Celebrating the "Raphael" of medical cannabis, Dr.

Celebrating the "Raphael" of medical cannabis, Dr. Raphael Mechoulam, discoverer of THC and the first person to isolate the substance from the cannabis plant (1964). Professor Mechoulam, considered the father of modern medical cannabis, has done extensive research in the pharmacological properties of cannabis (risking at times his freedom and career). Mechoulam is with the Department for Medicinal Chemistry and Natural Products Faculty of Medicine at Hebrew University of Jerusalem. He is a distinguished member of the Israel Academy of Science.

Dr. Raphael Mechoulam

"Andrea Kremer of HBO's Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel interviewed Dr. Raphael Mechoulam of Hebrew University of Jerusalem, the doctor who discovered THC in 1964 and who has spent the last 50 years studying marijuana. Mechoulam has researched marijuana’s efficacy in relieving not only chronic pain and inflammation but how traumatic brain injuries in mice react to marijuana. Dr. Mechoulam allowed Real Sports to film his team in action as it worked with injured mice. The results are remarkable."

Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel premieres Tuesday, January 21 on HBO (10 p.m. ET/PT) with repeats on HBO and HBO2 throughout the month of January and February. The program will be available from January 27-February 17 on HBO On Demand.