Cannabis-infused skincare might be the next big thing, if the federal government allows

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Lord Jones–a prestige natural skincare brand is similar to a lot of other organic skincare brands in the market, but with one major difference–it carries cannabis-infused skincare.

Cannabis contains several active compounds responsible for its psychoactive and medical properties. THC or Tetrahydrocannabinol is the active compound in cannabis that is responsible for the psychoactive or ‘high’ effect.

CBD or cannabidiol, is another compound found in cannabis responsible for its non-psycoactive, medicinal benefits like pain relief, inflammation, anxiety, seizures, spasms, among many others. While CBD is widely used for medical patients, its also gaining popularity in skincare for treating various skincare conditions like psoriasis, dermatitis, eczema and others.

Cindy Capobianco and her husband Robert Rosenheck started Lord Jones originally as a cannabis edibles brand, but soon transitioned into skincare. Their first skincare product was a THC and CBD infused lotion, which was only sold in cannabis dispensaries. Then last year, the couple released a CBD-rich body lotion made from industrial hemp, mentioned by celebrities like Olivia Wilde and Mandy Moore.

“We were skeptical at first if a hemp-derived CBD extract would be effective without the THC,” Capobianco told Forbes. “We are the best guinea pigs we know and we found that [CBD extract] really worked for our own injuries so we came out with our CBD-only lotion.”

The lotion was originally intended and marketed to ease sore muscles, but Capobianco quickly realized the cream was even helpful to relieve dry patches, rashes, and prevent swelling and bruising prior to Botox.

“We call it grandmother research – documenting our customers’ experience to learn the various benefits,” she said. Right now, ‘grandmother research’ may be the best option though. Because of the status of cannabis on a federal level, there aren’t a wide array of studies to show the benefits of cannabis, THC or CBD in skincare.

Robert Dellavalle, M.D., Ph.D., MSPH, Professor of Dermatology and Public Health at the University of Colorado School of Medicine and the Colorado School of Public Health is one of the authors of an April 2017 Journal of the American Academy Dermatology paper, a survey of all the literature on the potential for cannabinoids on humans and animals titled “The role of cannabinoids in dermatology.”

“We don’t have rigorous studies so we’ve started a registry of patients to see what they are using and if they think its working,” Dr. Dellavalle told Forbes. “The problem is the US federal government. We are going to see other countries like Israel and Canada take the lead if we continue to have these regulatory hurdles.”

While several brands are joining Lord Jones in launching cannabis infused skincare, they are all making sure to stay compliant with the law until cannabis is legalized federally. Capobianco makes sure to hire a team of lawyers so they don’t have to deal with the DEA during brand promotions, since cannabis is still illegal on the federal level.

Danny Zlatnik, an attorney at Dickenson, Peatman & Fogarty in Santa Rosa, CA, specializing in California cannabis law, told Forbes that skincare brands are safe from DEA raids (for the most part).

“If the products do not contain any detectable THC, and the CBD is derived from industrial hemp, not from the resin of Cannabis sativa L. plants, there would be a strong defense to any enforcement action by federal authorities,” Zlatnik said.

CBD-infused skincare is really becoming the next big thing for not only its medical benefits, but also for its profit. According to research firm Brightfield Group, the rapidly growing CBD market hit $170 million in 2017 and is projected to reach $1 billion within the next three years. But, not much research can be done or profit made until the status of cannabis is changed federally from a Schedule 1 substance.