ask Leah ...
ask Leah ...
Missouri Cannabis Education
What Are The Most Therapeutic
Cannabis Products Available ? by Leah Maurer , contributing writer
Leah
Leah Maurer , a native Missourian , is now a canna-journalist and activist living in Portland , OR . She is a co-owner of www . TheWeedBlog . com , a top national cannabis news and information publication , where she serves as the Editorial Lead . In 2014 , Leah founded Moms for YES on Measure 91 through grassroots efforts alone , it proved pivotal in the passage of the Measure , successfully legalizing recreational / adult-use cannabis in the OR . Leah is a social justice and cannabis activist at the core and hopes to see an end to the prohibition of cannabis globally .
12 November 2023
Even with the switch from medical to adult-use cannabis laws in Missouri , there continues to be a high ( pun intended !) need for cannabis products grounded in therapeutic benefits . One could argue that ALL cannabis use is medical / therapeutic , whether that be for physical health , mental health , or just overall wellness , but perhaps that is a topic for another column . This column will focus on the products currently available in the Missouri market that I believe to be the most therapeutic in their contents , be it topicals , consumption methods , and effects .
Topicals
Topicals are the products that offer the benefits of cannabis in a most isolated and non-psychoactive way . Topicals typically come in the form of lotions , salves , balms , roll-ons , body oils , or other substances that can be applied directly to the skin in an area where one is experiencing pain or discomfort . Topicals are very effective for conditions such as arthritis , muscle pain , inflammation , and even some skin conditions .
What sets most topicals apart from other cannabis products is that they do not enter the bloodstream . Because of this , there is very little to no psychoactive effect from this product . While this all depends on the individual and their particular endocannabinoid system ( a complex network of receptors throughout our body that helps regulate our systems ), it ’ s a general agreement amongst consumers and researchers that topicals will not get you “ high .” Once the topical is applied to the skin , the cannabinoids in the product then interact with our endocannabinoid system and give a pain-relieving effect to the area where it is applied .
Transdermals
Perhaps the best option to reap the therapeutic benefits of cannabis is transdermals . Transdermal cannabis products typically come in the form of a transdermal patch , similar to patches used for hormone replacement therapy or nicotine patches used for people trying to stop smoking cigarettes . Cannabis transdermal patches provide all-day relief using a slowrelease method . Instead of inhaling smoke or ingesting an edible or tincture , you simply place the “ patch ” directly on the skin in an area that has good circulation . While topicals are aimed at addressing site-specific areas where they are applied , patches are designed to be absorbed through the outer layers of the skin to be drawn into the bloodstream and