Pharmacokinetic study of delta-8-tetrahydrocannabinol in male rats using a validated bioanalytical method.
Journal of Analytical Toxicology April 30, 2026 Alexandria S. Senetra, Sushobhan Mukhopadhyay, Yi-Hua Chiang et al.
Delta-8-THC, a cannabinoid growing in popularity for its reported therapeutic effects, was studied in male rats to understand its pharmacokinetics. After a single oral dose of 7.5 mg/kg, the compound showed very low oral bioavailability of 3.0%, with a peak plasma concentration of 13.4 ng/mL reached in 0.5 hours. Intravenous dosing at 1.25 mg/kg revealed a clearance rate higher than rat liver blood flow, suggesting elimination occurs partly outside the liver, and a large volume of distribution, indicating extensive movement into tissues. The elimination half-life was 13.9 hours. These findings suggest that oral Delta-8-THC is poorly absorbed, while its distribution and clearance patterns resemble those of other cannabinoids.