Prodrugs of tetrahydrocannabinol, compositions comprising prodrugs of tetrahydrocannabinol and methods of using the same

1. A compound having the formula:

wherein OR 1 is selected from the group consisting of a diphosphate, a triphosphate, an alkali metal phosphate salt, an alkaline earth metal phosphate salt, and a phosphate salt of an organic base.

2. The compound of claim 1 wherein the organic base is selected from a group consisting of choline, betaine, caffeine, N, N′-dibenzylethylenediamine, diethylamine, 2-diethylaminoethanol, 2-dimethylaminoethanol, ethanolamine, ethylenediamine, N-ethylmorpholine, N-ethylpiperidine, glucamine, hydrabamine, isopropylamine, methylglucamine, morpholine, piperidine, polyamine resins, procaine, purines, theobromine, triethylamine, trimethylamine, tripropylamine, tromethamine, tetramethylammonium hydroxide, benzyltrimethylammonium hydroxide, tris(hydroxymethyl)aminomethane (TRIS), N-(2-hydroxyethyl)pyrrolidine, piperazine, glucosamine, arginine, lysine and histidine.

3. The compound of claim 1 wherein OR 1 is selected from the group consisting of a diphosphate, a triphosphate, and salts thereof.

4. A compound having the formula:

and

wherein X is selected from a group consisting of: hydrogen, alkali metals, alkaline earth metals, and cations of pharmaceutically acceptable organic bases and Y is selected from a group consisting of: alkali metals, alkaline earth metals, and cations of pharmaceutically acceptable organic bases.

5. The compound of claim 4 , which is

6. A pharmaceutical composition comprising:

(a) a compound as described in claim 1 ; and

(b) a pharmaceutically acceptable excipient.

7. A method of treating a medical condition in a mammal comprising the step of administering a compound as described in claim 1 , wherein the administration is effective for the treatment of the condition;

wherein the medical condition is selected from the group consisting of: anorexia, nausea, emesis, pain, wasting syndrome, HIV-wasting, chemotherapy induced nausea and vomiting, alcohol use disorders, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, increased intraocular pressure, glaucoma, cannabis use disorders, Tourette's syndrome, dystonia, multiple sclerosis, inflammatory bowel disorders, arthritis, dermatitis, Rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, anti-inflammatory, anti-convulsant, anti-psychotic, anti-oxidant, neuroprotective, immunomodulatory effects, peripheral neuropathic pain, post-herpetic neuralgia, diabetic neuropathy, shingles, burns, actinic keratosis, oral cavity sores and ulcers, post-episiotomy pain, psoriasis, pruritis, contact dermatitis, eczema, bullous dermatitis herpetiformis, exfoliative dermatitis, mycosis fungoides, pemphigus, severe erythema multiforme, Stevens-Johnson syndrome, seborrheic dermatitis, ankylosing spondylitis, psoriatic arthritis, Reiter's syndrome, gout, chondrocalcinosis, joint pain secondary to dysmenorrhea, fibromyalgia, musculoskeletal pain, neuropathic-postoperative complications, polymyositis, acute nonspecific tenosynovitis, bursitis, epicondylitis, post-traumatic osteoarthritis, synovitis, and juvenile rheumatoid arthritis.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the compound is administered by a route selected from the group consisting of: transdermal, topical, oral, buccal, sublingual, intra venous, intra muscular, vaginal, rectal, ocular, nasal and follicular.

9. A method of administering a compound to a mammal comprising the steps of:

(a) combining a compound of claim 1 with a pharmaceutical excipient to form a pharmaceutical composition;

(b) creating a dosage form suitable for administration to the mammal from the pharmaceutical composition; and

(c) administering the dosage form to the mammal.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the pharmaceutical composition is administered by a route selected from the group consisting of: transdermal, topical, oral, buccal, sublingual, intra venous, intra muscular, vaginal, rectal, ocular, nasal and follicular.