If you've ever wondered whether rubbing a cannabis-infused salve into your sore shoulder was going to leave you stoned at the dinner table, you're in good company. It's one of the most common questions I get — especially from seniors, medical users, and folks exploring cannabis for the first time after decades of being told it was dangerous.

The short answer? No. Standard cannabis topicals won't get you high. But there are a few things worth understanding about how they actually work, who they're right for, and the one type of "topical" that's actually an exception. Let's clear all that up.

Will Cannabis Topicals Get You High?

No — standard cannabis topicals like creams, salves, balms, body butters, and massage oils don't produce any high. When you rub them into your skin, the cannabinoids absorb locally where you need relief. They don't travel to your brain, and they don't enter your bloodstream at levels that would affect how you think, feel, or function.

This is the piece most people miss. You can use a cannabis pain salve on your aching knee, drive to work, run errands, and talk to your boss — and no one will ever know. There's nothing to "feel" beyond the localized relief where you applied it.

How Do Cannabis Topicals Actually Work?

Your skin has cannabinoid receptors — the same type of receptors that make cannabis effective everywhere else in your body. When you apply a topical, THC and CBD bind to those receptors right where you rubbed them in. The relief stays local because the cannabinoids don't make it past the skin barrier to your bloodstream in any meaningful amount.

That's why topicals work so well for things like joint pain, muscle soreness, arthritis, inflammation, and certain skin conditions. You're delivering the medicine straight to the area that needs it — not sending it on a whole-body tour first.

And because nothing crosses into your bloodstream, there's no intoxicating effect. No head change. No appetite change. Nothing that would interfere with your day.

What About Transdermal Patches and Drug Tests?

Here's where I need to be honest with you — there's one exception worth knowing about. Transdermal cannabis patches are technically topicals, but they're specifically designed to deliver cannabinoids INTO the bloodstream over several hours. That makes them a fundamentally different product than the creams and salves most people mean when they say "cannabis topicals."

Patches can produce noticeable effects — some mild, some significant, depending on dose. They also carry the same drug test risks as edibles or smoking. So if you're subject to drug testing or you specifically want to avoid any intoxicating effect, patches are NOT what you're looking for.

Standard topicals — creams, salves, balms, body butters, and massage oils — are very low risk on drug tests. The cannabinoids don't reach detectable levels in blood or urine. That said, no one can make you an absolute guarantee about any drug test, so if you're heavily tested, talk to a healthcare provider before using any cannabis product.

(Quick note: my DIY Topicals course teaches you how to make creams, salves, balms, and massage oils — the kind that stay local and won't get you high. It does not cover transdermal patches, which are a different category altogether.)

Why Are Topicals a Good Starting Point for Seniors and Medicinal Users?

For people who are nervous, skeptical, or simply not interested in getting high, topicals are hands-down the gentlest introduction to cannabis. No smoke. No edibles. No head change. Just localized relief applied exactly where it hurts.

I can't tell you how many stories I've heard over the years from readers who used topicals to introduce aging parents and grandparents to cannabis. These are often people who grew up hearing nothing but decades of anti-cannabis messaging — and would never in a million years smoke something or eat an edible.
But a lotion or a salve? That felt familiar. Safe. Like any other product at the pharmacy.

And once they felt the relief — in their knees, their shoulders, their backs — something shifted. Many of them became curious about other forms of cannabis medicine. Some didn't, and that's fine too. The point isn't to convert anyone. It's to give people the option to get the relief they need in whatever form feels right for them.
Topicals are also a beautiful option for caregivers dosing for elderly parents or patients — no math, no worry about overdoing it, no interaction with medications the way some edibles can raise concerns. You just apply it where it hurts and let the cannabinoids do their work.

Related reading: Who Should (and Shouldn't) Use Cannabis Topicals? — a practical look at who benefits most and the few situations where topicals aren't the right fit.

How Can You Try Cannabis Topicals at Home?

You have two good options. You can buy topicals from a licensed dispensary — easy but expensive (quality salves run $50–$100 a jar, and bath soaks are often $15 for a single use). Or you can make your own at home for a fraction of the cost, with full control over the strength and ingredients.

If you've never made skincare products before, don't let that stop you. If you can read a recipe, measure a few ingredients, and turn on a stove, you have everything you need. I promise.
A cannabis-infused massage oil is the simplest starting point — it's essentially an oil infusion you rub on sore spots. If you'd like my step-by-step tutorial on how to make one at home, you can grab it below.

Once you're comfortable with a simple massage oil, my Easy DIY Topicals & Skincare course walks you through over 60 tested formulas — pain salves, body butters, bath bombs, lip balms, natural sunscreens, and more — with dosing calculators so you can dial in the strength for whatever condition you're treating.

Get the Easy DIY Topicals & Skincare Course →

Frequently Asked Questions

The information in this article is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for medical advice. Consult your doctor before using cannabis for medical purposes, especially if you're taking other medications or managing a chronic condition.