Cannabinoid formulations

1. A liposomal suspension of one or more cannabinoids or cannabinoid analogues, wherein the concentration of cannabinoids or cannabinoid analogues in the liposomal suspension is 50 g/liter, and wherein the bilayer of the liposomes comprises about 26% phosphatidylcholine, about 10% phosphatidylethanolamine, about 13% phosphonophospholipids, and about 1% of other phospholipids.

2. The liposomal suspension of claim 1 , wherein the one or more cannabinoids or cannabinoid analogues are a natural compound, a synthetic compound, a semi-synthetic compound, or mixtures thereof.

3. The liposomal suspension of claim 2 , wherein the one or more cannabinoids or cannabinoid analogues are selected from the group consisting of cannabinol, cannabidiol, Δ9-tetrahyrocannabinol, Δ8-tetrahydrocannabinol, 11-hydroxy-tetrahydrocannabinol, 11-hydroxy-Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol, levonatradol, Δ11-tetrahydrocannabinol, tetrahydrocannabivarin, dronabinol, amandamide, nabilone, and combinations thereof.

4. The liposomal suspension of claim 1 , wherein the liposomes have an average diameter size from about 200 to about 400 nm.

5. A method of producing a stable liposomal suspension of one or more cannabinoids or cannabinoid analogues according to claim 1 comprising the steps of:

(a) dissolving one or more cannabinoids or cannabinoid analogues in ethanol to obtain an ethanol cannabinoid solution;

(b) adding a phospholipid to the ethanol cannabinoid solution to obtain an ethanol-phospholipid cannabinoid solution;

(c) injecting the ethanol-phospholipid cannabinoid solution into distilled water to obtain a liposomal cannabinoid suspension; and

(d) removing the ethanol from the liposomal cannabinoid suspension, thereby producing a stable liposomal suspension of one or more cannabinoids or cannabinoid analogues.

6. The method of claim 2 , wherein the one or more cannabinoids or cannabinoid analogues are a natural compound, a synthetic compound, a semi-synthetic compound, or mixtures thereof.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the one or more cannabinoids or cannabinoid analogues are selected from the group consisting of cannabinol, cannabidiol, Δ9-tetrahyrocannabinol, Δ8-tetrahydrocannabinol, 11-hydroxy-tetrahydrocannabinol, 11-hydroxy-Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol, levonatradol, Δ11-tetrahydrocannabinol, tetrahydrocannabivarin, dronabinol, amandamide, nabilone, and combinations thereof.

8. The method of claim 2 , further comprising the steps of:

(e) adding sodium alginate to the liposomal suspension of one or more cannabinoids or cannabinoid analogues in a final concentration of 2% to obtain an alginate liposomal cannabinoid suspension;

(f) adding calcium chloride to the alginate liposomal cannabinoid suspension to obtain a calcium alginate-encapsulated liposomal cannabinoid suspension;

(g) cold-pressing and air-drying the calcium alginate-encapsulated liposomal cannabinoid suspension to remove the water in the suspension to obtain a dry cannabinoid powder; and

(h) re-suspending the dry cannabinoid powder in citrate buffer to obtain an aqueous cannabinoid solution;

wherein the amount of cannabinoid or cannabinoid analogue in the aqueous cannabinoid solution is greater than 40%.

9. The method of claim 2 , further comprising the steps of:

(e) adding sodium alginate to the liposomal suspension of one or more cannabinoids or cannabinoid analogues in a final concentration of 4% to obtain an alginate liposomal cannabinoid suspension;

(f) shell-freezing the alginate liposomal cannabinoid suspension over dry ice or in acetone bath and freeze-drying the suspension to remove the water in the suspension and obtain a dry cannabinoid powder;

(g) milling the dry cannabinoid powder and re-suspending the dry cannabinoid powder in water to obtain an aqueous cannabinoid solution;

wherein the amount of cannabinoid or cannabinoid analogue in the aqueous cannabinoid solution is greater than 40%.

10. The method of claim 2 , further comprising the steps of:

(e) adding L-leucine and a sugar selected from the group consisting of lactose and sucrose to the liposomal suspension of one or more cannabinoids or cannabinoid analogues to obtain a sugar liposomal cannabinoid suspension;

(f) shell-freezing the sugar liposomal cannabinoid suspension over dry ice or in acetone bath and freeze-drying the suspension to remove the water in the suspension and obtain a dry cannabinoid powder;

(g) milling the dry cannabinoid powder and re-suspending the dry cannabinoid powder in water to obtain an aqueous cannabinoid solution.

11. A method of alleviating pain or reducing undesirable side effects associated with radiation therapy or chemotherapy in a subject in need thereof comprising administering to the subject the liposomal suspension of claim 1 .

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the subject has a compromised immune system, a cancer, a pulmonary disease or a condition that causes violent tremors.