THC Topicals

Definition: THC topicals are cannabis-infused products like lotions, balms, salves, oils, and patches that you apply to the skin. Most are designed for localized effects, such as soothing sore muscles or joints, and typically don’t produce a high, because very little THC from a standard topical reaches the bloodstream.

THC Topicals

How Do Cannabis Topicals Work?

Skin contains cannabinoid receptors, so cannabinoids applied to the skin may act locally on nearby tissue. Ordinary lotions and balms mostly stay in the outer layers of skin rather than entering circulation. Many topicals also include ingredients like menthol, camphor, or arnica, which can make it hard to tell how much of the effect comes from cannabis.

Do THC Topicals Get You High?

Standard topicals generally don’t. Transdermal patches and gels are the exception: they’re engineered to push cannabinoids through the skin into the bloodstream, so they can produce full-body effects and may show up on a drug test.

Do THC Topicals Actually Work?

Evidence is limited. Small studies and many user reports suggest topicals may help with localized pain or skin irritation, but large, high-quality clinical trials are lacking. They’re unlikely to cause serious side effects, so many people consider them a low-risk thing to try. Patch-test new products first, since some people react to the carrier ingredients.

THC vs. CBD Topicals

THC topicals are sold in licensed dispensaries in legal states. Hemp-derived CBD topicals are widely sold elsewhere, though quality varies. Ingredients like bisabolol are common in both.

Related terms: Cannabidiol (CBD), Canna Oil, CB2 Receptors, Distillate

Sources: National Institute on Drug Abuse: Cannabis (Marijuana); Lu HC, Mackie K, Biological Psychiatry, 2016.