Then (1985), The Emperor Wears No Clothes
The Endocannabinoid System Discovery: Herer Was Right About the Biology
Herer argued that cannabis was not a recreational intoxicant but a substance with profound biological significance, documented medical utility across hundreds of conditions over thousands of years. He could not explain the biological mechanism, only document the historical evidence.
confirmed
Raphael Mechoulam and colleagues at Hebrew University identified the first endocannabinoid, anandamide (arachidonoylethanolamide), in 1992. This established that the human body produces its own cannabinoid-like compounds and has specific receptor systems designed to respond to them. CB1 receptors (primarily in the brain and central nervous system) and CB2 receptors (primarily in the immune system) are distributed throughout the body in patterns that explain the broad therapeutic relevance Herer documented. The endocannabinoid system regulates: pain, mood, appetite, memory, immune function, and stress response. Herer's claim that cannabis had extensive medical utility was biologically grounded in a receptor system that wasn't discovered until seven years after his book was published.