CANNAINVESTOR Magazine September / October 2016 | Page 55

Twenty years later, Mechoulam and his team concluded that THC interacts with the largest receptor system in the human body, the endocannabinoid system. Mechoulam’s team then found that the human brain produces its very own form of cannabis – a chemical that they named anandamide after the Sanskrit word ananda, translated as bliss.

CNN medical correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta described Israel as “the medical marijuana research capital” in his documentary “Weed.” He dedicated a portion of his CNN program to Israel’s advances in cannabis research. Gupta was also amazed to see how seamlessly Israel had integrated cannabis into its health-care system.

More Israelis have PhDs, MDs, and other advanced degrees on a per-capita basis than any other nation. Israel is one of the top five countries for per-capita scientific publication output. An increasing number of the country’s scientists have become active in cannabis related research.

Many cannabis companies based in Israel who are researching cannabis-based medicine are seeking strategic alliances worldwide. Some intend to use the results of their medical research and clinical trials in Israel to propel clinical trials in the U.S. under Food and Drug Administration (FDA) protocols. Others are interested in pursuing relationships with American cannabis businesses to expand their research programs on a state-by-state basis.

Conclusion

Yes, the cannabis industry is

ultimately about a plant, a plant

that has been very misunderstood

for decades. There are challenges

in this new emerging market. But,

the cannabis industry is here to

stay. And yes, investors should

place America’s fastest growing

new industry on their radar

screens.

Author: Jeffrey Friedland

(www.jeffreyfriedland.com),

[email protected],

Tel. 1-646-450-8909.

Jeffrey Friedland is the author of

“Marijuana: The World’s Most

Misunderstood Plant” which is

available at Amazon in print and

Kindle editions at http://www.amazon.com/author/jeffreyfriedlandAmazon

Originally published at www.jeffreyfriedland.com

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