Novel Sublingual Tablet, Suppository, and Vaporizer Cannabis Products Show Faster Absorption Than Standard Formulations
A clinical trial in 12 healthy volunteers found novel sublingual, rectal, and vaporizer cannabis products had more rapid and in some cases less variable absorption of THC and CBD compared to approved products like Sativex.
Quick Facts
What This Study Found
Novel cannabis products showed faster absorption of THC and CBD compared to Sativex and oil-based oromucosal products. The vaporizer provided the most immediate systemic absorption with highest peak concentrations. Sublingual tablets and suppositories had somewhat lower bioavailability than oromucosal products. Safety profiles were comparable across all formulations.
Key Numbers
12 volunteers; 10 products tested; 8 per volunteer. Vaporizer: fastest absorption, highest Cmax. Sublingual/suppositories: faster absorption but lower bioavailability than oromucosal. Safety: novel products non-inferior to approved formulations.
How They Did This
Single-center, single-dose, randomized, crossover, partially blinded controlled trial. 12 healthy volunteers each received 8 of 10 products: novel sublingual tablet, vaporizer, rectal suppositories, Sativex, oil-based oromucosal products, and placebo. Serial blood sampling with noncompartmental pharmacokinetic analysis of THC, 11-OH-THC, and CBD.
Why This Research Matters
Different medical conditions require different cannabinoid absorption profiles. Faster, more predictable absorption could improve dosing precision and clinical outcomes for patients who need rapid symptom relief.
The Bigger Picture
The medical cannabis field needs pharmaceutical-grade products with predictable pharmacokinetics. This study demonstrates that alternative delivery routes can offer distinct PK advantages, potentially allowing clinicians to match delivery method to clinical need.
What This Study Doesn't Tell Us
Very small sample (n=12). Single-dose design in healthy volunteers. Cannot extrapolate to patients with medical conditions. Crossover design may have period effects. Bioavailability differences may matter clinically.
Questions This Raises
- ?Which delivery route is optimal for specific medical conditions?
- ?Would chronic dosing show different PK profiles than single-dose?
Trust & Context
- Key Stat:
- Evidence Grade:
- Randomized crossover PK trial with rigorous design, but very small sample (n=12) and single-dose in healthy volunteers limits generalizability.
- Study Age:
- 2025 publication.
- Original Title:
- Comparative Pharmacokinetic Assessment of Innovative Sublingual, Rectal and Vaporizer Cannabis Products Versus Approved Cannabis Products in Healthy Volunteers.
- Published In:
- Cannabis and cannabinoid research, 10(2), e289-e298 (2025)
- Authors:
- Tarlovski, Sheina, Bar Kadmon, Anat, Goldberg, Eran, Segal, Dadi, Gavish, Dov, Stepensky, David
- Database ID:
- RTHC-07777
Evidence Hierarchy
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the fastest way to absorb medical cannabis?
In this clinical trial, vaporizer delivery provided the fastest and highest blood levels of THC and CBD. Sublingual tablets were also faster than traditional oil-based oral products, though with somewhat lower total absorption.
Are medical cannabis suppositories effective?
This study found rectal cannabis products provided rapid absorption of cannabinoids with a safety profile comparable to approved products. They could be useful for patients who cannot take oral medications.
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Cite This Study
https://rethinkthc.com/research/RTHC-07777APA
Tarlovski, Sheina; Bar Kadmon, Anat; Goldberg, Eran; Segal, Dadi; Gavish, Dov; Stepensky, David. (2025). Comparative Pharmacokinetic Assessment of Innovative Sublingual, Rectal and Vaporizer Cannabis Products Versus Approved Cannabis Products in Healthy Volunteers.. Cannabis and cannabinoid research, 10(2), e289-e298. https://doi.org/10.1089/can.2023.0229
MLA
Tarlovski, Sheina, et al. "Comparative Pharmacokinetic Assessment of Innovative Sublingual, Rectal and Vaporizer Cannabis Products Versus Approved Cannabis Products in Healthy Volunteers.." Cannabis and cannabinoid research, 2025. https://doi.org/10.1089/can.2023.0229
RethinkTHC
RethinkTHC Research Database. "Comparative Pharmacokinetic Assessment of Innovative Subling..." RTHC-07777. Retrieved from https://rethinkthc.com/research/tarlovski-2025-comparative-pharmacokinetic-assessment-of
Access the Original Study
Study data sourced from PubMed, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health.
This study breakdown was produced by the RethinkTHC research team. We analyze and report published research findings without making health recommendations. All interpretations are based solely on the published abstract and study data.