Medicinal cannabis delivery systems: A perspective

In recent years, cannabis derivatives have been proposed for the treatment of various medical conditions, including pain, inflammation, epilepsy, sleep disorders, multiple sclerosis, anorexia, schizophrenia, neurodegenerative diseases, nausea, and cancer. While the benefits of cannabis derivatives, primarily cannabinoids, have been demonstrated and continue to be studied, their use presents various challenges associated with their low water solubility, rapid metabolism, erratic and poor bioavailability, and erratic pharmacokinetics, which directly affect their efficacy. In this context, a great deal of research is being carried out to overcome these drawbacks by designing delivery systems capable of improving solubility/bioavailability, potency, and efficacy, while addressing the purity and quality issues required by the pharmaceutical industry. This article aims to critically review the major trends and challenges in designing controlled-release cannabinoid delivery systems and their potential application in the pharmaceutical industry.