1992Peer-reviewedWell documented
The Endocannabinoid System Discovered
On the timeline · around 1992 ·
What happened
Following Mechoulam's work, researchers found that the human body makes its own cannabis-like chemicals. In 1992 they identified anandamide — the first 'endocannabinoid' — revealing a whole signaling system that regulates mood, appetite, pain and memory.
Why it matters
The discovery showed cannabis works by hijacking a natural system in our own bodies, transforming the scientific and medical case for the plant.
Sources
Related timelines
- Medicine → — The body's own cannabinoid system