Cannabis: Summer Essentials, DIY Style

If you like a little cannabis included in your body care routine, you’re not likely to find what you’re looking for at your local CVS. So make it yourself! Below are some recipes for cannabis-enhanced summer essentials that’ll keep you comfortable all season long.

Sunburn Relief Lotion

This lotion combines the hydrating and healing properties of shea butter and aloe vera gel with analgesics like cannabis and peppermint, and the antimicrobial properties of lavender.

¼ cup raw shea butter

¼ cup aloe vera gel

¼ cup infused cannabis coconut oil

½ tsp vitamin E oil

4 – 5 drops peppermint essential oil

4 – 5 drops lavender essential oil

1. Soften shea butter in a microwave or over a double boiler (should be texture of room-temperature butter)
2. Whip shea butter in an electric mixer or with handheld mixer until fluffy and smooth
3. Add aloe vera gel, coconut oil, vitamin E and essential oils and combine
4. Place bowl in refrigerator for 15 minutes
5. Remove and whip again for 5 minutes
6. Store finished lotion in a glass jar or container in a cool, dry place

*natural butters and oil can become rancid in warmer months; store lotion in the refrigerator if not used within a month

Cannabis Insect Repellent

Vegetable glycerin is added to this recipe to help the essential oils bind to your skin. Using a cold processed tincture is vital for this mixture, as it preserves the terpenes in the cannabis that are used by the plant as an insect repellent during its life cycle.

4 oz distilled or boiled water

3 oz witch hazel

1 T cannabis alcohol tincture (cold processed)

1 T vegetable glycerin

20 drops tea tree essential oil

20 drops cedar wood essential oil

20 drops geranium essential oil

Combine all ingredients in an 8oz spray bottle and shake thoroughly.

Arnica Balm

This ointment is a must-have for gardeners, landscapers, hikers and outdoor enthusiasts of all kinds because it provides relief from bumps and bruises, sore muscles and overworked bodies at the end of a summer day.

1 cup coconut oil

3 T dried arnica flowers

1 tsp menthol crystals

2 oz beeswax

½ cup infused cannabis coconut oil

10 drops eucalyptus essential oil

10 drops calendula essential oil

1. Combine 1 cup coconut oil with arnica flowers in a double boiler and simmer for 30 – 60 minutes
2. Strain mixture through a cheese cloth and return arnica-infused oil to double boiler with the beeswax and cannabis oil
3. When melted, cool slightly and add menthol crystals and essential oils
4. Store in a clean glass container in a cool, dark place