Cannabinoid-based drugs made by the pharmaceutical industry are readily available by prescription. Each pharmaceutical cannabinoid-based drug corresponds to the three prominent cannabis chemotypes defined by their ratio between THC and CBD (for more information, see Phytocannabinoids, Understanding Cannabis Chemotypes).
Pharmaceutical Cannabinoids and Their Clinical Relevance
Pharma THC
Pharmaceutical drugs containing THC correspond to a cannabis chemotype I, including nabilone or Marinol. They represent a class of drugs primarily produced and standardized from synthetic sources.
FDA approved for:
- Refractory chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting
- Anorexia/weight loss in patients with AIDS
Pharma THC:CBD
Pharmacological products containing THC and CBD (in a relative ratio of 1:1) correspond to a cannabis chemotype II. They represent a class of drugs produced and standardized from either manufactured or plant-based materials. For instance, Nabiximols, the trade name Sativex is a plant-based extract from cannabis.
Examples of approved applications around the world:
United Kingdom:
- Spasticity, overactive bladder, neuropathies secondary to multiple sclerosis (MS)
Canada:
- Neuropathic pain in adults with MS
Germany:
- Spasticity secondary to MS
Pharma CBD
Pharmacological products containing CBD correspond to a cannabis chemotype III.They represent a class of drugs produced and standardized from either artificial or plant-based materials.
The Federal Drug Administration (FDR) approved (June 25, 2018) a pharmaceutical version of CBD, i.e., Epidiolex, for marketing in the treatment of a couple of rare pediatric seizure disorders (Lennox-Gastaut syndrome and Dravet syndrome).
CannaKeys has created access to three groups of pharmaceutical cannabinoids, their scientific data, their clinical recommendations, and some off-label applications. The number in parenthesis denotes the number of clinical trials associated with each cannabinoid.
CannaKeys has created access to three types of pharmaceutical cannabinoids, the scientific data behind them, and their clinical recommended and some off-label applications. The number in parenthesis denotes the number of clinical trials associated with each cannabinoid.
