The particular chemistry of phytocannabinoids and complexity of cannabis-based medicines influence their pharmacokinetic characteristics. Therefore, the evaluation and in vitro/in vivo validation of efficient and preferably harmless administration modes as well as development of ideal application forms are a real challenge.
Clinical phase-1 studies on volunteers, requiring appropriate sensitive bioanalytical methods, are needed to understand absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion of THC and other cannabis constituents after oral, pulmonal or parenteral administration. The resulting data are then the basis to develop appropriate pharmaceutical preparations and optimize these regarding its pharmacokinetic behavior and therapeutic effects.
Pros and cons of THC- (TBMs) and cannabis-based medicines (CBMs) are discussed considering pharmacokinetic, pharmacodynamic, and galenic aspects.