cannabis-induced psychosis” are already predisposed to the mental health condition. 

It’s like discouraging everyone from going outside in the sun because some people are predisposed to skin cancer. 

Can Cannabis Cause Psychosis in Young People?

Can cannabis cause psychosis? No, there is no evidence to suggest that otherwise healthy people will go insane when they use cannabis. Put it this way, and it’s obvious the cannabis-induced psychosis scare is reefer madness.

And it’s evident from the messaging.

Solid evidence suggests CBD – the non-psychoactive compound in cannabis – is beneficial in treating psychosis. So why aren’t public health busybodies promoting CBD? Why aren’t they worried about the high costs and government barriers surrounding this miracle supplement?

Of course, they may say we need more “research” despite the plant’s thousands of years of use. 

And today’s pot is more “potent,” and thus, young people should steer clear of the nontoxic herb. Instead, continue taking Prozac, Zoloft, Lexapro, Paxil, Effexor, Cymbalta, Pristiq, Xanax, Valium, Nardil, Marplan, Wellbutrin, Remeron, Seroquel, Risperdal, or Zyprexa.

But suppose an otherwise healthy male teen begins to experiment with cannabis. Is he or she setting themselves up for psychosis down the road?

According to this 2014 study, the young people most at risk for cannabis-induced psychosis are people with genetic susceptibility and childhood trauma.

So, in other words – unfortunate genes and a shitty upbringing contribute to mental health problems. Who knew?

How is cannabis at fault again? How are mentally ill people self-medicating with cannabis a problem with cannabis itself?

Take the edicts of public health and replace “cannabis” with alcohol. Now imagine them making these recommendations seriously to politicians and the public. We’d laugh them out of the room.

But because cannabis legalization is new and today’s weed is more potent than your parents…

What About Potent Cannabis?

Banning whiskey and vodka because they are “stronger” than beer makes absolutely zero sense. And yet, this is the argument public health makes regarding today’s more potent cannabis.

“This isn’t your grandma’s weed” is the mantra of these “cannabis causes psychosis” busybodies.

Actually, it is the same plant. Cannabis is a plant with plant cannabinoids, or phytocannabinoids, that mimic the natural endogenous ones our body produces. Today’s cannabis has a higher concentration of THC cannabinoids. That’s the issue they have.

But, like in the alcohol industry, you have choices. Including the choice not to consume.

You can buy cannabis that’s low in THC and high in CBD, or vice-versa. You can buy a balanced ratio. Or one that focuses on other cannabinoids, like CBN.

How do higher concentrations of THC in cannabis cause psychosis? What is the process by which this occurs? Is it more likely to happen in developing brains than in developed ones?

You’d think there’d be answers since public health is supposed to be “evidence-based.” But many studies define THC’s effects as psychosis and go from there.

It would be like defining all human behaviour as self-interested, so even altruistic actions are considered selfish. 

Suppose that public health is correct. High THC levels in cannabis are dangerous and unhealthy and can cause psychosis, especially in young people. 

The cannabis temperance movement still doesn’t have a foundation to stand on.

As Thomas Sowell said, “Crusaders [against drugs] cannot accept the fact they are not God, that they have neither the right nor the competence to run other people’s lives.”

Can Cannabis Cause Psychosis?

Can cannabis cause psychosis in otherwise healthy people? No, it can aggravate symptoms if you already have or are predisposed to it, but cannabis alone cannot cause poor mental health.

In fact, nothing causes poor mental health. Human beings aren’t billiard balls. We respond to incentives and make choices. Our actions don’t have causes. They have reasons.

A young person with psychosis may consume cannabis as a self-medicating treatment. This may have pros and cons, but the decision belongs to that person. 

We should be concerned only when their behaviour violates property rights. That’s the only “public interest” in whether cannabis causes psychosis.