Senior Wellness
THC
The Most Senior-Friendly Cannabis Medicine: How Medical Cannabis Topicals and
Transdermal Patches Work for Older Adults
by Sara Figueroa, contributing writer
I will never forget my first Cannabis and Aging presentation at a 55-plus apartment community in Missouri. The room was packed with curious residents. They had so many questions, including“ What is a dispensary?”
However, the most memorable moment happened when a woman sitting in the front row cheerfully displayed her jar of Mary’ s Medicinals transdermal cream and declared,“ I take this with me everywhere I go!”
Another woman in the back spoke up.“ Ooh, I tried that stuff once! I put it on my sore knee, and a while later, I forgot I had a knee!”
As more older adults explore medical cannabis for chronic pain, arthritis, neuropathy, and other age-related conditions, interest in non-inhaled cannabis products continues to grow. Among the most promising options are topical cannabis and transdermal patches, which provide a way to use cannabinoids without smoking, vaping, or swallowing a pill.
Scientists have discovered that the skin contains its own endocannabinoid system, including cannabinoid receptors, signaling molecules, and enzymes that help regulate inflammation, pain perception, wound healing, immune responses, and skin-cell growth. Research suggests that cannabinoids such as cannabidiol( CBD) and tetrahydrocannabinol( THC) may influence these pathways when applied directly to the skin.
How Medical Cannabis Topicals Work
Topical products include creams, balms, lotions, gels, and salves that are applied directly to the skin.
Unlike transdermal products, traditional cannabis topicals generally do not penetrate deeply enough to enter the bloodstream in meaningful amounts( meaning there are no psychoactive effects). Instead, cannabinoids interact with receptors and nerve endings in the skin and underlying tissues near the application site. This means the effects tend to remain localized rather than affecting the entire body.
For older adults, this localized action can be particularly appealing. Arthritis pain in a knee, soreness in a shoulder, or inflammation in a hand may be addressed without potentially interacting with their other medications, like the THC-containing products that enter the bloodstream.
While creams, lotions, salves, balms, and patches are often grouped together at dispensaries, they work very differently. Understanding how the skin functions and how cannabinoids interact with the body’ s endocannabinoid system can help older adults make informed decisions about these products.
26 September 2026
Scientific reviews have identified several potentially beneficial properties of topical cannabinoids, including anti-inflammatory, analgesic, antioxidant, and skin-protective effects. Investigators have also explored their role in managing conditions such as psoriasis, eczema, itching, and wound healing.
How Transdermal Patches Are Different
A transdermal patch is designed to do something a standard topical product generally cannot: deliver cannabinoids through the skin and into the bloodstream.