Cannabis Topicals
A cannabis topical is a balm, lotion, oil, or bath product applied to the skin rather than inhaled or swallowed. Conventional topicals are not designed to enter the bloodstream and are not intoxicating.
Topicals at a glance
- Applied
- To the skin, at the spot you choose
- Intoxicating
- No, for conventional non-transdermal topicals
- Formats
- Balms, lotions, oils, bath soaks
- Onset
- Local, and localised to the area applied
What to know before you buy
Topical versus transdermal
A conventional topical acts at the surface and is not formulated to reach the bloodstream. A transdermal patch is engineered specifically to cross the skin barrier and does enter circulation. They are different products and are labelled differently.
Reading a topical label
Topicals list total cannabinoid content for the container rather than a per-dose figure, because application amount is up to you. Ingredient lists matter here as much as cannabinoid content.
When topicals is the right call
Format mechanics decide this more than anything printed on the label. These are the evenings topicals suit, and why.
Not sure topicals is your format?
Topicals questions, answered
Will a cannabis topical make you feel high?
Conventional topicals are applied to the skin and are not formulated to enter the bloodstream, so they are not intoxicating. Transdermal patches are engineered to cross the skin barrier and are a different product category.