Cannabis topicals are products you rub on, roll on or stick to your skin: balms, lotions, oils and patches made with THC, CBD or both. Most are designed to act where you apply them, which is why a typical lotion isn't expected to make you feel high. Patches are the big exception. Here's how topicals work, the main types, what research can and can't tell you, and how to read a topical's label.
What cannabis topicals are
A topical is any cannabis product made for the outside of your body. The cannabinoids are blended into a familiar base, such as a balm, cream, oil or gel. Many products add other ingredients too, like menthol, shea butter or essential oils.
Topicals fall into two broad families:
- CBD topicals, made with CBD and little or no THC.
- THC topicals, made with THC alone or with a blend of THC and CBD.
People often like topicals because they're easy to use and smoke-free, and, apart from patches, they aren't expected to cause a high. Either way, the format decides a lot about how a product behaves, so it's worth knowing the difference between local and transdermal products before you choose.
How topicals work: skin receptors, local vs. transdermal
Your skin is more than a wrapper. Studies suggest it has a working endocannabinoid system of its own, with cannabinoid receptors and the body's own cannabinoids, which is one reason scientists are curious about topicals.
Getting through the skin is the hard part. The outer layer is built to keep things out, and cannabinoids are oily molecules that don't cross it easily. In a lab test on human skin, CBD and CBN passed through about ten times more readily than a form of THC, and adding ethanol increased the flow. That finding helps explain why patches are formulated so differently from lotions.
So topicals come in two kinds:
- Local topicals, like balms, lotions and oils, are meant to act in the skin and tissue near where you apply them.
- Transdermal products, mostly patches, use carriers to push cannabinoids across the skin so they reach the bloodstream.
Local doesn't mean precise. How much of a dose stays in the skin, and how much moves deeper, depends on the formula and hasn't been well measured in people. That's one reason the strength of one topical is hard to compare with another.
CBD vs. THC topicals
The cannabinoid matters less on the skin than it does in an edible, but the differences are still worth knowing:
- CBD topicals. CBD doesn't cause a high, according to the CDC. CBD balms and creams are widely available, and their quality and strength vary from one maker to the next.
- THC topicals. A THC lotion or balm contains THC, but because it's made to stay local, it isn't expected to cause a high. A THC patch is a different story, as you'll see below.
- Ratio products. Many topicals blend both, with labels such as 1:1 or 3:1 CBD to THC.
The CDC also notes that the FDA has approved one CBD medicine, while other marketed uses of CBD, topicals included, lack that approval. Our CBD skin-care guide looks at CBD in beauty products specifically.
Types of topicals: balms, lotions, oils, sun care and patches
| Type | What it's like | How it's used | Built to reach the bloodstream? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Balms and salves | Thick, waxy and oil-based | Rubbed into a small area | No |
| Creams and lotions | Lighter blends of water and oil | Spread over larger areas | No |
| Oils and serums | Thin liquids, often in droppers or roll-ons | Massage or a specific spot | No |
| Sun care | Sunscreens or after-sun products with hemp or CBD | Outdoor days | No |
| Transdermal patches | An adhesive patch worn for hours | Slow, steady release | Yes |
A cannabis salve is simply a balm by another name: a firm, oil-based rub that melts on contact. Patches carry a set dose per patch, which makes them the easiest topical to measure. Gels, bath soaks and lip balms also turn up. With sun care, any sun protection comes from the sunscreen ingredients, not the cannabinoids, so look for a broad-spectrum SPF on the label.
For a side-by-side look at balms, lotions, tinctures and RSO, see our topicals and tinctures comparison.
What people use topicals for, and what research says
Most people who try topicals want something to apply to one specific spot. Some reach for one after a workout or a long shift, and others fold it into a skin-care routine. It's reasonable to be curious, but the research is early. Here's where it stands:
- Human trials are few. A 2023 systematic review of skin-applied CBD found only eight eligible trials. The authors rated their risk of bias as high and called new, better-designed trials urgently needed.
- Much of the evidence comes from labs and animals. Cell and animal studies are a starting point, not proof that a product works in people.
- Side effects were uncommon and mild in those trials, but the reviewers cautioned that the studies were too weak to draw firm conclusions either way.
- Products differ widely. The trials alone used doses from 50 to 250 mg, or 0.075% to 1% CBD, usually mixed with other ingredients. That variety makes results hard to compare.
- Other ingredients play a part. Many topicals add menthol, camphor or capsaicin, which create their own cooling or warming feel.
None of this shows that a topical can manage a medical condition. If you're dealing with ongoing pain, a skin condition, an injury or a wound, talk with a clinician about your options before reaching for a cannabis product.
Topical vs tincture: two different routes
A tincture and a topical can contain the same cannabinoids, but they travel differently:
- A tincture held under the tongue or swallowed is meant to enter your bloodstream. A THC tincture can produce a high and affects your whole body.
- A topical lotion or balm is meant to stay local, so it isn't expected to cause a high.
- Dosing works differently too. A tincture dropper delivers a measured number of milligrams, while a lotion is spread by feel, so each application is only a rough dose.
Our tincture guide explains how tinctures are dosed and timed.
Do topicals get you high? Transdermal patches are the exception
Lotions and balms: unlikely. In a small 2017 German study, three volunteers applied two THC salves every few hours for three days. None of their blood or urine samples showed THC or its breakdown products. That's reassuring, though three people is a very small sample.
Patches: possibly. A transdermal patch is designed to deliver cannabinoids through the skin to your blood over hours, so a THC patch may cause intoxication, though studies in people are scarce. Michigan's regulator caps THC in patches at 100 mg per dose and 2,000 mg per container.
Because a patch releases THC gradually, effects can build slowly rather than arrive all at once. Handle a THC patch like any other THC product. Start with a low dose, don't add other THC on top and don't drive while wearing it. Keep patches away from kids and pets.
Drug tests. One small study can't speak for every product or every test. If you're tested, the safest choice is to skip THC products, topicals and patches included.
How to read a topical's label
A careful look at the package tells you most of what you need:
- Ratio: The CBD to THC ratio, such as 1:1 or 20:1, shows the balance of the two.
- Milligrams per container: This is the total for the whole jar, bottle or patch. Divide it by the number of uses you expect to estimate each application.
- Delivery type: "Transdermal" on the label means the product is built to reach your bloodstream.
- Other ingredients: Fragrance, essential oils, menthol and capsaicin can bother sensitive skin.
- Testing details: Look for the THC and CBD content and the testing information printed on the package.
If you have questions about a specific product's label, our budtenders are happy to walk you through it at any of our Michigan stores. Medical card holders can find more in our patient guide.
Using a topical safely
A few habits keep the experience comfortable:
- Patch test first. Before using a new topical widely, dermatologists suggest trying it on a small spot, such as the inside of your forearm, twice a day for 7 to 10 days. Wash it off and stop if you notice redness, itching or swelling.
- Start with a thin layer on clean, dry skin, and skip broken or irritated skin.
- Wash your hands after applying, especially before touching your eyes or preparing food.
- Follow the patch label for where to place a patch and how long to wear it. A THC patch keeps releasing THC while it's on, so plan your day around it and never drive while wearing one.
- Store topicals sealed, away from heat and out of reach of kids and pets. A tub of balm or a patch can look harmless to a curious child.
- Check with your doctor first if you're pregnant or breastfeeding, take any medications or have a skin condition.
