CBD—hailed as a miracle medicine today—would have continued to remain under the shadows of Schedule 1 Drugs if it wasn’t for two mothers from California who experimentedwith CBD oil on their epileptic sons and pushed for an FDA-approved drug.

For many years, CBD and its source plant,Cannabis Sativa,havebeen stigmatized owing to their close ties to THC, an intoxicating agent. But when Catherine Jacobson found out that cannabis is the substance that couldhelp save the life of her son, Ben, she decided to go against the odds. Jacobson’s story is inspiring to say the least.

It’s also evident from this story that CBD oil, often looked upon with skepticism before 2018, holds the potential to do wonders if used in the right manner. Today, from edibles to tinctures to sprays and vapes, CBD is widely popular in the US and legal too.

In this blog today, we’ll look at the history of the cannabis-based extract, which has become a multi-million dollar market in the US.

The History of CBD

In contrast to the popular notion in the US that cannabis is a recently found and lesser-known compound, the history of CBD goes 5000 years back. While it only became popular in the US in the last few decades, the world has been long using cannabis for medicinal and healing purposes.

Asia in 2737 BC

Chinese emperor Cheng Nengiscredited for the first medicinaluse of CBD. Neng is said to have treated malaria, gout, and rheumatoid arthritis with CBD oil-infused tea. In essence, Asia was the first region that discovered the healing properties of cannabis and its compound CBD.

The West

From Asia, CBD traveled to Africa. From there on, it came to Europe, where Queen Victoria was also reported to have used CBD to alleviate menstrual cramps. However, William B. O’Shaughnessy, an Irish physician, should be credited for bringing CBD products to mainstream Englishknowledge through his research in 1839.

Shaughnessy is also the first person to derive the term cannabis, which was previously known as ganja and diamba.

Arrival inthe US

After making waves in Europe’s research and medical industry, CBD then came to the US. It was 1910 when Mexican immigrants, deeply devoted to cannabis, brought CBD oils, tinctures, and hemp flowersto America.

Why Cannabis Became Illegal in the US

In the 1970s, America went all out with its War on Drugs. As a result, all cannabis-based products, such as Delta-9 THC and CBD, became illegal. Many researchers were against enlisting CBD as a Schedule 1 Drug owing to its numerous health properties. The compound, however, remained illegal during the 70s and the 80s.

The Comeback

While the US continued its crackdown against CBD products, other South American nations were keen to discoverCBD’s benefits. A Brazilian study conducted on epileptic patients and volunteers showed that CBD had great potential to treat epilepsy seizures. The research community in the US, too,continued to lobby and had an abundance of data to support their claims.

The First State to Legalize Cannabis

In 1996, after two decades of the ban, California was the first state to legalize medical marijuana use. Soon after, Washington, Alaska, Oregon, Hawaii, Colorado, and Nevada allowed their citizens to use CBD for medical reasons.

2018 Farm Act Bill

In 2018, the research around medical marijuana had already made it legal in different parts of the US. But a bill was signed by President Donald Trump that legalized the growth of industrial cannabis in the country. Now, 37 states allowed CBD for medical purposes, whereas 19 also allowed it to be used for recreational needs.

FDA Approves First CBD Drug

Shortly before Donald Trump signed the Farm Act Bill in December 2018, FDA approved Epidiolex in June. Epidiolexis a pure CBD-based drug that treats severe types of epilepsy among children. This is the same drug that Jacobson and her partner Evelyn Nussenbaum had initially experimented with to push it into FDA’s pipelines.

Why is CBD Hailed in the US Today?

Although medical marijuana was legalized in the US in 1996, researchers have found a wide range of health benefits over the years. Today, CBD edibles, CBD vapes, and tinctures are used for the following purposes:

Treatment for Epilepsy

Epilepsy is the most common illness that’s treated with CBD extract.

Stress and Anxiety Reliever

Most Americans also use CBD gummies for anxiety or mix CBD oil in their recipes to calm their nerves. CBD is said to be a great stress and anxiety reliever.

Sleep Disorders

Some say that CBD can help you sleep better at night. This has made many insomniac patients turn to CBD.

Autoimmune Disorders

Autoimmune diseases like lupus, MS, arthritis, and diabetes can also be managed better with CBD products.

Neurodegenerative Disorders

Alzheimer’s is a neurodegenerative condition that can be managed with CBD. Researchers are looking into this development at the moment.

Opioid Addiction

Opioid claims hundreds of lives in the US every day. It’s reported that CBD oil can help fight opioid addiction with its pain management properties.

The Future Outlook

As more research continues on CBD’s health benefits, it’s expected that the CBD market will grow at a CAGR of 21 percent. By 2028, the CBD industry will generate approximately $55 billion in revenues.

Have You Tried CBD Yet?

For many years cannabis remained illegal in the US, and thus many people failed to avail its benefits. Since 2018, families and individuals have found hope as CBD oil is available for use in many parts of the US.

If you are looking to get your hands on premium CBD hemp flower products, get in touch with Mary Jane’s Bakery Co. The CBD store is the best place to buy CBD products online. Buy organic CBD gummies, CBD edibles, and CBD vapes across the US today.

Author Bio

The author is a CBDadvocate, researcher, and educationist. The author is based in California and has closely worked with families looking for CBD-based cures for epilepsy and other chronic conditions.