Inventor Tribute: Professor Raphael (Raphi) Mechoulam

• Published date: 28 March 2023
• Subject Matter: Intellectual Property, Food, Drugs, Healthcare, Life Sciences, Cannabis & Hemp, Patent
• Law Firm: JMB Davis Ben-David
• Author: Mr Avraham Hermon

Israeli cannabis researcher Professor Raphael Mechoulam, passed away last week at the age of 92. He was known for his cannabinoid research, including isolating and determining the structure of one of the most important active compounds in cannabis, delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol, commonly known as THC.

His research paved the way for many companies active in the cannabis field today.

Aside from publishing many papers on his research, he was listed as an inventor on over 50 patent families. The front page of one of his earlier US patents is shown below.

I spoke with him at a conference dedicated to medical cannabis in Tel Aviv a few years ago, and it impressed me to see that he was active in public speaking and innovating in the cannabis field well into his late 80s. The first time that I met him was in the early 2000s, while working for a company which was developing some of his technology...