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What are cannabis topicals?

A cannabis topical is a cream, balm or lotion infused with cannabinoids such as THC or CBD and applied to the skin rather than inhaled or eaten. Most are made to stay at or near the skin where they are applied; a transdermal product is a different thing, formulated so its cannabinoids reach the bloodstream.

Where a topical stays

The skin is a barrier, and most topicals are formulated to stay at or near the surface where they are applied rather than to circulate through the body. Cannabinoids can cross skin to some degree, which laboratory studies on human skin have measured, but an ordinary topical is not built to deliver them into the bloodstream the way a transdermal product is.

Topical or transdermal

A transdermal product, whatever its form, uses a formula designed to move cannabinoids through the skin and into the bloodstream. Treat anything labeled transdermal as a product whose cannabinoids reach the bloodstream, not one that stays where it is applied, and read its label with that in mind.

What changes from one topical to the next

The ratio. Topicals come THC-forward, CBD-forward or balanced, such as 1:1; the label and the certificate of analysis give the milligrams of each.

The other ingredients. Formulas add other ingredients that vary widely by brand, so read the ingredient list, especially if you have sensitivities.

The base. A cream, an oil or a wax balm changes the texture, how it spreads and how fast it absorbs.

Reading the label

Check whether the product is a topical or transdermal, the milligrams of each cannabinoid, the ingredients, and the batch's certificate of analysis for potency and safety screens (see how to read a lab label).

Educational content, not medical advice. For external use as the label directs. For use only by adults 21 and older. Keep out of reach of children and pets.