Cannabis Topicals and Drug Tests: What You Need to Know

With all the buzz around cannabis topicals and addictive thc products , you may be wondering if they can work for you. Many find CBD topical creams can reduce inflammation, increase blood flow, and relieve pain.

However, does the use of these topicals put your job at risk? Do they show up on a drug test?

If you’ve ever been curious about cannabis topicals but too scared to try them because of the fear of failing a drug test, you’ll find clarification here.

What Are Cannabis Topicals?

A cannabis topical cream, lotion, oil, or salve is an ointment that is infused with cannabis extract. They work by rubbing or massaging the cream onto your skin where it is absorbed. 

Some of these topicals will also include other essential oils such as lavender, cayenne, peppermint, avocado oil, and other medicinal ingredients to make the topical more potent and add calming scents.

You can use cannabis topicals for sore muscles after a workout or injury. You can also use it for back pain, menstrual cramps, skin inflammation, and arthritis. 

What Are the Benefits of Topicals?

The reason topical CBD cream for pain is growing in popularity is because of its many benefits. For one thing, you don’t have to inhale the smoke to gain its benefits. Plus, you can place the topical right where your pain is concentrated. 

There is also the benefit of not having to get high to find relief. Topicals are easy to use without the discomfort that can come with inhaling smoke. That also makes them easy to use throughout the day as needed. You won’t have to worry about the smell of smoking cannabis either.

Are Cannabis Topicals Legal?

Although there are many benefits to using cannabis topicals, you may be wary of using them because you aren’t sure how it will affect drug tests. Since the laws surrounding medicinal marijuana and cannabis still vary drastically from state to state, this concern is warranted.

You don’t want to be accused of illegal drug use when trying to get some medicinal pain relief. The federal government still sees cannabis as an illegal substance, despite some states legalizing the sale and use of cannabis for adults.

Many employers still base their drug policies on federal law. That includes THC and other active compounds in cannabis. Ultimately you may still have to worry about testing positive for cannabis even if you are living in a state where it is legal.

Do Cannabis Topicals Effect Drug Tests?

There are still misconceptions about cannabis topicals and if they can be detected on drug tests.

The good news is that ingesting cannabis and using it as a topical cream is very different. THC, which is an active component of cannabis, takes a while to work out of your system. Other harder and more dangerous drugs usually cycle through your body in 24 hours.

It is believed that it takes around 30 days for THC to leave your body. However, this can vary from person to person. So you can’t rely on a set number of days to determine how long before THC is gone. Plus, although less common than urine tests, hair follicle drug tests can detect THC within three months. 

Urine tests can detect THC within fat cells up to four weeks or more depending on the person. In blood, THC will typically only last for about 48 hours. 

Luckily, because cannabis topicals go on top of your skin and are not ingested, they won’t show up on drug tests. Not only is the level of THC below the detectable level for drug tests. The ointment will only be absorbed into your skin and muscles but not your bloodstream.

Beware of this Topical CBD

There’s no need to worry about losing your job when it comes to topical cannabis for pain. However, there is one form of topical product that you should think twice about. That is the transdermal cannabis patches. 

Even though these patches are safe and effective in reducing pain and inflammation. They are made to be processed by your body. That means the active ingredients in the patch are meant to go into your bloodstream. So if you’re concerned about a drug test you shouldn’t use THC-infused transdermal patches.

They are the only type of topical that may not be drug-test friendly. However, you should always be cautious when handling all topical ointments. This is because if you were to rub your eyes or accidentally ingest them on your hands, it could cause you to fail a blood test.

Will They Get Me High?

A cannabis topical is infused with a variety of cannabinoids. CBD is usually the most common and it doesn’t have any of the psychoactive effects that come with smoking cannabis. These topicals are used for medicinal benefits only.

Other cannabinoids that get you high are THC and CBN. Some topicals are known to contain these two ingredients. Even though THC is the key psychoactive component in marijuana, your skin acts as a barrier to these ingredients. 

You don’t have to worry about getting high. The cannabinoids in topicals bind to receptors in your skin, muscles tissue, and nerves before ever entering your bloodstream. 

This is the same concept as using rubbing alcohol on your skin. You don’t have to worry about getting drunk when using it because it never enters your blood or reaches your brain.

Breathe Easy With Topicals

Now that you know cannabis topicals are safe to use and effective, it’s no wonder they are growing in popularity. They make the perfect alternative to ingesting or smoking cannabis. While still allowing adults of all ages to experience the many benefits.

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