With topicals now legal in Canada, the Ontario cannabis industry is ready to adapt to the changes that come with new products and regulations. If you’re working or studying to work in the industry, you should understand how oils, creams, lotions, and other such products work to have the product knowledge you need. Many people may prefer these products if they don’t wish to orally consume cannabis, so topicals open up a wide opportunity for new consumers and growth in the cannabis industry. Knowing how these products are absorbed by the body and different variations to expect can help you sell, produce, and cater to these new customers.
Read on to learn more about cannabis topicals!
1. Ontario Dispensary Licence Holders Know Topicals Are Transdermal
Lotions, balms, creams, and oils that are infused with cannabis are used by externally applying them, rather than smoking or ingesting them. These are referred to as transdermal methods and work by activating cannabinoid receptors that are present in:
- Skin
- Muscle tissues
- Nerves
- The bloodstream
The product is absorbed through the skin and binds to these receptors. The absorption of cannabinoids into the bloodstream is slower than with products that are smoked or eaten.
Topicals like lotions are transdermal, or applied through the skin
If you have an Ontario dispensary licence or are hoping to have one at some point, knowing how these products function and are absorbed by the body is important.
2. Topicals May Attract New Customers After Your Cannabis Retail Application
Since many topicals have no cerebral effect, they may appeal to customers who don’t want these effects from their products. Some topicals do contain THC and can have a mild influence or produce a mild “high”, yet they do not give the same intensity as ingesting or smoking a product. Examples of topicals include:
- Oils
- Sprays
- Soaps
- Lotions
- Balms
- Creams
Often, topicals are combined with other ingredients like essential oils, which may be to add:
- Fragrance
- Texture
- Moisturization or other effects
If you’re getting ready for a cannabis retail application, you’re on the right track to take advantage of the benefits of having new products in stock. There are many different ways that topicals can serve customers and be personalized to their own lifestyles and preferences. This opens up doors to growth for you if you are a new retail business owner, distributor, or producer.
The more variety there is in products, the more customers’ preferences will be catered to
3. Cannabis Topicals Can Offer New Functions
The introduction of topicals adds other functions to the range of products available. Some of these may include:
- Skin care
- Cosmetic effects
- Use in bath or spa treatments
- Fragrance
This is both exciting and challenging, as it adds to the knowledge required by professionals in the cannabis industry.
From skin care to fragrance, topicals will offer functions that edibles and smoked products can’t
Are you looking for cannabis retail application Ontario preparation?
Contact AAPS to learn about our courses!