THE BUDDING WORLD OF CANNABIS TOPICALS
BY ALOE DRISCOLL
The cannabis plant has a plethora of applications that don’t involve getting high. The two best-known compounds in cannabis, tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD), have anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and pain-relieving effects. When applied topically, THC and CBD bind to receptors in the skin without entering the bloodstream or the brain, which means that they don’t produce the typical psychotropic effects.
“People are looking for a gentler solution to problems that they used to rely on pharmaceuticals to solve,” says Elise McDonough, who currently manages public relations for KindPeoples dispensaries in Santa Cruz and previously worked as an editor at High Times. “These [topical] delivery methods are less focused on the euphoria, and more focused on health and wellness.”
Cannabis topicals, which include creams, oils and salves, have populated medical dispensary shelves for years, where they were...
