Topicals Guide

What is a cannabis topical, and how is it used?

A cannabis topical is a balm, lotion, salve, or similar product infused with cannabinoids and applied directly to the skin, targeting a specific area rather than the whole body. It is used the same way as any other topical skincare product, rubbed in by hand where needed.

Topicals come in a range of formulations, some THC-forward, some CBD-forward, and some blending both cannabinoids. The base product, whether a balm, cream, or oil, functions much like a standard skincare product with cannabinoids added to the formula.

Because they are applied externally rather than smoked, vaped, or swallowed, topicals sit in a different use category from every other product The Garden carries, closer in daily use pattern to a lotion than to flower or an edible.

Do topicals get you high the way other cannabis products do?

Standard cannabis topicals are generally non-intoxicating, since THC applied to the skin does not typically reach the bloodstream in amounts sufficient to produce the effect associated with smoking, vaping, or eating cannabis. That is the defining feature of the category, not an incidental detail.

This is the main reason shoppers reach for a topical specifically: they want a product applied to the skin without the intoxicating effect tied to inhaled or ingested cannabis. It is a meaningfully different use case from every other category on The Garden’s menu.

A small number of specialty transdermal products are formulated to cross into the bloodstream more directly, and those are typically labeled distinctly from standard topicals. Reading the specific product description is the way to confirm which type you are looking at.

How is a topical different from a tincture?

A topical is applied to the skin and is generally non-intoxicating, while a tincture is taken under the tongue or swallowed and does produce an intoxicating effect if it contains THC. Both are non-inhaled formats, but they work through entirely different pathways in the body.

It is easy to lump topicals and tinctures together since both sit outside the smoking, vaping, and edible categories, but they serve different purposes. See our tinctures guide for how that format compares on dosing and absorption.

If you are specifically looking to avoid intoxication, a topical is the more reliable choice of the two. If you want a controlled, digestible dose with an intoxicating effect, a tincture is the better fit.

What cannabinoids show up in topicals, and does it matter which one?

Topicals commonly contain THC, CBD, or a blend of both, alongside other plant compounds depending on the formulation. Which cannabinoid a topical features does not change the basic non-intoxicating nature of standard topicals, since the delivery method is the main factor limiting bloodstream absorption.

CBD-forward topicals are a common entry point for shoppers who want a purely non-intoxicating option without any THC content at all. THC-forward or blended topicals are still generally non-intoxicating when used as directed, since the skin barrier limits absorption regardless of which cannabinoid is present.

See cannabinoids 101 for the underlying chemistry differences between THC, CBD, and the other compounds that can appear in a topical formulation.

Where can I buy topicals at The Garden?

Both Camp Washington and Sycamore Township carry topicals on their live menus, typically alongside tinctures in the same product category. Check current stock online or ask a budtender in store which formulation matches what you are looking for.

Selection depends on what is currently available from Ohio-licensed processors, and both THC and CBD-forward options rotate through the category regularly.

Browse the live menu for Camp Washington or Sycamore Township, or see the tinctures and topicals category page for a general overview.

Frequently Asked Questions