What is Cannabis Oil?
Medical cannabis oil is an oral route of administration designated for treatment with medical cannabis. It is extracted by Ethanol or Carbon Dioxide (CO2) from cannabis flowers and then mixed with a variety of vegetable oils to control the concentrations of the two major cannabinoids in the plant: THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) and CBD (cannabidiol).
Today, there are three main “types” of cannabis oils:
- THC oil or THC-rich oil: contains higher THC concentration than CBD concentration
- CBD oil or CBD-rich oil: contains higher CBD concentration than THC concentration
- “Balanced” oil: contains similar concentrations of THC-CBD
In some countries, there are additional oil products, such as purified CBD oil (containing almost 99% of CBD) or purified THC oil, but they are less common in the rest of the world.
THC Oil for Chronic Pain: Therapeutic Benefits & Side Effects
There is not enough research on the effectiveness or safety of THC-rich cannabis oil.
Thus far, one Israeli study (not published in a peer-reviewed journal yet; only as a poster at a conference) focused on chronic neuropathic pain patients consuming THC-rich oil over six months. In this study, patients reported an average daily intake of 26.3 mg of THC and an improvement of about 20% in various clinical parameters, such as weekly average pain intensity, pain catastrophizing, anxiety, sleep disturbance, pain disability, and quality of life. At the same time, 51% of the patients reported at least one adverse effect; the most common were dizziness, confusion, and abdominal discomfort. However, no severe adverse effects were reported3.
THC Oil for Cancer
A retrospective study among elderly cancer patients consuming mostly THC-rich cannabis oil found no significant differences in pain, nausea, appetite, insomnia, or anxiety scores as a result of the treatment4. This highlights the need for further research.
Absorption and Bio-Accessibility
Although there is not much literature on the bio-accessibility of cannabinoids administered orally, one study indicated that absorption rates of CBD (which may also be generalized to THC) vary based on food intake. The findings suggest that the presence of food may enhance the absorption5 and potentially influence the cannabinoids’ effect.
Cannabis Oil Vs. Inhaled Cannabis
Despite the increased penetration of medical cannabis to global markets and a consensus stating that the oral consumption of medical cannabis is the preferable form of consumption2, in many countries, the oral route of administration is much less common than the inhalation route of administration1.
- Aviram J, Pud D, Gershoni T, Schiff Keren B, Ogintz M, Vulfsons S, et al. Medical Cannabis Treatment for Chronic Pain: Outcomes and Prediction of Response. Eur J Pain. 2020;25(2):359–74.
- Bhaskar A, Bell A, Boivin M, Briques W, Brown M, Clarke H, et al. Consensus recommendations on dosing and administration of medical cannabis to treat chronic pain: Results of a modified delphi process. Postgrad Med [Internet]. 2021;3(22):1–12. Available from: https://www.embase.com/search/results?subaction=viewrecord&id=L634270805&from=export%0Ahttp://dx.doi.org/10.1080/00325481.2020.1824967
- Pud D, Aamar S, Schiff-Keren B, Sheinfeld R, Brill, S, Robinson D, et al. Effectivenes and Safety of Medical Cannabis Oil Extract (Axiban) Treatment for Patients With Chronic Pain – PTH380. In: IASP 2022 World Congress on Pain. Toronto, Canada; 2022. p. 1.
- Nathan R, Mupamombe CT, Elibol J, Case AA, Smith D, Hyland A, et al. Assessing Efficacy and Use Patterns of Medical Cannabis for Symptom Management in Elderly Cancer Patients. Am J Hosp Palliat Med. 2022;1–6.
- Mozaffari K, Willette S, Lucker BF, Kovar SE, Holguin FO, Guzman I. The effects of food on cannabidiol bioaccessibility. Molecules. 2021;26(12):1–12.
