Is Marijuana And Sex A Good Combination Together?

Are there any benefits to having sex on cannabis? Does smoking cannabis before sex intensify the pleasure? These are some of the questions related to pot use and sex that we take a closer look at in this article. We all know cannabis makes food taste better, so don’t be surprised if it also enhances sexual experiences. Alcohol is a “must-have” during a romantic date with your significant other. It has been implied for ages, that alcohol works like a love potion. Did you ever wonder what “marijuana” or “weed” or “cannabis” could do to your libido? Does it increase your sexual desire?

Arousal is a big question, but another big question is it’s overall effects on sexual health. If we look at alcohol there have been many studies that show dysfunctionality and negative affects to sex life.

In this article, we will dissect both aspects – arousal and sexual health – of weed use of both men and women. To understand this better, we will also look into the effects of alcohol and compare that to weed. Some people reading this might hate the idea of a comparison between the two, since one has been shown to be less toxic than the other (in other words, weed is “less toxic” to the body than alcohol). However, this comparison will help us understand the potency of weed and how it impacts the sexual health and the libido. Of course, it is important to note that for “Marijuana” there is still a lot to learn both clinically and non-clinically. As of now, most data have been anecdotal based on people’s experiences, but in this article we will mostly use scientific papers to support our ideas.

Cannabis – indica or sativa for Arousal

Is one better than the other? There aren’t any scientific data regarding the differences between Indica and Sativa effects on sexual health. So, the answer is based just solely on anecdotal experiences.

An author (keeping her anonymous) from Leafly shared her experiences with cannabis and sex. She said, smoking an indica strain called Grape Ape caused her to experience a heightened sensitivity to touch. She claimed ‘she reached orgasm within twenty seconds’. Then for comparison, she tried a Sativa strain called Clementine. This strain is primarily known for its energetic and uplifting effect. According to her, she experienced vivid imaginations and reached orgasm after a minute and fifteen seconds. Not as fast and pleasurable as the Grape Ape, so to her the indica strain was the winner.

It is important to acknowledge however, that everyone’s body is different. Although, to her the indica strain was preferable, to someone else, the sativa might be the favorite. When it comes to sexuality, everyone is different. But what we can say from these anecdotal experiences is the fact that Cannabis in general has an effect on sexual pleasure – doesn’t matter whether it is the sativa strain or the indica strain.

Turned On While high

Firstly, how does Alcohol affect arousal?

Alcohol Use Predicts Sexual Decision-Making: A Systemic Review and Meta-Analysis of the Experimental Literature (Scott-Sheldon et al 2017) – Participants were randomly assigned to groups: alcohol, placebo, no alcohol control, and sexual outcomes were assessed following the administration of alcohol prior to the sexual stimulus. The hypothesis of this study was that participants with alcohol would report stronger sexual arousal, less sexual communication skills and more likely to engage in unprotected sex. The results showed that the findings supported this idea in which those who consumed alcohol, reported the hypotheses above.

How does Cannabis affect arousal?

How Cannabis Alters Sexual Experience: A Survey of Men and Women (Weibe and Just, 2019) – Using a questionnaire, the researchers asked a group of cannabis users how they reacted, responded and or felt during sex following cannabis use. Here is what they found:

Simplified visual representation made by the author of this article (leafipedia), using data from the paper cited.

Male-female differences in the effects of cannabinoids on sexual behavior and gonadal hormone function (Gorzalka, Hill and Chang, 2009) – The role of the endocannabinoid system and the effects of cannabis use in sexual health is investigated in this paper:

• In men: Correlation studies on male sexuality and cannabis use are unfortunately, inconsistent. Unlike in women, cannabis can impact males more negatively.
  1. Similar to women, it has been shown in a large portion of the male group (above 50%) who are cannabis users, had increased sexual pleasure and satisfaction, duration of sexual intercourse was extended and the quality of the orgasms improved.
  2. However, evidence has shown a linear correlation between erectile dysfunction and cannabis use. It has been predicted and seen in rats that chronic cannabis use can lead to early endothelial damage resulting in erectile dysfunction.
  3. (Male Arousal) Pots Effect on testosterone: Initially the “excitement” around this topic began when they found elevated levels of radiolabeled THC in a rat’s testes. This finding prompted a series of studies afterwards. With statistical confidence, all the studies had one consistent finding, which was that the testosterone levels were lower after cannabis use. However, following cannabis usage, although the testosterone levels were low it was still within normal range.

• In women: Although there aren’t many peer-reviewed studies at the moment, but luckily the few that has been published are fairly consistent with the notion that weed overall has beneficial effects on sexual functioning in women.
  1. A survey done by the National Commission on Marijuana and Drugs (1972) have shown that cannabis use have increased sexual desire in women, which was later supported by new data showing dose-dependency.
  2. 90% of the women claimed that following cannabis use, the sexual pleasure and satisfaction was amplified. Likewise, 40% of women reported that the quality of orgasm improved as well.
  3. Study has shown that consumption of cannabis increased sensitivity to touch, increased relaxation, and increased sexual responsiveness. The study has also shown that there were no effects on vaginal lubrication, orgasm frequency, or orgasm intensity.
  4. Female Arousal: A hypothesis that circulates is the potential affect of high levels of androstenedione (an androgen) secreted by the adrenal cortex following the use of cannabis. There have been studies shown in which THC increased the levels of an adrenal steroid suggesting a correlation between cannabis use and increased sexual desire.

The relationship between cannabis and male infertility, sexual health, and neoplasm: a systematic review (Rajanahally et al 2019) – This paper investigated seven clinical studies and 23 animal/in vitro studies to look at the relationship between cannabis use and male sexual health. In short, six out of seven (Table 1) of these clinical studies have consistently reported a negative impact on fertility. All of the animal/in vitro studies showed a negative impact of cannabis use in males.

Table 1: Clinical studies on male infertility and cannabis use. Table representation simplified by author of this article: Asrinus Subha

Best Strains For Female And Male Arousal

Boost your libido: High levels of terpene limonene have been shown to increase your libido. Some strains to look out for:

• Do-Si-Dos
• Wedding Cake

Both strains give a body-warming euphoria sensation before feeling relaxed.

Feeling Anxious? Cannabis has been shown to reduce anxiety. Top strains to look out for:

• Bubba Kush
• Skywalker OG Kush
• Blueberry Lambspread
• Kosher Kush

Worried about potential pain before and during sex? Cannabis has also been shown to relieve pain (Important: if you are feeling pain during sex, it’s best to get it checked by a health professional).

Top Cannabis strains for pain relief:

• G13
• Cannatonic
• Harlequin

Feeling ambitious, would like to try something new? There are some strains that behave like alcohol to lower your inhibition and boost confidence. Here are some strains below:

• Granddaddy Purple
• Trainwreck
• Atomic Northern Lights
• Blue Dream

Feeling Energetic? There are some strains that can help with keeping your stigma during sex. Some strains to look out for:

• Green Crack
• Cheese Quake
• Super Lemon Haze

Feeling Lazy? Certain cannabis strains are known for its relaxation effects:

• Master Kush
• Nice
• Animal Cookies

Sensitive? Anecdotal experiences have shown increased sensitivity to touch following cannabis use. A few strains to look out for to spice up your sex life:

• Bubblegum Kush
• Sour Diesel
• Jillybean

Conclusion

Although this area of study on cannabis is still fairly new, we can still say that cannabis has an effect on sexual health. We can’t say for sure whether this effect is negative or positive, but ideally, weed should be taken in moderation and overdosing might lead to short term and long terms effects like any other substances. Alcohol has been implied as a love potion for many years, but perhaps, after several subsequent studies on cannabis and sexual health- it might become the better and popular option in the near future.

References:

https://www.healthline.com/health/healthy-sex/best-strains-for-sex#for-increased-sensation

https://www.leafly.ca/news/health/women-report-marijuana-improves-orgasm-satisfaction-study-finds

https://www.healthline.com/health/erectile-dysfunction/is-smoking-weed-good-or-bad-for-ed