topical application of THC

[blueglitter]

I couldn't find any recent posts here on this, so please pardon me. I am doing some research into the topical application of cannabinoids, not as a scientist, but as a consumer. Interested in products along the lines of Rick Simpson's " phoenix tears", hemp oil, which can be applied to the skin (but do they get one high also?). There are other (less potentially explosive) ways to capture the THC goodness, like with canna-budder and so forth, and anything edible should also be topical. The topical (applied directly to the skin) usage interests me, if it is similar to ingesting it. Haha, it would be great, "apply directly to forehead!" (like that annoying headache remedy commercial). Please email me on here if you can help with info. Thanks. (And, yeah, I'll still smoke it, don't panic, folks!!)

[Andrey]

Let me tell you as a doctor. Your topic is (in UK terms) rubbish, and ridiculous (US english) ^)
Just disregard and forget. It's systemic only. Topical application of oil may cause cancer. Once again, forget, and a full explanation can take many pages so Im not doing it.

IMHO!!!!
But if anyone proves me wrong, I will be shocked.
Advertisements and advertising texts are not accepted as proofs of anything.

[Ingwey Gooblebogger]

Andrey, I have NEVER seen any credible research that show any link between cannabis/cannabinoids and cancer. NONE!!!

Topical application of cannabinoids has been done before, however, I have no personal experiences with this method.

As an experiment, one could use olive oil as the base oil. You would infuse the oil with cannabinoids in the same manner as making cannabutter. (i.e. grind up and oz of good bud, plance in large double boiler pan cover with lots of olive oil, slowly heat and stir for houal hour, then let oil cool and sit for an hour of two. then filter/strain out the ground up cannabis.)

To test the effectiveness of this topical oil, I would suggest having someone massage, a small amount of it, into a large surface area of your skin, like the entire back. Then wait an hour and see what happens. If nothing happens, then the next day repeat the process but using more oil. Repeat this process, until you either find a dosage that works or the oil runs out. If the latter, then the topical application did not work for you.

[Andrey]

Oil is oil, it's bad for skin.
As for the effect, it takes action in brain, not locally. You can't use cannabis for pain relief or muscles relaxation topically.
So there's no need to do it.
Should you ever experience effects, that means THC went into blood and then to the brain. That means a really high concentration locally, which may cause cancer. That's what I think being a medical professional.

[Toker70]

What about baby oil isn't that good for your skin to help retain moisture

[Ingwey Gooblebogger]

Oil is oil, it's bad for skin.

All oil is bad for the skin? Really? Show me the studies?

As for the effect, it takes action in brain, not locally.

Uhm, yes, there is no debate. However, how do you think it gets you high when you smoke it or eat it? It does NOT only act on the stomach or only on the lungs.

Smoked: The lungs capture it, where it then goes into the bloodstream and then, eventually, across the blood brain barrier. Similarly when eaten. The digestive system is the delivery mechanism NOT where the effects are seen.

You can't use cannabis for pain relief or muscles relaxation topically.

Agreed, if you are only thinking local anaesthesia. Cannabis is NOT a local anaesthetic. However, nor are opiates. Cocaine, however, is a great local anesthetic. On the other hand, topical application can potentially deliver cannabinoids which, when in the system, act on the CNS resultung in pain relief/relaxation.

However, I do agree that the concentrations might need to be high for topical application to work. Or perhaps they could use a different delivery medium (i.e. a different oil) that would more easily permeate the skin. Look at all the "patch" medicines, like fentanyl, nicotine, and so on. All of these can be delivered topically. It is the medium which enables/assists the topical absorption.)

Should you ever experience effects, that means THC went into blood and then to the brain.

Yes, and this is how one gets intoxicated, no matter how cannabis was consumed?

That means a really high concentration locally, which may cause cancer.

Really, show me the studies? (Only credible ones, please)

[echc1]

does that mean baby oil is bad for you?,can i sue johnson and johnson for selling it??? sorry just being arguementative

[Puffin13]

Topical application of oil may cause cancer.

I'm a non-believer in your statement. As demonstrated in Rick Simpson's videos, hemp oil can be applied topically. I believe topical application of oil may cure cancer. Sorry doc.

[Andrey]

It's better that I stop reading right after "baby oil" ^) that made laugh... just take a bath of oil if you like it ^)
Show me the meaning... of beeeing lonely yeah... ^)

To prevent any misuse of language I abandon this topic ^)

[blueglitter]

It was Rick Simpson's hemp oil that got me thinking about it in the first place. Does anyone know if ingesting his cancer-curing hemp oil also makes a person "stoned"? For me, I would consider that a bonus. Since in that video they discuss applying it to the skin, and mention it's benefits, then the same question comes up, can you get high from it? I don't know how his hemp oil varies from "hash oil", but I have never heard of anyone smearing hash oil on themselves, on purpose. I can't be the only one who has wondered about this. But, you can absorb things directly through the skin, and it enters the bloodstream. This would include alcohol, wine. I just present the idea of being able to rub some cannabis cream onto the skin as an additional way to get high, and or as an additional medical marijuana application option. Something like canna-butter sounds like it would have the fewest adulterants that could be potentially harmful, unless one was allergic to dairy.

P.S. Baby oil is not bad, but it's mineral oil based, and some feel that it's not a good product to put on the skin, precisely because it enters the skin, and vegetable-based cold-pressed oils are considered preferable. Would you eat it is the best guide for what you put on your skin. Municipal water treated with chlorine and other chemicals are even suspect, because during bathing, showering, and swimming, our skin absorbs up to 4 pounds of water, through the skin. So, if there is concern about what goes in, and nicotine patches as was mentioned, we know THC/cannabinoids can enter topically. Hops harvesters get "stoned" from being in contact with the hairs on hop flowers. so again, we know it's possible. Also, a topical application might be a better route than ingestion, because you avoid the digestive system.

Oh, yeah, the other question is, does gentle heat have to be applied to a topical product to activate the THC/cannabinoids, such as with canna-butter, or when you bake pot-brownies. I don't remember getting a contact high from handling pot plants, but maybe I should be running naked through a field of White Widow.

Thanks for the feedback so far. Like I said, to me nothing beats smoking weed, but, if smearing some on the skin would help a person who needs medical marijuana and can't smoke it, and if it's a convenient way to get high instead of eating a space-cake, then it's worth looking into.

[Ingwey Gooblebogger]

......if ingesting his cancer-curing hemp oil ......

As someone who has done extensive research, the above claim screams "snake-oil" to me.

I am not trying to knock Rick Simpson, nor his product, but there have been no credible double-blind studies of his product, so I would NOT put too much faith those claims.

In my opinion we should be just as critical with ideas or theories that are in line with our beliefs as we are with those that are not. To do otherwise is, IMO, intellectual dishonesty.

Yes, you could potentially get stoned with his product as it is, simply, weed oil, like the kind that you smoke. (If I recall correctly, instead of butane or isopropyl alcohol, I think he use naphthalene as his solvent.)

Thanks for the feedback so far. Like I said, to me nothing beats smoking weed, but, if smearing some on the skin would help a person who needs medical marijuana and can't smoke it, and if it's a convenient way to get high instead of eating a space-cake, then it's worth looking into.

I do think that absorption rates through the skin would not be very high. (i.e you would spend a lot of money for little effect). Your biggest bang for the buck would be to 1)vaporize it, 2) smoke it, or 3) eat cannabis edibles or drink cannabis tinctures.

[puffpuffgive]

never heard of a topical appplication of thc. you can get a mouth spray, (Party Spray/ Marinol), you can dissolve it in butter/fats/alcohol. You can heat the bud so just the thc evaporates (vaporiser). Eyedrops or a suppository might theoretically work, but I've certainly never seen them!