Yo, what’s good? This is Dan, and I’m here to talk about cannabis topicals. You know what I’m talking about – balms, ointments, lotions, and salves that you put on your skin for pain relief and inflammation reduction. It’s a popular way to use marijuana without getting high, but some people are worried about failing a drug test because of it. So, let’s get into it.
First off, let’s clarify what topicals are. They’re products that you apply to the surface of your skin rather than consuming orally. They’re not meant to be used recreationally – only for therapeutic purposes. The great thing about them is that they can target specific areas of pain and inflammation, giving you relief where you need it most.
Now, let’s talk about the big question – will topicals get you high? Some of them contain THC, which is the psychoactive component in cannabis that gives you that high feeling. But here’s the thing – our skin acts as a protective barrier. Just like rubbing alcohol on a cut won’t get you drunk, applying topicals won’t get you high. The cannabinoids in the topicals bind to receptors in our skin, muscles, and nerves, but they get absorbed before they can reach our bloodstream and get us high.
So, if topicals won’t get you high, will they cause you to fail a drug test? In theory, no. A study from 2017 confirmed that topicals containing THC didn’t cause a positive test in blood or urine. But there’s a catch – transdermal patches work differently. They’re like nicotine patches that deliver the active ingredient directly into your bloodstream through your skin. If you use THC-rich cannabis patches, you’re likely to fail a drug test.
But here’s the thing – depending on the type of drug test you take, cannabis can be detected in your body for months after you last used it. So, if you’ve switched to using topicals instead of smoking weed, it’s important to know when you stopped and whether you’re at risk of failing a test. And even though it’s unlikely that topicals will cause you to fail a test, it’s always better to err on the side of caution.
One thing to keep in mind is that even though topicals won’t get you high, they can still make you test positive for THC if you’re not careful. If you get the topical in your eyes or mouth, trace amounts of THC can enter your bloodstream and trigger a positive reading. So, make sure to wash your hands thoroughly after applying the lotion and avoid contact with your eyes and mouth. Using gloves can also help.
In conclusion, cannabis topicals are a great way to get pain relief and inflammation reduction without getting high, but they’re not without their risks. While it’s unlikely that they’ll make you fail a drug test, it’s important to be careful and avoid transdermal patches if you’re worried about testing positive. Stay safe out there, y’all.