I’ve suffered from psoriasis for over thirty years. The skin condition showed up shortly after the birth of my second child. Initially, I believed it to be some kind of a brush burn or rash that would go away on its one. It took a while before I finally was diagnosed with psoriasis. There is no definite cause and no known cure. The treatments might work for a little while, but the psoriasis soon builds up a tolerance. Plus, the pharmaceuticals are extremely expensive and present the risk of long-term, harmful side-effects. I’ve tried all sorts of home remedies and over-the-counter ointments with limited success. I have psoriasis on my elbows and knees. The condition causes the skin to regenerate too quickly and build up in white scales. The psoriasis can be itchy, red and sore. It can also be embarrassing. I had given up on managing the symptoms by the time cannabis was legalized for recreational possession and use in Illinois. It didn’t occur to me to even try cannabis as a remedy. My sister suggested it. She told me that the dispensary in Chicago offers topicals. I had even realized that there was such a thing on the market. When I visited the dispensary for the first time, I was surprised by my options. Their selection of cannabis-infused topicals includes sprays, roll-ons, balms, ointments, lotions, bath bombs and transdermal patches. There are unscented varieties and those infused with essential oils such as eucalyptus and lavender. Because cannabis topicals don’t cause any psychoactive effects, there is no limit on dosing. I can apply the ointment directly to my psoriasis multiple times per day. I chose a strain that is high in CBD and CBN and low in THC, hoping for anti-inflammatory and soothing effects. The cannabinoids interact with receptors in the skin and have given me hope for improvement.