The History of CBD: From Ancient Hemp to Modern Wellness
CBD is simultaneously old and new. On one hand, the history of cannabis and human
CBD may seem like a modern wellness trend, but the story of cannabis and hemp stretches back thousands of years.
Long before CBD gummies, tinctures, and topical products appeared on store shelves, civilizations across Asia, the Middle East, and Europe were cultivating hemp for fiber, food, and traditional medicinal uses. What we now know as cannabidiol—or CBD—would not be isolated and scientifically identified until the 20th century.
The history of CBD is a fascinating combination of ancient plant knowledge, modern chemistry, groundbreaking discoveries, and changing attitudes toward cannabis.
So, where did CBD come from, and how did it become one of today's most talked-about cannabinoids?
Let's take a look.
Hemp in the Ancient World
Hemp is one of the oldest cultivated plants known to humanity. Archaeological evidence suggests that cannabis was being used in parts of Europe and East Asia thousands of years ago, with some evidence dating back roughly 8,000 years or more. Early societies primarily valued hemp for its strong, versatile fibers, which could be used to make rope, textiles, clothing, and other materials.
Ancient China is particularly important to the history of hemp. Hemp was used for practical purposes such as textiles and was also incorporated into traditional medicine.
Cannabis has long been associated with Chinese medicine, although some popular accounts credit the legendary Chinese emperor Shen Nung with discovering its medicinal properties around 2737 BC. Historians point out that the traditional text associated with Shen Nung was actually compiled much later, so the exact date of this early medicinal use is difficult to establish.
The important takeaway is that cannabis and hemp were not simply agricultural crops. They were plants with a wide range of uses that became part of traditional practices in numerous cultures.
Cannabis Spreads Across the World
Over the centuries, cannabis spread from Asia into the Middle East, Africa, and Europe.
Different cultures used the plant in different ways. Hemp continued to be an important source of fiber and food, while cannabis preparations were incorporated into various traditional medical practices.
By the medieval period, physicians in the Islamic world were documenting cannabis as part of their medical practices. Historical accounts describe its use in connection with conditions including pain, inflammation, nausea, and other ailments.
In Europe, cannabis eventually began attracting attention from physicians as interest in botanical medicines expanded.
One of the most important figures in the early history of cannabis in Western medicine was Irish physician William Brooke O'Shaughnessy.
Cannabis Enters Western Medicine
During the 1830s, O'Shaughnessy studied cannabis preparations while working in India. He reported on their use for conditions involving muscle spasms, pain, and other symptoms.
His work helped introduce cannabis-based preparations to Western medicine at a time when physicians were beginning to explore plant-based medicines more systematically.
Cannabis extracts eventually became available in pharmacies and medical preparations in Europe and the United States.
But the story would soon become much more complicated.
As the 19th century gave way to the 20th century, cannabis became increasingly associated with recreational use and eventually became the subject of significant legal restrictions. As cannabis became more controversial, scientific research into its individual compounds became more difficult.
That would change with the development of modern cannabinoid science.
The Discovery of CBD
So when was CBD actually discovered?
Cannabidiol, or CBD, was first isolated from cannabis in 1940 by American chemist Roger Adams and his colleagues. At the time, however, scientists did not yet have a complete understanding of CBD's structure or how it interacted with the human body.
This is an important distinction.
CBD was isolated in 1940, but its chemical structure was not fully elucidated until 1963, when Israeli researcher Raphael Mechoulam and his colleagues clarified the structure of cannabidiol.
Researchers also began identifying other cannabinoids around this time. The discovery and characterization of THC in the 1940s and 1960s gave scientists a much better understanding of why different cannabis compounds could produce very different effects.
One of the most important findings was that CBD does not produce the intoxicating "high" associated with THC.
That distinction would eventually become central to the modern CBD industry.
The Endocannabinoid System Changes Everything
Perhaps the most important chapter in the history of CBD didn't happen until decades after CBD was isolated.
In 1988, researchers William Devane, Allyn Howlett, and colleagues identified compelling evidence of a specific cannabinoid receptor in the brain. This receptor became known as the CB1 receptor. It was subsequently cloned in 1990.
Then, in 1992, researchers identified anandamide, one of the body's naturally occurring endocannabinoids.
These discoveries helped establish what is now known as the endocannabinoid system (ECS).
The ECS is a biological signaling system involved in regulating a variety of physiological processes. It includes cannabinoid receptors, naturally occurring endocannabinoids, and the enzymes involved in producing and breaking down those compounds.
This discovery helped explain something scientists had been trying to understand for decades:
Why does the human body respond to cannabinoids in the first place?
The answer is that humans have their own cannabinoid signaling system.
That realization opened the door to an entirely new era of cannabinoid research.
CBD Research Gains Momentum
For many years, CBD received far less attention than THC. Because CBD does not produce the same intoxicating effects as THC, scientists initially had limited understanding of its potential.
That began to change as researchers learned more about CBD, the endocannabinoid system, and the many biological pathways cannabinoids can influence.
Research into CBD has expanded significantly over the past several decades. Scientists have investigated CBD in connection with areas including neurological function, inflammation, anxiety, sleep, and other aspects of health and wellness.
It is important, however, to distinguish between research into CBD's potential and proven medical claims.
CBD is not a cure-all, and evidence varies considerably depending on the condition, dosage, formulation, and population being studied.
Today, the FDA has approved one prescription CBD drug, Epidiolex, for certain seizure disorders. Other CBD products available to consumers have not been FDA-approved to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent diseases.
That distinction matters—and it is one reason consumers should pay attention to product quality and marketing claims.
Charlotte Figi and the Rise of Modern CBD
Few stories had a greater impact on public awareness of CBD than that of Charlotte Figi.
Charlotte was a young Colorado girl with Dravet syndrome, a severe form of epilepsy. Her story gained national attention after her family explored CBD as part of her treatment journey.
Her experience helped bring attention to the possibility that non-intoxicating cannabis compounds could have applications beyond recreational cannabis.
The story also helped change the conversation around CBD. Instead of viewing cannabis only through the lens of marijuana and THC, more people began to recognize that the cannabis plant contains numerous individual compounds with different properties.
Charlotte's story became an important part of the cultural history of CBD and contributed to the rapid growth of public interest in hemp-derived products.
The 2018 Farm Bill and the Modern CBD Industry
Another major milestone came in 2018, when the federal government passed the Agriculture Improvement Act, commonly known as the 2018 Farm Bill.
Among other changes, the law removed hemp from the federal definition of marijuana under the Controlled Substances Act, defining hemp at the time as cannabis and cannabis derivatives containing no more than 0.3% delta-9 THC by dry weight.
This opened the door to a rapidly expanding market for hemp-derived products, including CBD oils, gummies, capsules, topicals, and products for pets.
But "legal hemp" did not mean that every CBD product automatically became FDA-approved or federally legal in every form.
The FDA continues to regulate products containing CBD under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act. The agency currently states that CBD cannot lawfully be marketed by adding it to foods or by labeling it as a dietary supplement under federal law.
This is an important distinction that is often lost in conversations about CBD.
Hemp legalization and FDA approval are not the same thing.
CBD Laws Are Still Evolving
The legal history of CBD isn't finished.
In 2025, Congress enacted legislation that changes the federal definition of hemp. Among other provisions, the new law changes the federal standard from a delta-9 THC concentration limit to a total THC standard that includes THCA.
The law also establishes additional exclusions for certain hemp-derived cannabinoid products, including final products containing more than 0.4 milligrams combined total per container of total THC and certain other cannabinoids with THC-like effects.
These changes are scheduled to take effect on November 12, 2026.
Because federal and state laws continue to evolve, consumers and businesses should pay attention to current regulations rather than relying on outdated information about hemp and CBD.
CBD Today: What Should Consumers Look For?
CBD has come a long way from the early days of cannabis research.
Today, consumers can choose from hundreds of hemp-derived products. But with that growth comes an important question:
How do you know what you're actually buying?
Not every CBD product is created the same way.
Consumers should look for companies that are transparent about their ingredients, cannabinoid content, manufacturing practices, and testing.
Third-party laboratory testing is particularly important because it can provide independent information about what is actually in a product.
At Farmer & Chemist, we believe consumers deserve to know what they're putting into their bodies.
Our products are formulated with an emphasis on quality and transparency, and we provide access to product information and third-party testing so customers can make informed decisions.
We also believe education should come before the sale.
Whether you're interested in CBD for everyday wellness, relaxation, sleep support, recovery, or simply want to learn more about cannabinoids, understanding what you're buying is an important first step.
From Ancient Hemp to Modern CBD
The history of CBD is really the history of a much larger story.
For thousands of years, people have cultivated and used hemp. In the 20th century, scientists began isolating and identifying individual cannabinoids. Researchers later discovered cannabinoid receptors and the endocannabinoid system, giving us a much deeper understanding of how cannabinoids interact with the body.
And today, research continues.
CBD may be a modern wellness product, but its roots reach back thousands of years.
From ancient hemp fibers to modern cannabinoid science, the journey of CBD is far from over.
At Farmer & Chemist, we're proud to be part of that next chapter—combining the long history of hemp with modern science, pharmacist-informed formulation, and a commitment to transparency.