To determine the pharmacokinetics of a solution containing cannabidiol (CBD) and cannabidiolic acid (CBDA), administered orally in 2 single-dose studies (with and without food), in the domestic rabbit ( Oryctolagus cuniculus ).

6 healthy New Zealand White rabbits.

In phase 1, 6 rabbits were administered 15 mg/kg CBD with 16.4 mg/kg CBDA orally in hemp oil. In phase 2, 6 rabbits were administered the same dose orally in hemp oil followed by a food slurry. Blood samples were collected for 24 hours to determine the pharmacokinetics of CBD and CBDA. Quantification of plasma CBD and CBDA concentrations was determined using a validated liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (LC-MS) assay. Pharmacokinetics were determined using noncompartmental analysis.

For CBD, the area under the curve extrapolated to infinity (AUC) _0–∞ was 179.8 and 102 hours X ng/mL, the maximum plasma concentration (C _max ) was 30.4 and 15 ng/mL, the time to C _max (t _max ) was 3.78 and 3.25 hours, and the terminal half-life (t _1/2λ ) was 7.12 and 3.8 hours in phase 1 and phase 2, respectively. For CBDA, the AUC _0–∞ was 12,286 and 6,176 hours X ng/mL, C _max was 2,573 and 1,196 ng/mL, t _max was 1.07 and 1.12 hours, and t _1/2λ was 3.26 and 3.49 hours in phase 1 and phase 2, respectively. Adverse effects were not observed in any rabbit.

CBD and CBDA reached a greater C _max and had a longer t _1/2λ in phase 1 (without food) compared with phase 2 (with food). CBDA reached a greater C _max but had a shorter t _1/2λ than CBD both in phase 1 and phase 2. These data may be useful in determining appropriate dosing of cannabinoids in the domestic rabbit.