Patent Description:
Cannabinoids are a group of chemicals found in Cannabis sativa, Cannabis indica, and related plant species. They are known to activate cannabinoid receptors (CB <NUM> and CB2) in, e.g., mammalian brain cells. These chemicals are also produced endogenously in humans and other animals. Cannabinoids are cyclic molecules exhibiting particular properties such as being lipophilic, have the ability to easily cross the blood-brain barrier, and having low toxicity. As such, cannabinoids have been used to treat medical illnesses such as AIDS and cancer which are often accompanied with a lack of appetite. Moreover, patients receiving cancer chemotherapy often experience nausea and vomiting side effects for which cannabinoids can be helpful (see, e.g., <CIT>). Chronic pain (e.g., neuropathic pain), malignant tumors, spasticity (in multiple sclerosis and spinal cord injury), and dystonia are additional therapeutic targets for cannabinoid therapy. In addition, one cannabinoid, cannabidiol, has been studied as an antiepileptic (<NPL>: <NPL>; <NPL>), and also has been found to lower intraocular pressure (<NPL>; <NPL>). Cannabinoids have been shown to have an anti-proliferative effect on cancers (see, e.g., <CIT> and <CIT>).

There are currently several methods of cannabinoid delivery. Lung delivery is most commonly achieved by smoking cannabis. However, there are health concerns for this mode of administration. Cannabis smoke carries even more tars and other particulate matter than tobacco, so it may cause a loss of lung function or cancer. Furthermore, many patients find the act of smoking unappealing, as well as being generally unhealthy. For these reasons, smoking cannabis is not acceptable as a medical means of administration.

Attempts have been made to overcome some of the problems associated with smoking both cannabis and tobacco by providing various smokeless inhalable aerosol formulations for lung delivery. An inhalable aerosol of delta-<NUM>-tetrahydro-cannabinol (THC) was developed as long ago as <NUM> as a bronchodilator. These formulations were found to be of varying effectiveness in delivering the active agent to the lungs and compliance was an issue even with proper training on the use of inhalation devices.

Attempts have also been made at administering the cannabinoid delta <NUM>-THC orally in the form of a liquid filled soft gelatin capsule, Miranol®. However, severely nauseated patients are often not able to retain the capsules in their stomachs long enough for the drug to take effect. This problem is compounded by the fact that four to six capsules may be required and this just before taken chemotherapy. It has also been found that cannabinoids have poor oral bioavailability, and thus orally administered THC is erratically and slowly absorbed into the bloodstream, making the dose and timing of action difficult to control. Indeed, the oral bioavailability of Miranol® is very poor, ranging from <NUM>-<NUM>% due to cannabinoids being broken down by the liver resulting in high first-pass metabolism. Therefore, the oral administration of cannabinoids requires larger doses for which the absorption is erratic and uncontrolled for both dose and onset of drug action.

In order to overcome the limitations associated with inhaled and oral cannabinoid delivery, other cannabinoid delivery systems have been developed, e.g., aerosol and pump spray delivery systems for the oral mucosa. These systems (e.g. Sativex®) also show a high degree of variability in pharmacokinetic parameters such as dose delivered, time to maximum drug plasma levels and maximum plasma levels.

Attempts have also been made to improve oral delivery of cannabinoids by use of organic acids, essential oils and lecithin and other excipient and through complexation with cyclodextrin. <CIT> discloses sublingual dosage forms of cannabinoids comprising self-emulsifying agents. Transdermal preparations have also been attempted.

Thus, the commercially available cannabinoid delivery systems have erratic absorption and poor bioavailability. Therefore, there is real unmet medical need for improved modes of cannabinoid delivery.

A common problem associated with transmucosal administration via the buccal route, is swallowing the dose due to the continuous secretion of saliva in the oral cavity. This contributes to observed pharmacokinetics variability of oral cannabinoid sprays and aerosols. For optimal drug delivery the buccal and sublingual dosage forms must remain in contact with oral mucosa for a time sufficient to allow for the absorption of a pharmaceutically active agent. More specifically, the dosage form must not be washed away by saliva into the gastrointestinal tract. However, the rate of disintegration or dissolution of the dosage form must not be so slow as to cause discomfort or inconvenience for the patient. Additionally, suitable buccal and sublingual dosage forms should be small in size and designed so that the shape avoids discomfort to the patient during use. Most importantly the formulation must be designed so that the cannabinoid is in a solution which optimizes its transmucosal permeation.

The sublingual/buccal composition described herein is a convenient, safe, fast acting, solid oral dosage form which provides accurate and timely cannabinoid delivery with increased oral bioavailability as it avoids swallowing the dosage and subsequent high first- pass metabolism associated with gastrointestinal absorption of cannabinoids.

It has been discovered that a solid dosage form for the sublingual/buccal administration of solvated cannabinoids is able to achieve satisfactory or therapeutic plasma levels in a mammalian subject, with fast onset of drug action and improved oral bioavailability compared to the currently marketed cannabinoid products.

This discovery has been exploited to develop the present invention, which, in one aspect, provides a pharmaceutical composition in a solid dosage form for sublingual or buccal administration, comprising: a cannabinoid; a pharmaceutically-acceptable solvent into which the cannabinoid is solvated, wherein the solvent is ethanol; and a pharmaceutically-acceptable adsorbent onto which the solvated cannabinoid is adsorbed, wherein the adsorbent is silica, wherein the composition contains range of ethanol from <NUM>% to <NUM>% weight/weight ethanol to cannabinoid.

In certain embodiments, the adsorbent comprises silicon dioxide, amorphous silica, hydrated silicon dioxide, fumed silica, colloidal silicon dioxide, magnesium aluminum silicate, magnesium silicate, calcium silicate, or a mixture thereof. In specific embodiments, the adsorbent comprises ZEOPHARM <NUM>, AEROSIL <NUM>, CABOSIL MP5, AEROPERL <NUM>, SYLOID 244FP, SYLOID 63FP, SYLOID <NUM> FP, SIPERNAT 160PQ, SIPERNAT <NUM>, SIPERNAT <NUM>, SYLOID <NUM>, SYLOID <NUM>, SIPERNAT 500LS, SIPERNAT <NUM>, SIDENT <NUM>, SIDENT <NUM>, SIDENT <NUM>, SIDENT <NUM>. In some embodiments, the cannabinoid comprises cannabidiol (CDB), <NUM>-hydroxy-delta-<NUM>-tetrahydro-cannabinol, and <NUM>-hydroxy-delta-<NUM>- tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). Other cannabinoids include dimethyl heptylpentyl cannabidiol (DMHP-CBD), <NUM>, <NUM>-dihydro-<NUM>-hydroxy-cannabidiol (see, e.g., <CIT>); (<NUM>,4R)-<NUM>- hydroxy-A6-tetrahydrocannabinol homologs and derivatives (described in <CIT>); (+)-<NUM>-[<NUM>-DMH-<NUM>,<NUM>-diacetoxy-phenyl]-<NUM>-carboxy-<NUM>,<NUM>-dimethylbicyclo[<NUM>. <NUM>]hept-<NUM>-en, and other <NUM>-phenylpinene derivatives (see, e.g., <CIT>), and cannabidiol (-)(CBD) analogs such as (-)CBD-monomethylether, (-)CBD dimethyl ether; (-)CBD diacetate; (-)<NUM>'- acetyl-CBD monoacetate; and ±AF1 <NUM> (see, e.g., <NPL>), cannaichromene (CBC), cannabichromenic acid (CBCV), cannabidiolic acid (CBDA), cannabidivarin (CBDV), cannabigerol (CBG), cannabigerol variant (CBGV), cannabicyclol (CBL), cannabicyclol (CBN), tetrahydrocannabivarin (THCV), tetrahydrocannabivarinic acid (THCVA), cannabitriol (CBO), cannabinol propyl variant (CBNV), and tetrahydrocannabinolic acid (THCA). In certain embodiments, the cannabinoid comprises delta-<NUM>-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). In some embodiments, the THC is present at from about <NUM> to about <NUM> or from about <NUM> to about <NUM>. In other embodiments, the cannabinoid is cannabidiol (CBD). In some embodiments, the CBD is present at from about <NUM> to about <NUM> or from about <NUM> to about <NUM>.

In some embodiments, the concentration of the solvent is from about <NUM>% to about <NUM>% weight/weight solvent to cannabinoids. In certain embodiments, the weight/weight ratio of silica : cannabinoid solution is from about <NUM> : <NUM> to about <NUM> : <NUM>.

The compositions according to the disclosure may further comprise a water-soluble diluent, a disintegrant, a lubricant, or mixtures thereof. In some embodiments, the diluent comprises mannitol. In certain embodiments, the disintegrant comprises low-substituted hydroxypropyl cellulose. In particular embodiments, the lubricant comprises sodium stearyl fumarate.

In some embodiments, the composition is in the form of a tablet or film.

The compositions of the invention may be prepared by a method comprising: solvating the cannabinoid in ethanol to form a solvated cannabinoid; mixing the solvated cannabinoid with silica, onto which the solvated cannabinoid is adsorbed; and processing the solvated cannabinoid/adsorbent into a solid dosage form.

In some embodiments, the cannabinoid is THC or CBD.

In particular embodiments, the method further comprising adding an excipient to the solvated cannabinoid/adsorbent. In specific embodiments, the excipient added is a lubricant, a water-soluble diluent, a disintegrant, or a mixture thereof. In some embodiments, the lubricant comprises sodium stearyl fumarate. In certain embodiments, the diluent comprises mannitol. In particular embodiments, the disintegrant comprises low-substituted hydroxypropyl cellulose.

In some embodiments, the method further comprises processing the solvated cannabinoid/adsorbent composition into a tablet.

In another aspect, the disclosure provides a pill pack comprising the cannabinoid composition of claim <NUM> encased within a packaging enclosure.

In yet another aspect (not part of the invention), the disclosure provides a method of treating a disease in a subject in need thereof, for which a cannabinoid is an effective therapeutic, comprising: buccally or sublingually administering the cannabinoid composition of claim <NUM> to the subject by placing the composition in an oral cavity of the subject, whereby a therapeutically effective amount of the cannabinoid is administered.

The foregoing and other objects of the present disclosure, the various features thereof, as well as the invention itself may be more fully understood from the following description, when read together with the accompanying drawings in which:.

Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this disclosure belongs.

The present disclosure provides a cannabinoid composition comprising a solid dosage form for sublingual and buccal administration. The composition comprises a cannabinoid, a solvent into which the cannabinoid is solvated, wherein the solvent is ethanol, and an adsorbent onto which the solvated cannabinoid is adsorbed, wherein the adsorbent is silica. It has been discovered that the combination of the solvated cannabinoid mixed with the adsorbent which when formulated into a solid dosage form for sublingual/buccal administration unexpectedly improves oral bioavailability with fast onset of cannabinoid action compared to other prior art forms for oral delivery of cannabinoids. This composition prepared in accordance with the method of the disclosure thereby unexpectedly provides an unmet medical need for a convenient, safe, fast acting, solid oral dosage form which provides accurate and timely cannabinoid delivery with increased oral bioavailability as it avoids swallowing the dosage and subsequent high first-pass metabolism associated with gastrointestinal absorption of cannabinoids.

For purposes of the present invention, the term "cannabinoid" includes any member of naturally occurring and synthetic cannabinoids and related compounds, and extracts from any Cannabis species and varieties. The cannabinoids may be natural, semisynthetic, or synthetic. They may be included in its free form, or in the form of a salt; an acid addition salt of an ester; an amide; an enantiomer; an isomer; a tautomer; a prodrug; different isomeric forms (for example, enantiomers and diastereoisomers), both in pure form and in admixture, including racemic mixtures. Cannabinoids include compounds (such as THC) that have high affinity for the cannabinoid receptor (for example Ki < <NUM>), and compounds that do not have significant affinity for the cannabinoid receptor (such as cannabidiol (CBD)). Cannabinoids also include compounds that have a characteristic dibenzopyran ring structure (of the type seen in THC) and cannabinoids which do not possess a pyran ring (such as cannabidiol). The term "cannabinoid" is also meant to encompass derivatives that are produced from another compound of similar structure by the replacement of, e.g., substitution of one atom, molecule or group by another, e.g., cannabidiol (CDB), <NUM><NUM>-hydroxy-delta-<NUM>- tetrahydro-cannabinol, and <NUM>-hydroxy-delta-<NUM>-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). Other cannabinoids include dimethyl heptylpentyl cannabidiol (DMHP-CBD), <NUM>, <NUM>-dihydro-<NUM>- hydroxy-cannabidiol (see, e.g., <CIT>); (<NUM>,4R)-<NUM>-hydroxy-A6-tetrahydrocannabinol homologs and derivatives (described in <CIT>); (+)-<NUM>-[<NUM>-DMH-<NUM>,<NUM>-diacetoxy- phenyl]-<NUM>-carboxy-<NUM>,<NUM>-dimethylbicyclo[<NUM>. <NUM>]hept-<NUM>-en, and other <NUM>-phenylpinene derivatives (see, e.g., <CIT>), and cannabidiol (-)(CBD) analogs such as (-)CBD- monomethylether, (-)CBD dimethyl ether; (-)CBD diacetate; (-)<NUM>'-acetyl-CBD monoacetate; and ±AFl l (see, e.g., <NPL>). cannaichromene (CBC), cannabichromenic acid (CBCV), cannabidiolic acid (CBDA), cannabidivarin (CBDV), cannabigerol (CBG), cannabigerol variant (CBGV), cannabicyclol (CBL), cannabicyclol (CBN), tetrahydrocannabivarin (THCV), tetrahydrocannabivarinic acid (THCVA), cannabitriol (CBO), cannabinol propyl variant (CBNV), and tetrahydrocannabinolic acid (THCA). Many other useful cannabinoids are disclosed in <NPL>. The term cannabinoid also includes prodrugs of cannabinoids, as well as pharmaceutically acceptable salts and complexes of cannabinoids. Ranges useful in the composition according to the disclosure for THC and CBD are about <NUM> to about <NUM>, about <NUM> to about <NUM>, about <NUM> to about <NUM>, about <NUM> to about <NUM>, or about <NUM> to about <NUM>.

The cannabinoid is mixed with a solvent into which it solvates or dissolves. As used herein "to solvate" or "solvation" refers to the process of attraction and association of molecules of a solvent with molecules or ions of a solute, here, a cannabinoid. Solvation is the process of surrounding the solute, or cannabinoid, with solvent. It involves evening out a concentration gradient and evenly distributing the solute within the solvent. The solvent is the alcohol ethanol. The solvent is provided in a range from <NUM>% to <NUM>%, or about <NUM>% to about <NUM>% weight/weight solvent to cannabinoid.

The solvated cannabinoid is then added to an adsorbent. This process creates a film of the solvated cannabinoid (the "adsorbate") on the surface of the adsorbent. This adsorbent may be a pharmaceutically acceptable adsorbent.

The adsorbent is silica. The term "silica" encompasses materials that contain silicon dioxide including, but not limited to, amorphous silica, hydrated silicon dioxide, fumed silica, silica gel, colloidal silicon dioxide, magnesium aluminum silicate, magnesium silicate, calcium silicate, and/or mixtures thereof. Useful, non-limiting adsorbents include silica, microcrystalline cellulose, cellulose, silicified microcrystalline cellulose, clay, talc, starch, pregelatinized starch, calcium carbonate, dicalcium phosphate, magnesium carbonate, and mixtures thereof.

Specific useful silicas include, but are not limited to, e.g. ZEOPHARM <NUM>, AEROSIL <NUM>, CABOSIL MP5, AEROPERL <NUM>, SYLOID 244FP, SYLOID 63FP, SYLOID <NUM> FP, SIPERNAT 160PQ, SIPERNAT <NUM>, SIPERNAT <NUM>, SYLOID <NUM>, SYLOID <NUM>, SIPERNAT 500LS, SIPERNAT <NUM>, SIDENT <NUM>, SIDENT <NUM>, SIDENT <NUM>, SIDENT <NUM>. The useful silica to cannabinoid solvate ratio ranges in the composition according to the disclosure for THC and CBD are about <NUM> : <NUM> to about <NUM> : <NUM>, about <NUM> : <NUM> to about <NUM> : <NUM>, or about <NUM> : <NUM> :<NUM> to about <NUM> : <NUM>.

Excipients can be added to the solvated cannabinoid/adsorbent to aid in the performance or processing of the solid dosage form composition. These can include pharmaceutically acceptable water-soluble diluents, disintegrants, lubricants, glidants, cosolvents, or combinations thereof.

Useful water-soluble diluents may be pharmaceutically acceptable. Useful diluents include, but are not limited to, sugars, polyols, saccharides, polysaccharides, dextrate, dextrins, dextrose, fructose (ADVANTOSE FS <NUM>), lactitol (FINLAC DC), lactose, erythritol, maltose, isomalts, maltitol, a maltodextrin, a polydextrose, trehalose, mannitol (PEARLITOL <NUM> DC, PEARLITOL <NUM> DC, PEARLITOL <NUM> DC, MA OGEM <NUM>, MA OGEM EZ, PARTEKM100, PARTECK M200, PARTECK M300), a polyethylene glycol, sorbitol (PARTECK SI <NUM>, PARTECK SI <NUM>, PARTECK SI <NUM>), sucrose, xylitol and mixtures thereof. One exemplary diluent is mannitol. Non-limiting ranges are from about <NUM>% to about <NUM>%, about <NUM>% to about <NUM>%, or about <NUM>% to about <NUM>% weight/weight per dosage unit.

Another useful non-limiting excipient is a disintegrant which may be pharmaceutically acceptable. Useful disintegrants include, but are not limited to, sodium starch glycolate, crospovidone, croscarmellose sodium, low-substituted hydroxypropyl cellulose, starch, pregelatinized starch, microcrystalline cellulose, and mixtures thereof. One exemplary disintegrant is low-substituted hydroxypropyl cellulose. The useful non-limiting content of the disintegrant in the composition may be from about <NUM>% to about <NUM>%, from about <NUM>% to about <NUM>%, from about <NUM>% to about <NUM>%, or from about <NUM>% to about <NUM>% weight/weight per dosage unit.

Yet another useful non-limiting excipient is a lubricant, which may be pharmaceutically acceptable. Useful lubricants include, but are not limited to, sodium stearyl fumarate, magnesium stearate, stearic acid, sodium lauryl sulfate, talc, polyethylene glycol, calcium stearate, /or mixtures thereof. One exemplary lubricant is sodium stearyl fumarate. The non-limiting content of the lubricant in the composition may be from about <NUM>% to about <NUM>%, from about <NUM>% to about <NUM>%, or from about <NUM>% to about <NUM>% weight/weight per dosage unit.

Other useful excipients that can comprise the composition include, but are not limited to, a colorant, a flavoring, a coating agent, a binder, a diluent, a glidant, a film-forming polymer, an opacifying agent, a humectant, a granulating agent, a gelling agent, a polishing agent, a suspending agent, a sweetening agent, an anti-adherent, a preservative, an antioxidant, a chelating agent, a plasticizer, a tonicity agent, a viscosity agent, a controlled- release agent, a wax, a wetting agent, a thickening agent, a stiffing agent, a stabilizing agent, a sequestering agent, a mucoadhesive, a sialagogic agent, an essential oil, an emollient, a dissolution enhancer, a dispersing agent, a buffering agent (e.g., phosphate, carbonate, tartrate, borate, citrate, acetate, and malate buffers) and combinations thereof.

The method of manufacture for a solid dosage form for sublingual or buccal administration according to the present disclosure may employ any suitable method known in the art including, but not limited to, directly compressing the solvated cannabinoid/adsorbent into a tablet form. Other methods to process the solvated cannabinoid/adsorbent include, but are not limited to, added to premanufactured tablets, cold compressions with inert fillers and binders, direct powder blends, wet or dry granulations, film casting, molding, layer tablets, lyophilization, microencapsulation, freeze drying, spray-congealing, spray-drying, co-melt, spheronization, triturates, troching, powder layering, pelleting, encapsulation, pilling, and combinations thereof.

For example, the solid dosage form may be a tablet containing from about <NUM> to about <NUM>, from about <NUM> to about <NUM>, from about <NUM> to about <NUM>, from about <NUM> to about <NUM>, from about <NUM> to about <NUM>, or from about <NUM> to about <NUM> of a cannabinoid. The solvent is present in an amount ranging from <NUM>% to <NUM>%, or from about <NUM>% to about <NUM>% weight/weight solvent to cannabinoid. The adsorbent silica can be present in a silica with a silica to cannabinoid solvate ratio ranging from about <NUM> : <NUM> to about <NUM> : <NUM>, from about <NUM> : <NUM> to about from <NUM> : <NUM>, or from about <NUM> : <NUM> :<NUM> to about <NUM> : <NUM>. The level of cannabinoid solvate: silica adsorbent in the solid dosage form ranges from about <NUM>% to <NUM>%, from about <NUM>% to about <NUM>%, from about <NUM>% to about <NUM>%, or from about <NUM>% to about <NUM>% weight/weight to the dosage form. A water-soluble diluent, but not limited to, mannitol, can be present in an amount ranging from about <NUM>% to about <NUM>%, about <NUM>% to about <NUM>%, or from about <NUM>% to <NUM>% weight/weight per dosage unit. It is understood by the skilled artisan, that use of the term "about" includes the range as stated, are within what is normally acceptable in the pharmaceutical industry. The US Pharmacopeia allows a plus and minus range of <NUM>% in the assay for the active ingredient in most solid dosage forms.

One non-limiting example of the preparation of a solid tablet form of the composition according to the disclosure is shown in <FIG>. THC is solvated in ethanol, and then adsorbed to silica to form a THC/silica/adsorbent. Other excipients are then added to the THC/silica/adsorbent, which is then compressed into sublingual/buccal tablets. In one embodiment, the excipients added is mannitol, low-substituted hydroxypropyl cellulose, and/or sodium stearyl fumarate, to form a final blend composition. The final blend is compressed into <NUM> tablets using <NUM> inch round tooling to prepare a <NUM> strength THC sublingual tablet.

The sublingual/buccal tablets may be packaged in such a manner as to aid in maintaining stability. Packaging methods and materials may include, but are not limited to, blister packaging in a foil/foil, foil/Acrylonitrile, foil/polychlorotrifluoroethylene laminates, or placed into glass and plastic bottles.

The composition according to the disclosure can be used or administered by placing it under the tongue, or in the buccal cavity, and leaving it undisturbed until it disintegrates, which typically occurs within <NUM> minutes, more or less. The amount of cannabinoid to be administered and how often is determined by the condition being treated.

For example, the composition according to the disclosure can be used in the treatment of any disorder for which a cannabinoid has therapeutic properties. Non-limiting examples of such disorders include AIDS, cancer, and malignant tumors, which are often accompanied with a lack of appetite, nausea, and vomiting, chronic pain (especially neuropathic pain), spasticity (e.g., in multiple sclerosis and spinal cord injury), dystonia, intractable pediatric epilepsy. Other disorders treatable with the formulation according to the present disclosure include oxidation-associated disease such as myocardial infarction, stroke (motor or sensory abnormalities), and cerebral infarct, or a neurovascular thromboembolic event. The composition may be administered in combination with other therapeutic drags. The amount and manner of treatment comprising administration of the cannabinoid composition according to the disclosure is determined by a medical professional.

The composition may also be prepared for recreational use or use as a supplement.

The critical sublingual/buccal tablet attributes which reflect the product's in vivo performance characteristics are disintegration and dissolution. Useful, non-limiting methods used to determine disintegration, dissolution, pharmacodynamic and the pharmacokinetic attribute of the sublingual/buccal tablet are described below in the Examples.

While rapid tablet disintegration is prerequisite for rapid drug release from a tablet, drug dissolution from the dosage form actually measures whether the drug is available for absorption through the oral mucosa. A useful method for measuring rapidly disintegrating sublingual tablets in vitro was developed by <NPL>). (See Example <NUM> below. ) An alternative method to evaluate dissolution of sublingual tablets is the USP Dissolution Method <<NUM>>. Short drug dissolution times can be evaluated using this method in small volumes, i.e., <NUM>, which is comparable to the amount of saliva in the oral cavity rather than the <NUM> used for oral tablets dissolution in USP <<NUM>>.

Reference will now be made to specific examples illustrating the disclosure. It is to be understood that the examples are provided to illustrate exemplary embodiments and that no limitation to the scope of the disclosure is intended thereby.

A <NUM> strength THC sublingual/buccal tablet having a total tablet weight of about <NUM> is comprised of a THC, ethanol, silica, mannitol, low-substituted hydroxypropyl cellulose, and sodium stearyl fumarate. An exemplary formulation manufactured for this embodiment and in accordance with the subject invention is provided in Table <NUM>, below. This tablet formulation was used for disintegration, dissolution and pharmacodynamic testing conducted herein.

The tablet is prepared by solvating THC with ethanol to make a solution with or without a co-solvent. The drug solution is then adsorbed to silica. The solvated THC/silica mixture is blended using a tumble blender with mannitol as the water-soluble diluent, low-substituted hydroxypropyl cellulose as a disintegrant, and sodium stearyl fumarate as a lubricant and this blend is directly compressed on a tablet press using <NUM> inch, round, standard concave tooling into a tablet for sublingual/buccal administration.

A <NUM> strength CNB sublingual/buccal tablet having a total tablet weight of about <NUM>, is prepared. This tablet comprises of ethanol, silica, mannitol, low substituted hydroxypropyl cellulose, and sodium stearyl fumarate, in amounts shown in Table <NUM>.

The tablet is prepared by solvating CNB into ethanol by mixing at room temperature. The drug solution is then adsorbed to silica. The solvated CBD/silica mixture is then blended using a tumble blender with mannitol as the water-soluble diluent, low-substituted hydroxypropyl cellulose as a disintegrant, and sodium stearyl fumarate as a lubricant in a tumble blender. This blend is directly compressed into a tablet on a tablet press using <NUM> inch, round, standard concave tooling.

The THC composition according to Example <NUM> was tested for disintegration using the USP Disintegration Method <<NUM>>. The standard apparatus and basket assembly without the use of disc was used for measuring the disintegration of sublingual tablets.

The USP monographed acceptance criteria for Sublingual Nitroglycerin Tablet all six tablets have to disintegrated within <NUM>. The results for THC sublingual tablets according to Example <NUM> meets the USP acceptance criteria for Sublingual Nitroglycerin Tablets being less than <NUM> with all six tablets disintegrated rapidly between <NUM> sec and <NUM> sec.

The dissolution of the THC sublingual tablets according to Example <NUM> were evaluated using the achid method at <NUM> sec, <NUM> sec, and <NUM> sec using <NUM> of <NUM>. <NUM> phosphate buffer, pH <NUM>, with <NUM>% Tween <NUM> as the dissolution media. THC concentrations in the dissolution media were assayed by thin layer chromatography (TLC) (Cannalytics Supply, Denver, Colorado). The dissolution time points were assayed for THC by extracting <NUM> of dissolution media from each time point with <NUM> of the chlorinated hydrocarbon solvent provided in the kit for eluting the TLC plate. A total of <NUM>µl sample from, the chlorinated hydrocarbon extract was deposited on the TLC plate for each time point. The TLC plate was developed and stained to determine the amount of THC at each time point. A photograph of the developed TLC plate is shown in <FIG>.

The developed TLC plate shows that the size of the red spots at <NUM> sec and <NUM> sec are comparable. At the <NUM> sec time point they appear similar in size or slightly smaller. This demonstrates that the critical tablet attribute of THC dissolution is rapid, occurring within <NUM>, and therefore available for absorption through the oral mucosa.

To determine the pharmacodynamics effects of the <NUM> sublingual THC tablet volunteers, who were familiar with the effects of cannabis, placed the THC sublingual tablet, as embodied herein in Example <NUM> , under the tongue and left it undisturbed. Shortly thereafter, i.e., within about <NUM> minutes, the pharmacological effects of THC were apparent to all volunteers. This included mild euphoria, elation, merriment and heightened sensory awareness. The symptoms peaked in about <NUM> minutes and continued for several hours thereafter.

Claim 1:
A pharmaceutical composition in a solid dosage form for sublingual or buccal administration, comprising:
a cannabinoid;
a pharmaceutically-acceptable solvent into which the cannabinoid is solvated, wherein the solvent is ethanol; and
a pharmaceutically-acceptable adsorbent onto which the solvated cannabinoid is adsorbed, wherein the adsorbent is silica,
wherein the composition contains range of ethanol from <NUM>% to <NUM>% weight/weight ethanol to cannabinoid.