Medicinal cannabis oil: THC & CBD oil
Medicinal cannabis oil (CBD oil, THC oil), drops or extracts are obtained by the extraction of cannabinoids from the dried flowers of the cannabis plant. Medicinal oils are prepared from pharmaceutical-grade cannabis flowers, such as those produced by Bedrocan. The purpose of producing cannabis oil is to make cannabinoids and other components (i.e. terpenes), available in a highly concentrated form.
Medicinal cannabis oils are typically intended for oral or sublingual administration. In recent years, they have become increasingly popular because they are convenient to use compared with inhalation through vaporization. In addition, healthcare professionals, including prescribers and pharmacists, are generally more familiar with oral dosing, which may further support their use.
Bedromed drops – with THC
Bedromed drops is a pharmaceutical cannabis extract with standardised amounts of cannabinoids. The cannabinoids are dissolved in MCT oil (Medium Chain Triglyceride oil). The oil acts as a carrier for the active ingredients such as THC and/or CBD. The oromucosal drops are derived from Bedrocan’s own cannabis flowers. Bedromed drops will be available in Germany, United Kingdom and Italy. In the Netherlands our cannabis flowers are extracted by pharmacies as magistral preparations. Please refer to our contact page for an overview of Dutch compounding pharmacists and manufacturers using GMP-certified production methods.
Oromucosal administration of medicinal cannabis oils
Medicinal cannabis oils (or drops) can be administrated via the oral mucosa (sublingual and buccal) and offers a faster onset of action compared to oral doses. A healthy mucosa will absorb these lipophilic medicines more promptly. Some dose formats require a medical device, such as a dropper or syringe.
The dose size impacts the rate of absorption and the risk of swallowing a dose. A swallowed dose will be poorly absorbed and extensively metabolised.
The pharmacist prepares medicinal cannabis oil at the Transvaal Pharmacy, the Netherlands
Homemade cannabis oil
Using homemade or unregulated cannabis oil or concentrates should not be advised. Home or unregulated production can pose risks to patients who consume them.
The exact composition of these oils is frequently unknown. They are not checked for quality by external certified laboratories for the presence of residual solvents, or contaminants such as microbes, pesticides, heavy metals or mycotoxins. The lack of standardisation of both the cannabis starting material and oils makes it impossible to fully evaluate their therapeutic effects over time and, hence, their medicinal value.
What is CBD oil?
CBD oil contains cannabidiol as active ingredient, a component from the cannabis plant. CBD is a non-psychoactive substance, which does not give you a ‘high’ feeling.
In recent years, a large, unregulated market for CBD oils has emerged. These products are typically derived from fibre-type cannabis strains (hemp), which contain large concentrations of CBD, but negligible of THC.
Patients should preferably obtain CBD oil from the pharmacy because it meets the highest pharmaceutical quality requirements. Non-regulated CBD oils that can be bought online or at the drugstore don’t always contain the amount of CBD that is stated on the label. The origin of the raw materials is often unclear. It is also possible that the oil is contaminated with heavy metals or pesticides.
