Pharmacokinetics of oral Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) administration in vervet monkeys

Cannabis and its primary psychoactive component, Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), are increasingly studied for their pharmacological effects, yet little is known about their pharmacokinetics in non-human primates. This study aimed to characterize the pharmacokinetic profile of THC and its metabolites following oral administration in vervet monkeys under both acute and short chronic exposure conditions. Using high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS/MS), we quantified delta 9-THC, 11-hydroxy-THC (11-OH-THC), and 11-nor-9-carboxy-THC (THC-COOH) in blood samples. THC concentrations increased after dosing, with peak values observed around 4 h post-ingestion. On day 1 and day 8, the 4-hour increase was observed across dose groups. The baseline (0 h) THC on Day 8 was increased when compared to Day 1. 11-OH-THC showed a similar peak around 4 h time course. CBD was increased only at day 1 for the highest dose and THC-COOH was not significantly increased. These findings provide a pharmacokinetic foundation for future research on THC’s therapeutic and behavioral effects in vervet monkeys and help inform dosing strategies for translational studies.