This post explores and reviews one of the most revolutionary product manufacturers in cannabis — Mary’s Medicinals, a company that has pioneered a new form of cannabis consumption.
As you’re probably aware, there are almost as many ways to ingest medical cannabis as there are reasons for ingesting it. But you may not realize there are new cannabis products you put ON your body instead of IN your body, and these delivery methods are making the whole industry take notice.
About Mary’s Medicinals
In 2013, Colorado-based Mary’s Medicinals, a company dedicated to advancing medical marijuana technology, began distributing transdermal patches and topical gel pens that are carefully dosed, beautifully packaged, and highly effective. Today, Mary’s Medicinals cannabis products are available in California, Colorado, Michigan, Montana, Nevada, Ohio, Vermont, and even Canada. And thanks to great cannabis delivery services, your THC-infused patch is just a few taps or clicks away!
The best part about Mary’s revolutionary new way to administer marijuana is the head-spinning array of choices. If we’re just talking about transdermal patches (don’t worry, I’ll get to the other exciting products shortly), you can get the medicated patch in the following varieties: 20mg of CBD, CBN, THCa, or CBD/THC; and 20mg of indica or sativa THC.
We put Mary’s new medicated patches to the test below, but first, we’ll look at the history of the patch itself. After all, transdermal patches are nothing new. You probably know of nicotine patches used for smoking cessation, but did you realize that transdermal patches have been around since 1979 when the FDA first approved them for administering the drug scopolamine to combat motion sickness? Since then, the patch has delivered everything from birth control to vitamin B12.1
In many ways, a medicated adhesive patch is the ideal way to ingest cannabis. Most importantly, it releases the cannabinoids in a constant, controlled manner. This time-release property perfectly complements the medicine’s analgesic effects, and it may be the most convenient way to take your medication ever – stick one and done.
Do Mary’s Medicinals Transdermal Patches Work?
In a word, yes. Most users start feeling the effects about 25 minutes after applying the patch. The effects are quite subtle at first but also very enduring – not 8 to 12 hours like Mary’s website claims, but a solid 4 to 6 hours of extended relief. The THC “high” is as potent as a double-dose cannabutter edible but lasts longer, and the CBD pain-relieving properties are out of this world.
Mary’s most popular cannabis patches, and the only ones we tested, were the 20 mg CBD/THC combination patches with a 1:1 ratio and the 20 mg THC Sativa patches. They cost about $12 apiece. The most remarkable effect noticed by everyone in our diverse sample is the analgesic effect of transdermal CBD on old, forgotten aches and pains you’ve simply accepted and learned to live with. Several of our test patients (including this writer!), who suffer from different ailments reportedly helped by cannabis, were surprised to experience an absence of discomfort in joints and muscles that were normally a problem.
Both a nagging ache in my shoulder and a lifelong knee pain simply disappeared. I had suffered for years and gotten used to the soreness, so it was a pleasant surprise to get some relief I didn’t bargain for. These effects wear off about 4 or 5 hours after applying the patch, but you can then light up a bowl and keep the medicine flowing. A pre-roll or a vape pen hit is exquisite after your patch starts to wear off. The 20 mg THC patch was designed primarily for recreational users and will keep you comfortably medicated for half the day. Our test of the Sativa patch proved to be the perfect focus for daytime use, more of a natural pick-me-up – Mary’s non-drowsy formula, if you will.
As expected, a few of our patients inquired about using multiple patches at the same time. According to Mary’s Medicinals’ Chief Scientist Noel Palmer, multiple patches can be applied, including mixing and matching the different types. In fact, Palmer recommends two patches for regular cannabis users or large body types. While a cannabis overdose is generally mild, applying more than two patches is downright wasteful, not to mention expensive. If you prefer uninterrupted low-dosage relief, says Palmer, feel free to cut each patch into four pieces and apply one quarter at a time (the topical equivalent of micro-dosing).
The patch should be applied anywhere on your body where you see veins below the skin – wrists, ankles, or the top of your foot. They are not any more uncomfortable to remove than a Band-Aid, but if that thought makes you queasy, soak the patch in warm water before removing it. Any residual adhesive can be easily removed with rubbing alcohol.
Mary’s Medicinals New Products
While this proprietary line of medicinal patches is spreading quickly through the cannabis community, the company has a number of equally revolutionary products on the market.
- Transdermal Gel Pen – The Transdermal Pen is like the patch, except you squeeze out 4 mg of either CBD, CBN, THC Sativa, or THC Indica gel, which is rubbed into the skin to ease soreness and relieve pain.
- Transdermal Topical Compound – This all-natural analgesic cream containing 100 mg of both CBD and THC is reported to be the balm-dot-com for stiff muscles and inflammation. This product is also available in a jar containing 50mg of both CBD and THC and a 10:1 jar with 300mg of CBD and 30mg of THC. Their new FORMULA Compound Topical, available only in California and Colorado, comes in a 1:1:1 ratio with 100mg of CBD, THC, and CBG each.
- CBD Muscle Freeze – Available in a 1.5oz container with 150mg of CBD or a 3oz container of 300mg CBD, Mary’s Medicinals Muscle Freea combination of CBD and natural plant extracts for a soothing and cooling cream that eases sore muscles and provides a warm glow you’ll never get with Ben-Gay.
- CBD/CBN Capsules – Available only in California, Mary’s capsules are 100 percent plant-based, vegan, GMO-free, and gluten-free and contain no additives. Mary’s offers both CBD and CBN capsules in either 5-packs or 30-packs. The 5-packs have five servings at 10mg each, while the 30-packs have 30 servings at 10mg each.
- The Remedy Tinctures – Made with Safflower oil and a natural terpene blend, Mary’s Medicinal tinctures are available in 500mg CBD, 100mg THC, 1000mg of THC or CBD, 200mg 1:1 CBD:CBN, 300mg 1:1 CBD:THC, and 250mg 1:1 THCa:CBD (CA only). Their newest FORMULA is made with a few more ingredients but is vegan and sugar-free, with a blood orange and elderberry flavoring. For consumers in California and Montana, it has 200mg of CBD and CBG each, 100mg of CBN, 50mg of THC, and THCa each. For consumers in Colorado, the oil is made with 200mg of THC and CBD and 100mg of CBG, CBN, and THC.
We did not try the gel pen (or other products for that matter, but we will), but noted that it’s a sophisticated instrument for exact dosing and includes a child-safety feature. Simply rotate the top portion of the pen clockwise to unlock the child safety mechanism and back in the other direction to lock it after dispensing. To dispense, push down on the top of the pen – the tip will dispense 2mg of gel per click – rub this into a veinous area such as your wrist.
If you’re at all curious about exploring these products in more depth, you should check out the Mary’s Medicinals website, where you can see how the founders are dedicated to natural pain-killing techniques and cutting-edge cannabis medicine.
How Do Transdermal Products Compare to Other Cannabis Medications?
While patches and transdermal gels are a godsend for long trips and a perfect way to time-release your medication, you may miss the sensual experience of inhaling a thick cloud of smoke or biting into a delicious brownie.
On the plus side, Mary’s products are delivered directly to the bloodstream, avoiding first-pass metabolism by the liver and breakdown by stomach acids. According to Mary's Medicinals website, this gives their products effective dosing of approximately 10 times that of anything else on the market. Many of their patches contain THC, which is also the primary active ingredient in cannabis. However, smoking cannabis high in THC results in a sudden “high” that wears off quickly, while Mary’s Patch is designed to deliver a slow and consistent long-term medicinal dosage. Their cannabinoid-specific products, such as THCa and CBD, are non-psychotropic, so they are much less like smoking.
As displayed on the packaging, their list of ingredients includes carefully extracted cannabis oil, which is cannabinoid- and terpene-enriched. A proprietary carrier compound delivers the active medicine directly to the bloodstream for maximum efficiency and bioavailability. Plus, all of their patches are made with hypoallergenic silicone backer and are latex-free.
Remember that our skin is a fairly effective barrier against contaminants, but it’s not 100% foolproof. In order for a transdermal to do its job, it must include an agent that relaxes the skin to let the medication seep into your bloodstream. Unfortunately, in this relaxed state, the area of skin covered by the patch also enables you to take in smog and other environmental toxins intravenously.
We know it sounds scary, but even skeptics consider the patch and transdermal gel pen safe. If you're concerned about toxins, just be sure to clean the area with alcohol only—don’t use soap—and cover the dab of gel concentrate with a chemically resistant material, like a Teflon sheet.
Patient Testimonials
“This works better than any medicine I’ve tried for my fibromyalgia, and it’s also helping my chronic anxiety. It’s pretty incredible” — Ron, 65
“I’ve been enduring chronic neurogenic pain for many, many years. I tried some of your patches and they really worked. Better than morphine, methadone, anything.” –Kelly, 45
And the Winner Is…
Mary’s Medicinals innovative topical and transdermal products have won many awards, including the Cannabis Business Awards 2014 Invention of the Year and Best New Product at the prestigious High Times Cannabis Cup. We couldn’t agree more – transdermal products with precise dosing and maximum effectiveness are here to stay.
Transdermal ingestion of cannabinoids may not be everyone’s cup of tea. Still, in this instant-gratification world of potent concentrates and red-hot dab hits, Mary’s Medicinals’ transdermal marijuana patch is certainly a welcome relief.
Resources
- Pastore MN, Kalia YN, Horstmann M, Roberts MS. Transdermal patches: history, development and pharmacology. Br J Pharmacol. 2015;172(9):2179-2209. doi:10.1111/bph.13059 ↩︎
The information in this article and any included images or charts are for educational purposes only. This information is neither a substitute for, nor does it replace, professional legal advice or medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. If you have any concerns or questions about laws, regulations, or your health, you should always consult with an attorney, physician or other licensed professional.