Taste also matters in medical cannabis treatment

When discussing the development of cannabis-based products, attention focuses on cannabinoid concentration, safety, and potential therapeutic effects. However, a seemingly simple aspect can also interfere with treatment: taste.

Cannabinoid-rich oils can have a bitter taste, an intense odor, and an unpleasant texture. These characteristics can make oral administration difficult, especially in children and individuals with food selectivity. Therefore, developing a pharmaceutical product does not merely mean incorporating the active ingredient into a formulation. It is also necessary to consider the patient experience.

In a study recently published in the journal AAPS PharmSciTech, we evaluated oil-in-water emulsions containing extracts rich in cannabidiol (CBD) or cannabigerol (CBG).

In emulsions, the oil phase containing the cannabinoids is dispersed in an aqueous phase. This arrangement can modify formulation characteristics related to taste perception and help reduce the signature associated with bitterness.

To investigate this effect, an electronic tongue was used—equipment composed of sensors capable of generating profiles related to the physicochemical characteristics of the samples. Emulsions containing CBD or CBG presented instrumental profiles similar to that of the emulsion without extract and clearly distinct from caffeine, which was used as a bitter reference substance.

This result provides preliminary evidence that emulsions can be a promising strategy to mask characteristics related to the bitterness of cannabinoid extracts. However, it is important to emphasize that an electronic tongue does not replace human perception.

A challenge for these formulations is stability. Although they showed favorable initial results, in a stability study we observed a loss of formulation structure, as well as a reduction in cannabinoid content.

The study should be understood as a proof of concept. It demonstrates the feasibility of using emulsions as a starting point for developing oral cannabinoid preparations with potentially more suitable sensory characteristics, but it also highlights that real-time stability studies are still needed, along with trials to assess bioavailability and, subsequently, controlled sensory testing.

As with other medications, quality is not just about the amount of active ingredient in the bottle. Stability, uniformity, ease of administration, and acceptability are also part of pharmaceutical development. A formulation can only properly fulfill its role when, in addition to being safe and effective, it can actually be taken by the patient.