Erin Berthold
University of Florida
Objectives: With the changing legal status of cannabis and an increase in availability and use of products derived from the plant, it is important to explore assertions related to these products. Cannabidiol (CBD) is the major cannabinoid found in hemp-type cannabis and the number of CBD products on the market, and the claims made regarding these products, continues to grow with little supporting research. A phenomenon known as the “entourage effect” is commonly referred to in the CBD industry and asserts that products formulated from whole-plant extracts will have better bioavailability and overall effect than those formulated from CBD isolate as they contain terpenes and flavonoids and additional cannabinoids. The goal of this study was to determine if there was a significant difference in the pharmacokinetics of CBD, in male and female rats, when delivered as isolate, broad-spectrum (whole plant extract with Δ-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ-9-THC) extracted out), or full-spectrum (whole plant extract with < 0.3% Δ-9-THC) product.