A new oral delivery technology (Solutech) produced significantly faster absorption and higher peak blood levels of THC and CBD compared to standard MCT-oil, and participants' cannabis use history significantly influenced their pharmacokinetic profiles.
Pharmacologists, cannabis product developers, and clinicians interested in oral cannabis dosing precision.
Novel delivery system enhanced most pharmacokinetic parameters vs. standard oil
What the researchers found
Solutech produced significantly greater peak concentration, faster time to peak, and larger absorption rate constants for THC, CBD, and metabolites compared to MCT-oil. Participants who started using cannabis later in life had higher peak levels of THC and CBD. Those with more years of recreational use had higher total exposure to THC and CBD.
Why it matters
Oral cannabis bioavailability is notoriously variable. This delivery technology could make oral dosing more predictable, and the finding that use history affects pharmacokinetics has implications for personalized dosing.
The numbers in context
32 participants; single dose of 10 mg THC + ~10 mg CBD; blood collected at 17 timepoints over 48 hours. Age of first use and years of use both significantly affected pharmacokinetic parameters (p≤0.032 and p≤0.048 respectively).
How the study worked
Randomized, triple-blind, comparator-controlled parallel study in 32 healthy adults. Participants received a single dose of either Solutech or MCT-oil containing ~10 mg THC and ~10 mg CBD. Blood was collected at 17 timepoints over 48 hours.
What this study cannot tell us
Single-dose study. Small sample size (n=32). Only healthy participants tested. Long-term safety and efficacy not assessed. The influence of use history on pharmacokinetics needs replication.
How to read the evidence
Well-designed triple-blind RCT but small sample size and single-dose design.
When this study was published
Published in 2022.
The bigger picture
As cannabis products move toward pharmaceutical-grade formulations, delivery technologies that improve bioavailability and reduce variability could bridge the gap between recreational edibles and precision medicine.
Questions still open
- Does faster absorption translate to faster therapeutic onset? Would repeated dosing change the pharmacokinetic advantage? How does body composition interact with these delivery systems?
Common questions
What is Solutech and how does it work?
How does cannabis use history affect blood levels?
Read the original research
A Randomized, Triple-Blind, Comparator-Controlled Parallel Study Investigating the Pharmacokinetics of Cannabidiol and Tetrahydrocannabinol in a Novel Delivery System, Solutech, in Association with Cannabis Use History.
Cannabis and cannabinoid research, 7(6), 777-789
Citation
Berl, Volker; Hurd, Yasmin L; Lipshutz, Bruce H; Roggen, Markus; Mathur, Eric J; Evans, Malkanthi. (2022). A Randomized, Triple-Blind, Comparator-Controlled Parallel Study Investigating the Pharmacokinetics of Cannabidiol and Tetrahydrocannabinol in a Novel Delivery System, Solutech, in Association with Cannabis Use History.. Cannabis and cannabinoid research, 7(6), 777-789. https://doi.org/10.1089/can.2021.0176
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