Short answer

Medical cannabis creams for arthritis are topical products that contain THC, CBD, or both. People rub them into the skin over a joint. No cannabis cream is FDA approved to treat arthritis. Human studies are few and small. Animal studies show that transdermal CBD reduced joint swelling. Some patients report less pain. That reports comes from surveys and case series without placebo groups.

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What is in the cream

  • Cannabinoids. THC and CBD are the two most common. Labels list milligrams per container.
  • Carriers. Balms, lotions, and oils hold the cannabinoids. Transdermal products add agents that move cannabinoids past the skin barrier into tissue.
  • Other ingredients. Menthol, camphor, and arnica appear in many products. Each of those causes cooling or warming on its own.

Topical versus transdermal

A topical product sits on the skin and works at the surface. A transdermal product crosses the skin and reaches tissue below it. THC and CBD are large molecules. Plain topicals absorb little into the bloodstream. Transdermal formulas absorb more. This difference matters for drug tests and for side effects.

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What the evidence shows

Hammell and colleagues published a study in the European Journal of Pain in 2016. Rats with induced arthritis received transdermal CBD. Joint swelling dropped. Immune markers of pain dropped. That is animal data, not human data.

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Human data is weaker. A 2020 case series followed patients who used topical CBD for knee pain. Most reported less pain. The study had 6 participants and no control group. Reviews from the Arthritis Foundation state that topical CBD may ease joint pain for some people. No study shows that any cannabis cream slows joint damage.

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Arthritis types

Osteoarthritis is wear on cartilage. Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease that inflames the joint lining. A cream can address local pain in either case. A cream cannot treat the underlying disease process in either case.

How people use it

  1. Apply a small amount, about the size of a pea, to the skin over the joint.
  2. Rub in until absorbed. Wash hands after.
  3. Wait 15 to 60 minutes. Reapply per the label.

Reading a label

  • Check milligrams of THC and CBD per container.
  • Look for a batch number.
  • Look for third party lab results from an ISO 17025 lab.
  • Check for a state license number on the package.

Risks and limits

  • Skin reactions include redness and itching. Test on the forearm for 24 hours first.
  • THC absorbs in small amounts. Heavy use may trigger a positive drug test. Do not drive if impaired.
  • Do not apply to broken skin.
  • Keep products away from children and pets.
  • Products with menthol or camphor should not be combined with heating pads or wraps.

Legal status in the US

Cannabis is a Schedule I controlled substance under federal law. States set their own rules. In states with medical programs, a patient card or doctor authorization may be required. Creams with THC are sold at licensed dispensaries. Hemp derived CBD creams with less than 0.3% THC are sold in retail stores under federal law.

Bottom line

A cannabis cream may reduce joint pain for some people. The evidence for that claim is limited. It will not repair cartilage or stop rheumatoid arthritis. Ask a pharmacist or doctor before adding one to a treatment plan.