PubMed · 2026-07-01
A systematic review of 12 mathematical models reveals why the same cannabis dose hits people very differently: the drug's absorption into the body varies wildly depending on how it's taken, the formulation used, and whether someone is a regular user. Researchers compiled these models into a reference repository to help clinicians tailor cannabis-based medicine to individual patients.
Bioavailability of THC varied from 22% to 91% across studies, reflecting extreme absorption unpredictability tied to route of administration, formulation, and usage history.
Between-subject variability in clearance ranged 17-50% and in volume of distribution 10-57%, with absorption-phase variability consistently the largest driver across all 9 reviewed THC models.
All 12 identified population pharmacokinetic models used two- or three-compartment structures; the review consolidates them into a standardized repository to guide model-informed precision dosing.
