The Ever-Growing Trend of Cannabis and Massage Pairing

Starting last week, Seattle’s Dockside Cannabis is offering free coffee in the morning and massages in the evenings. Cannabis and massage have always gone hand-in-hand together. In fact, the scientific bases for cannabis’s pain relieving properties make it a no-brainer for being the perfect complement to massage.

Let’s dig a little deeper. This trend of cannabis and massage pairing has been an ancient tradition, going as far back as ancient Chinese and Egyptian eras. Cannabis oil was often used in sexual experiences and in sensual massages. Now, you don’t have to be in the mood to get down in order to enjoy cannabis-infused massages. By reducing pain and inflammation in the muscles, the therapist is able to work more deeply and effectively. In an interview with Massage Magazine, osteopath Dustin Sulak of Maine, who prescribes cannabis in his practice, further stressed the benefits of the anti-anxiety properties of cannabis and how it may additionally serve to reduce pain. He also cites studies that show CBD as responsible for quickening the recovery time of injured connective tissues.

Washington isn’t the only place either—in Colorado, LoDo Massage Studio located in Denver offers canna-massages and has been doing so for over two years now. Partnering with renowned cannabis product company Apothecanna, one may opt for a massage with cannabis-infused pain cream. LoDo Massage Studio says that their most popular massage that pairs with cannabis is the Deep Tissue Massage. Deep tissue massages decrease inflammation, increase blood flow and soothe tension in muscles associated with many different kinds of pain. In addition, deep tissue massage is cited as being beneficial for reducing blood pressure, stress relief and rehabilitating muscles which have suffered injuries.

Cannabis acts as a natural aid to loosening the muscles and thus allowing them greater access.

Allure Magazine went in LoDo for research on this trend of cannabis massages in June of last year, and with a skeptical eye and a journalist’s attention to detail—but with a fashionista’s addiction to high end spas—they came out huge fans. “I floated through it in a blissed-out blur,” Allure writer Meirav Devash reported. “After the massage ended, I felt loosey-goosey relaxed and ready for a nap. Or an order of fries. Maybe someone could throw fries in my mouth while I napped? If I didn’t always want fries and a nap, I’d think there might be something to this topical cannabis business.”

In Englewood, Colorado, there was even a cannabis-infused spa for a moment (closed now), dedicated to infusing cannabis into every service a spa would offer. “Our gateway treatment for women was the manicure,” says Danielli Martel, who co-owns the shop. “We use Zoya natural nail polish and organic, vegan cannabis-infused oil during the hand massage. That’s when they get hooked.”

So, cannabis and massage are a perfect pairing, and apparently, Seattle offers both, for its loving community. Now, there is no guarantee that Dockside Cannabis in Seattle will be using cannabis-infused oil in their massages, but I bet if the response to this fun reward treatments is positive, they will be soon. Awarded Seattle Weekly’s 2016 “Best Cannabis Retailer,” Seattle’s Dockside Cannabis is going above and beyond the normal dispensary duties. From free coffee for morning commuters to free massages for the after-work crowd, they are clearly interested in treating people with a kind and compassionate heart, to the best of their abilities.