Humans have been using cannabis for thousands of years for
medical treatments, spiritual purposes, textile manufacturing,
and other reasons. In recent history, chemists have isolated
many cannabinoids, the metabolites in cannabis sativa, and have
described some of their biological activities. For example, some
cannabinoids have potent effects on multidrug resistant bacteria
and others are effective against pain. The structures of known
cannabinoids also inspire chemists to create synthetic chemicals
to mimic certain aspects of their function, like pain reduction,
while providing a powerful medical effect and avoiding negative
side effects. Although a lot of work that has been done on
cannabis, scientists have not identified every cannabinoid, so
many research groups are continuing to identify and categorize
the chemicals in cannabis. Samir Ross from the University of
Mississippi led one such group in the discovery of nine new
cannabinoids, and they published the structures and biological
activities of these c