Cannabidiol, or CBD, was discovered in 1940 by Dr. Roger Adams in a sample of hemp he was testing for intoxicating compounds. Prior to the discovery of THC in 1964, scientists were busy looking for the magic ingredient that caused all of the impairing effects of cannabis and happened upon CBD during their search. Fast forward to modern day research, where we now understand how CBD works in the body to create many beneficial physiological and psychological effects.

On this episode of CNT, we highlight the wonders of CBD, the miracle drug that seems to be able to affect numerous chronic conditions, including hypertension, cancer, neurodegenerative disease, and even COVID-19 infection. It can also prevent numerous conditions, such as autoimmune and psychological disorders. So, why isn't CBD part of your daily wellness regimen?

Episode Resources

Appendino, G. (2020). The early history of cannabinoid research. Cannabis and Cannabinoids, 31(4), 919–929. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12210-020-00956-0

Bhunia, S., Kolishetti, N., Arias, A.Y., Vashist, A., & Nair, M. (2022). Cannabidiol for neurodegenerative disorders: A comprehensive review. Frontiers in Pharmacology, 13. https://doi.org/10.3389/fphar.2022.989717

Britch, S.C., Babalonis, S., & Walsh, S.L. (2021). Cannabidiol: Pharmacology and Therapeutic Targets. Psychopharmacology, 238(1), 9–28. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00213-020-05712-8

Dujic, G., Kumric, M., Vrdoljak, J., Dujic, Z., & Bozic, J. (2024). Chronic Effects of Oral Cannabidiol Delivery on 24-h Ambulatory Blood Pressure in Patients with Hypertension (HYPER-H21-4): A Randomized, Placebo-Controlled, and Crossover Study. Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research, 9(4), 979–989. https://doi.org/10.1089/can.2022.0320

Esposito, G., Pesce, M., Seguella, L., Sanseverino, W., Lu, J., Corpetti, C., & Sarnelli, G. (2020). The potential of cannabidiol in the COVID-19 pandemic. British Journal of Pharmacology, 177(21), 4967–4970. https://doi.org/10.1111/bph.15157

Mabou Tagne, A., Pacchetti, B., Sodergren, M., Cosentino, M., & Marino, F. (2020). Cannabidiol for Viral Diseases: Hype or Hope? Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research, 5(2), 121–131. https://doi.org/10.1089/can.2019.0060

Nguyen, L.C., Yang, D., Nicolaescu, V., Best, T.J., Gula, H., Saxena, D., Gabbard, J.D., Chen, S.-N., Ohtsuki, T., Friesen, J. B., Drayman, N., Mohamed, A., Dann, C., Silva, D., Robinson-Mailman, L., Valdespino, A., Stock, L., Suárez, E., Jones, K.A., … Rosner, M.R. (2022). Cannabidiol inhibits SARS-CoV-2 replication through induction of the host ER stress and innate immune responses. Science Advances, 8(8), eabi6110. https://doi.org/10.1126/sciadv.abi6110

Peng, J., Fan, M., An, C., Ni, F., Huang, W., & Luo, J. (2022). A narrative review of molecular mechanism and therapeutic effect of cannabidiol (CBD). Basic & Clinical Pharmacology & Toxicology, 130(4), 439–456. https://doi.org/10.1111/bcpt.13710

Seltzer, E.S., Watters, A.K., MacKenzie, D., Granat, L.M., & Zhang, D. (2020). Cannabidiol (CBD) as a Promising Anti-Cancer Drug. Cancers, 12(11), Article 11. https://doi.org/10.3390/cancers12113203