How Do Marijuana Topicals Work? Here’s the Rub
Fact: You don’t have to smoke marijuana to consume cannabis.
Marijuana topicals like lotions and salves are moving even the most unlikely people away from the idea that you have to smoke a joint to be a cannabis consumer. And these topicals are a great example of how different modes of delivery are making cannabis more accessible (and less stigmatized) to adult consumers.
Cannabis-infused lotions, balms, oils, bath bombs and tinctures interact with layers of your skin to deliver relief at the point of inflammation, soreness, irritation, injury or pain. People use marijuana topicals to ease aches and pains, soothe irritated skin, maximize relaxation in a massage and help the body recover from bumps and bruises.
Because topicals don’t penetrate the blood-brain barrier, you can’t get high from them, nor will you test positive on a drug test. But how exactly do they work? Let’s take a closer look at what’s in play.
THC (or tetrahydrocannabinol) is the most famous of the dozens of naturally occurring plant compounds called phytocannabinoids (a.k.a. cannabinoids). It produces psychoactive effects when it’s inhaled or ingested; however, it must reach receptors in the brain to spark the euphoric “high feeling” associated with strenuous exercise—or with cannabis.
But if marijuana topicals don’t penetrate the bloodstream, how exactly do they work?
Our bodies have an endocannabinoid system that regulates many of our core functions, with millions of receptors distributed throughout our bodies (including our skin and brain) that interact with the phytocannabinoids found in cannabis.
As researchers delve into how the endocannabinoid system works, they’re discovering it can play a vital role in our skin’s health, as well as regulating pain, inflammation and even joint function. Various cannabinoids—including cannabidiol (CBD), THC, THC-A, and many others—interact with receptors of the endocannabinoid system found in the skin. As a result, inflammation, pain, seizures, spasms, and cramps have all been found to be eased through the power of the plant.
Terpenes are another set of essential compounds found in cannabis, which not only provide the plant’s flavor and aroma but also shape its effects and benefits.
At Mary Jane’s Medicinals, we infuse our topicals with the whole cannabis plant. In this way, our products contain multiple cannabinoids and terpenes, and consumers can benefit from the full spectrum of cannabis’ therapeutic compounds. Together, these compounds combine synergistically in what is called “the entourage effect.”
In other words, we extract the full potential and healing power of the plant so that people can receive the maximum benefit from cannabis-infused topicals, without losing a thing.