Rectal administration of cannabis oil can activate the cannabinoid receptors found there, which could be beneficial for local conditions such as hemorrhoids or acute inflammation. The rectum also contains several key veins that carry blood throughout the body, but suppositories do not seem to facilitate the absorption of cannabinoids into the bloodstream. There is currently some debate about whether rectally administered cannabis can effectively treat conditions that affect the entire body. The most common research indicates that the rectal absorption rates of cannabis reach 50-70%.
However, in these studies, delta-9-THC was combined with an ester hemisuccinate, which is an additive designed to increase absorptive capacity by breaking down fat-soluble compounds into water-soluble compounds. Suppositories are a little less “worthy”, but they are a totally viable alternative to cannabis use. A suppository involves inserting a cone-shaped dose of cannabinoids into the rectum, where they are absorbed into the bloodstream through the colon. The euphoric effect of a suppository tends to appear quickly, last longer and be safer to consume.
But the sense of apprehension that underlies the article belies the fact that rectal cannabis is actually a very good idea. There's a reason why CBD companies invest in products and there's a reason why doctors defend them. In a study conducted in 1985, researchers found no circulating levels of THC Δ9 in blood plasma after the rectal administration of THC. A major benefit for those concerned that medical marijuana users are getting too high with their medication is that THC is less efficiently absorbed through the rectum than CBD, and some patients claim that they get the therapeutic benefits of CBD without the intense effect that THC can cause.
Unlike normal THC, it was found that hemisuccinate ester THC easily penetrates and absorbs into the rectal mucous membranes and then enters the circulation in the form of Δ9 THC.
