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CBD topicals are all the rage, and for good reason. They reduce inflammation, heal dry skin and soothe pain, among other things. But why do they work so well? We have answers.

While cannabis-infused salves, rubs, lotions and oils are still powerhouses when it comes to reducing inflammation, healing dry, patchy skin and going deep into tissue to soothe pain or irritations, a new batch of beauty products have also cropped up, most of them infused with CBD.

Why do they work so well on the skin?

Aside from most companies using high quality carrier oils to deliver the cannabinoids, the skin itself is riddled with our body’s endocannabinoid system, meaning that there are CB2 receptors all over our epidermis just waiting to be filled.

“Apparently most, if not all, skin functions are controlled to a certain extent by the local skin endocannabinoid system,” Tamás Bíró, PhD, said to Elle. Bíró is an adviser for Phytecs, a biotech company researching and developing products targeting the endocannabinoid system for medical, nutraceutical and cosmetic industries.

You put it directly where the pain is

Most people using topicals are using them for aches, pains, arthritis and other sore spots. The beauty of a topical is that you massage it into your skin right where the pain is affecting you most. Different carrier oils go deeper than others, but most topicals seem to have the miraculous property of getting in there and addressing what hurts.

Speaking of massage…

Take your massage to the next level by going to one of the many CBD-themed massage parlors cropping up. Or, if you’d rather be frugal, have a loved one give you one of the best rub downs of your life. The soothing cannabinoids don’t just alleviate sore muscles and stress, they also keep the masseuse’s hands from getting sore and keeps them well hydrated.

Topicals treat skin psoriasis

The itchy, irritated, red skin that happens with psoriasis is painful, as anyone with the disorder will tell you. Psoriasis affects 7.5 million Americans, according to the National Psoriasis Foundation, and the disease can be associated with more serious health conditions like heart disease, diabetes, and depression. Topicals can help relieve the inflammation caused by psoriasis while the moisturizing properties can combat the scaly buildup.

How to tell if you’re getting the right rub…

To begin with, make sure that the ingredients are from sustainable sources and are of the highest quality. Companies that care about what they’re putting into their products care even more about the patients who are using them.

As stated earlier, having some activated THC in the lotion is most effective due to marijuana’s entourage effect. However, CBD topicals are little miracle workers, too, so don’t be down if you’re living in a THC-dry state.

CBD cosmetics are the big thing right now!

From Renew Pure Radiance Oil to Crème de la Mer facial moisturizing cream, a new, high-end market of CBD beauty products has hit the shelves and online stores. They absorb quickly and use concoctions that won’t clog pores and will keep skin tones even and soothed. Milk Makeup’s KUSH High Volume mascara is another recent and trendy addition to the CBD beauty world.

All the benefits add up

Topicals are a natural way to slow or halt the use of synthetic pain relievers, which wreak havoc on the liver and other organs.

Topicals of course address inflammation and the other previously mentioned afflictions and with so many applications, the vast appeal has not only provided relief to hundreds of thousands of patients, it’s further legitimized cannabis use among unlikely demographics. Lotions, balms, and rubs offer relief for the growing amount of seniors who want to mitigate aches and pains with weed.

Topicals are discrete and non-psychoactive

Even if other herbs or essences like menthol are being utilized in the cream, once it absorbs there is no visible or sensory giveaways that you’ve just used marijuana. Creams and such are perfect before or during work, especially if you’re on your feet all day, and they won’t show a positive result on a drug test or get you high, making topicals the work accessory that should always be at the ready. You can even use it on a paper cut. The possibilities are endless.

Maine marijuana enthusiasts will probably be able to purchase their preferred products in retail stores by March 2020 after years of waiting.

Voters approved legal adult-use marijuana at the polls in November 2016, and the road to legal sales has been long and bumpy.

But a key act passed by the Legislature is now in effect, and that means the Maine Office of Marijuana Policy is in a position to complete final adoption of marijuana rules, said David Heidrich, an office spokesman.

The act made tweaks to Maine's Marijuana Legalization Act that were necessary for the marijuana office to adopt the rules, which it is expected to do within two months. That means it will likely be able to accept applications for retail marijuana sales by the end of 2019, Heidrich said.

The state will need time to process the applications, and retailers will also need local approvals, but the state is projecting revenue from marijuana sales by March 15, Heidrich said. How swiftly the applications are approved might depend on how complete they are, he said.

"We won't know until we get applications. It's possible we get applications from someone who has all their ducks in a row and has a municipality lined up that's poised to give them local authorization," Heidrich said.

Maine's rollout of legal marijuana has been beset with hiccups, such as a squabble over the hiring of a key consultant, and was also slowed by former Gov. Paul LePage's opposition to legalization.

However, the result has been a process that will ultimately protect public health and safety, said Scott Gagnon, who led a drive against legalization and has since played a role on a state marijuana commission.

"From a public health perspective it has been a slower pace, a more deliberative pace than has happened in some states," Gagnon said. "I think that's been good."

David Boyer, an independent marijuana industry consultant in Maine, said that it's "disappointing that adults still don't have a place to purchase legal cannabis in Maine," but that the finish line is in sight.

The numbers 11 and 33 come up quite often when the topic of marijuana legalization is discussed. Currently, 11 U.S. states allow the legal use of recreational marijuana, while 33 states have legalized medical cannabis. But those numbers could soon change.

Nine states could be on track to hold key votes on some form of marijuana legalization in 2020. Here are the states that could be next on the marijuana map -- and the stocks that could be poised to profit the most.

1. Arizona

Arizona is already one of the 33 states that allows the legal use of medical cannabis. An attempt to legalize recreational pot narrowly failed in 2016. At least one initiative to legalize recreational marijuana will again be on the state's ballot next year. The details in the proposals vary somewhat, but don't be surprised if one of them garners enough votes for Arizona to join its neighbors California, Colorado, and Nevada in allowing legal recreational pot.

2. Arkansas

It's a similar story in Arkansas, which has also already legalized medical cannabis. So far, two ballot initiatives have been filed with the Arkansas secretary of state's office with language proposing legalizing recreational marijuana. Whether or not either initiative can gain enough signatures to make the 2020 ballot in the conservative state remains to be seen.

3. Florida

The biggest pot legalization vote of all next year could come in the Sunshine State. Florida currently claims a fast-growing medical cannabis market, but efforts are underway to allow citizens to decide if they'd like to allow legal recreational marijuana as well. The chances of passage if the ballot includes at least one of the proposed amendments appear to be pretty good: A recent survey found that 67% of Floridians support legalizing recreational pot.

4. Idaho

Idaho doesn't allow the legal use of marijuana at all right now. But a petition has been filed with the Idaho secretary of state to put a proposal on the ballot in 2020 to legalize medical cannabis. Supporters of this initiative must collect 55,057 signatures from registered Idaho voters by April 30, 2020, to get the measure on next year's November general election ballot.

5. Mississippi

You know times are changing when one of the most conservative states in the Deep South could be on track to legalize medical cannabis. Mississippi appears likely to include an initiative to do just that in 2020 now that an advocacy group has gained the required number of signatures. While some state leaders oppose the effort, supporters think there's a pretty good chance that the measure will pass next year.

6. Nebraska

The Nebraska state legislature has voted down proposed bills to legalize medical cannabis three times. But it's possible that the matter could be decided by voters instead of legislators next year. Efforts are underway to gather enough signatures to include a proposal on the 2020 ballot for a constitutional amendment to allow the legal use and sale of medical cannabis.

7. New Jersey

New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy has tried -- and failed -- to fulfill his 2018 campaign promise to legalize recreational pot in the Garden State. But the state legislator could be ready to vote on the matter once again around the time of the November 2020 elections. However, it's also a possibility that the 2020 ballot could include a referendum for the state's voters to decide whether or not to legalize recreational marijuana. 

8. North Dakota

North Dakota currently allows the legal use and sale of medical cannabis. But previous efforts to legalize recreational marijuana have fizzled out. That could change in 2020, with two groups working to include an initiative on next year's ballot to legalize pot.

9. South Dakota

South Dakota hasn't legalized any form of marijuana yet. However, an advocacy group has until Nov. 4, 2019, to collect the required signatures to put language on the 2020 ballot for the state to legalize medical cannabis.

 

Stocks poised to profit

The three most important states for investors to watch are Arizona, Florida, and New Jersey, each of which could be on course to legalize recreational marijuana next year. Two marijuana stocks that appear to be in especially good shape to profit should these states legalize recreational pot are Cresco Labs (OTC:CRLBF) and Trulieve Cannabis (OTC:TCNNF).

Cresco ranks as one of the largest cannabis operators in the U.S. It already operates medical cannabis stores in Arizona and has a binding transaction pending in Florida. Cresco is close to completing its acquisition of Origin House, the largest cannabis distributor in California that also markets several of its own recreational cannabis brands. Should Arizona and Florida legalize recreational pot, Cresco would almost certainly expand its operations significantly in both states.

Trulieve Cannabis is currently the 800-pound gorilla in the Florida medical cannabis market. The company plans to increase its medical cannabis stores in the state to 44 by the end of this year. Medical cannabis alone presents a solid growth opportunity for Trulieve. Unsurprisingly, though, the company has contributed to efforts to put a constitutional amendment on Florida's 2020 ballot to legalize recreational pot. If the state's citizens have the opportunity to vote on the issue, Trulieve's potential market could increase dramatically in the not-too-distant future.

One of the leading lights of the European cannabis scene has successfully completed its demerger – as speculation mounts that a stock market flotation is imminent.

London and Dublin-based European Cannabis Holdings (ECH) has split into distinct media and medical cannabis divisions, each with a trio of well-known brands. In a company statement it said ECH Media & Data now consists of Prohibition Partners – authors of industry ‘bible’ the annual European Cannabis Report.

Cannabis Europa, the conference series which started in London and is now expanding across Europe and into North America with events planned for Toronto and New York later this year.

And, thirdly is European Cannabis Week; a business platform, that attracts hundreds of leading industry figures from across the world to London every June. This company will be headquartered in London with the tech and data team in Dublin and a consultancy and regulatory affairs team in Barcelona.

Meanwhile ECH Medical is a new holding company designed to help improve access to medical cannabis for patients across Europe through three distinct entities, say the company.

The Academy of Medical Cannabis is an online learning platform for healthcare professionals, currently with a presence in the U.K, Ireland, France, New Zealand and Brazil. The Medical Cannabis Clinics is an expanding chain of U.K. private clinics, which will also be rolled out across European later this year.

The third elements in ECH Medical is Astral Health which is in the process of securing import license for cannabis products ‘across multiple jurisdictions’, say the company.

ECH Medical features leading lights of the U.K. medical cannabis community including Prof Mike Barnes, as its Chairman, and Patient Advocate Specialist Hannah Deacon, who successfully campaigned to change the U.K.’s medical cannabis law for her young son Alfie Dingley and other children. The two new holding companies will officially launch over the coming weeks – each with an independent board and leaderships.

Group Chairman Jeremy Edelman said: “Our investment and incubation model has proved highly successful. We put this down to a genuine understanding of cannabis and emerging markets, clarity of vision, strong strategic execution and an exceptionally talented team. This industry is now maturing and opening up at pace, so it feels timely to announce a demerger that will ensure independence and integrity across two new propositions.”

Earlier this year there was speculation in the U.K. press that ECH would become one of the first cannabis companies into U.K to float on the London Stock Exchange.

We now have more information about marijuana than ever, but there are still a bunch of myths that influence the way in which we view the herb.

There are a lot of myths surrounding marijuana, ranging from crazy stuff to others that makes a little bit of sense. This confusion is understandable; it’s only recently that marijuana has earned some legal status across states, and that serious scientific studies are being conducted.

Although much of marijuana’s make up and effect remain mysterious, there’s lots of room to learn more. We scoured the web to find some of the most popular marijuana myths. Here are six of the most common.

Weed isn’t as strong as it used to be

According to Ryan Vandrey, a professor from John Hopkins University, THC in cannabis is way higher than it used to be. Since cannabis is now a business, there are expert botanists that breed plants that contain larger quantities of THC. So maybe people smoked more weed in the 70s, but that doesn’t make today’s marijuana any less potent.

All weed is the same

There are two major types of marijuana, Indica and Sativa, both of which produce different highs. In short, Sativas are psychoactive while Indicas are more relaxing. It’s a little more complicated than that, since most marijuana plants contain a mix of both, but this generally works as a rule of thumb.

Synthetic marijuana is safe

Synthetic marijuana is much stronger than regular marijuana and it can lead to some really awful side effects. Synthetic marijuana has chemicals added in in order to resemble the effect and look of natural marijuana. These chemicals are harmful for your body, with some of the most serious side effects include renal damage, psychosis, cardiovascular harm and changes in the brain.

You can overdose on marijuana

It’s extremely unlikely to die from a marijuana overdose, but if you smoke too much you can have a pretty awful time. These overdoses can last a couple of hours and include symptoms of anxiety, paranoia, dizziness, and loss of coordination.

You can cheat a urine test

While there are tons of products that claim to do this, it’s very, very unlikely and practically impossible to cheat a urine test if there’s marijuana in your system. THC can be detected in urine for up to 10 days after consumption, 30 days if you’re a chronic user. Most products that claim to cheat urine tests simply dilute your urine, which tests can pick up on, flagging your sample as invalid.

Holland has never legalized marijuana

Holland, one of the world’s most popular marijuana scenes, has never actually legalized marijuana. In 1978, the government decided not to enforce bans in coffee shops and locales where people get together and smoke/sell small amounts of marijuana. Still, growing, distributing and importing marijuana within the country remains illegal.

Cannabis edibles are a growing segment of the market and are expected to reach $4.1 billion in 2022, combining Canadian and U.S. sales. In 2017, that figure was just $1 billion among the two countries. The segment is going to be key to the industry's long-term growth.

Restaurants haven't been able to take advantage of that growth since the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has still not permitted cannabidiol (CBD) to be infused into food. While the FDA has held hearings on CBD, there's no indication that changes are coming anytime soon.

One restaurant, however, has been able to get around that problem. Lowell Farms opened its doors earlier this month in West Hollywood, Calf., and it's the first restaurant with a lounge licensed for cannabis use. Customers will be able to eat food and consume pot at the same establishment. That doesn't mean the restaurant will be able to make and serve cannabis food. Instead, cannabis edibles will be permitted only if they are "produced by an outside source." 

One of the other restrictions the restaurant will face is not being able to sell alcohol to diners. It's a small price to pay to let them consume cannabis, since pot lounges remain a rarity in the industry. Las Vegas is among the cities looking at permitting such lounges, but that could be years away because there's still a lot of opposition to it. 

Why lounges could be big for the industry

While marijuana has been legalized in many parts of the U.S., that doesn't mean it's possible to consume it at bars or sporting events, unlike alcohol where there are many places that users can drink in a social setting. Allowing that could unlock another avenue of growth for the industry.

Cannabis beverages are on the rise and expected to grow globally at a rate of more than 15% per year from now until 2025, reaching $4.5 billion in market size by then. So there's going to be a growing need for places to enjoy such drinks with friends without always having to do so at home. And that doesn't even factor in the growth of edibles that could be consumed at lounges, such as candy, cookies, and chocolate.

Growth opportunities for investors

Investors looking to tap into some of those opportunities may want to consider investing in Canopy Growth (NYSE:CGC). The cannabis producer is going to be a big player in the edibles market in Canada when edibles are launched. And it is among a select few in the industry that have a deal with a beverage company, Constellation Brands (NYSE:STZ). The two companies first began working together in 2017 when the beermaker first invested in the company. The two companies would likely see demand for their products soar if they could be consumed in lounges. While the Canadian-based company wouldn't be able to send its products across the border unless they're hemp-based, by the time cannabis lounges are common across the U.S, federal legislation may very well have been passed to legalize marijuana. 

In Canada, there's potential for Canopy Growth to test its products in one lounge that was made legal earlier this year. In many ways, the emerging Canadian cannabis edibles market, which is going to be legalized later this month and where the first products will be available in December , could prove to be a good indicator of how successful some of these concepts will be in the U.S. And for Canopy Growth, it could be an important way to get closer to breakeven.

For now, Canopy Growth can be a good opportunity for investors to take advantage of the new edibles market in Canada. Not only is the company well-positioned for success in the beverages segment, but in a recent interview with BNN Bloomberg, CEO Mark Zekulin said the company was working on more than 50 different products for the edibles market. That could lead to significant growth for Canopy Growth and get investors excited about the stock once again.

Cannabis and hemp are generally illegal across the Asia Pacific region however, places such as Thailand have recently legalised medical cannabis.

As attitudes changes towards the plant are changing, the different markets are set to grow in the region. Asia is a largely untapped CBD market and represents the next enormous market opportunity to benefit from the global secular trend towards the legalisation of cannabis.

Cannabis testing market in the Asia Pacific region

The Asia Pacific is considered to be the most attractive regional market for laboratory proficiency testing owing to the large base of manufacturers and research laboratories in the region. Also, the growing scientific base and research capabilities in several Asian countries; growth of the Asian pharmaceutical, food, and biologics markets; and the large base of CROs in the region are some of the other major factors driving market growth in the region.

The Asia Pacific Cannabis Testing Market to 2025 – Regional Analysis and Forecasts by Type; Services; End User and Country report has estimated that the Asia Pacific cannabis testing market is expected to reach $422.74m USD (~€384.88m) in 2025 from $132.38m in 2017.

The market is estimated to grow with a CAGR of 15.8% from 2018-2025.

The growth of the cannabis testing market is primarily attributed to the growing adoption of LIMS and cannabis legalisation for medical and recreational purpose in the region.

However, restricted use of cannabis is likely to pose a negative impact on the market growth. On the other hand, increased demand through domestic manufacturing is likely to have a positive impact on the growth of the Asia Pacific cannabis testing market in the coming years.

The growing advanced technology provide the best solutions to meet the current requirements and enables the system to be readily adapted based on the needs. The modern LIMS (Laboratory Information Management Systems) system are used to automatically registers and archives the results of laboratory work, to support people management and equipment and materials administration. Advancements including, macro level challenges to increase innovation, manage risk, improve governance, comply with regulatory requirements, and deliver quantifiable operational results, help pathology laboratories to meet the evolving demands of the modern pathology services in the region.

The increasing adoption of LIMS technique helps to improve the transparency to lab work status, reducing the costs and improved efficiency, providing flexibility to accommodate new requirements and also help to improve quality and compliance. Penetration of information technology and increasing demand for data management and standardisation is helping in growing the number of LIMS vendors in the market.

The increasing demand for the LIMS in Asian market and R&D spends in the counties like China and India is growing that proportionally upsurge the market growth in the region. Thus, due to the above advancements, the cannabis testing market is expected to grow at a rapid pace during the forecast period.

In 2017, the product segment held a largest market share of 73.7% of the cannabis testing market, by type. This segment is also expected to dominate the market in 2025 owing diverse portfolio of cannabis testing products to the healthcare industry for innovations in the technologies. Moreover, the same segment is also expected to witness the highest CAGR in the market accounting to 16.1% in 2018 to 2025 owing to increasing analytical services and medicinal cannabis services in testing cannabis.

The Asia Pacific cannabis testing market, based on services was segmented into potency testing, microbial analysis, residual solvent screening, heavy metal testing, pesticide screening, terpene profiling, and genetic testing. The potency testing segment is anticipated to grow at a CAGR of 16.9% during the forecast period.

The testing laboratory segment held a largest market share of 49.2% of the cannabis testing market, by end user. This segment is anticipated to grow at a CAGR of 16.3% during the forecast period.

CBD skincare market

Some Asia Pacific countries sch as China allow for CBD products to be used, including CBD skincare. The CBD category alone is estimated to potentially be worth up to $15 billion in China by 2024.

The global CBD skin care market size, which includes the Asia Pacific regions, is expected to reach $1.7bn by 2025, according to a report by Grand View Research, Inc., expanding at a CAGR of 32.9% over the forecast period.

The healing properties of CBD ingredients are expected to encourage the manufacturers to develop products infused with these ingredients, thereby driving the market in the coming years.

Key suggestions from the report:

• The global CBD skin care market is expected to expand at a CAGR of 32.9% from 2019 to 2025, thereby reaching a value of $1.7 billion by 2025;
• North America led the market, accounting for a share of more than 40.0% in 2018, owing to high demand and legalisation of cannabis in US and Canada;
• Hemp based products generated a revenue of USD 147.0 million in 2018; and
• Some of the major players operating in the global market are Kiehl’s LLC; Cannuka LLC.; Elixinol Global Limited; Medical Marijuana Inc.; Endoca LL; Lord Jones; VERTLYBALM; Kapu Maku LLC; and Leef Organics.

CBD is considered safe and effective for all skin types but is particularly useful for people who struggle with sensitivity, inflammatory conditions, acne, and dryness related to skin. Owing to these strong inflammatory properties, CBD helps in skin’s natural healing process, lowering the life span of breakouts and eczema flare-ups. CBD also showcases potential antioxidant properties that can help in counteracting signs of aging. It can even help in reducing pain caused by inflammatory skin conditions.

According to the EU cosmetic ingredient database, hempseed oil also acts as a surfactant, cleanser, emollient, and conditioner agent. Hemp molecules are very minute, which further allows it to effectively penetrate the skin and provide effective results. Hemp based products held the largest share of 62.8% in 2018 on account of high fatty acid content of the product. Hemp infused products help in reducing the discomfort by soothing and rejuvenating dry and damaged skin. They also help in controlling aging problems, which is likely to drive the application of this source.

CBD based skin care oils led the market and accounted for a share of 40.9% in 2018. This product type has been gaining an increasing popularity in the personal care market. It is highly beneficial for acne, aging, and wrinkle prone skin conditions due to its anti-inflammatory properties. CBD oil also has antioxidant attributes, which help in reducing the visible signs of aging.

North America led the market in 2018 and is expected to be the fastest growing market in the coming years. Demand for CBD skin care products from North America is expected to remain high due to the presence of a large customer base and legalisation of marijuana in U.S. and Canada. Currently, about 33 states in U.S. and District of Colombia have legalised cannabis in U.S., thereby making it the largest market in the world. The legalisation and presence of prominent beauty care manufacturers are expected to contribute to the market growth over the next few years.