Cannabis and Sex Could Improve Your Love Life | Mindful Mary

Cannabis and sex could be the answer to stale intimacy.

Have you tried combining cannabis and sex? Alcohol has long been the social lubricant leading to increased birth rates. But legalization brings less stigma for emerging cannabis products and new opportunities for intimacy. In fact, as marijuana legalization spreads and stigma recedes, marijuana lube products fill internet storefronts, and there’s no end to claims that weed enhances sex. There are plenty of testimonials from people who swear that cannabis lubricant prolongs orgasm and cannabis tampons will relieve period pain.

Cannabis is actually known to have properties of an aphrodisiac. In fact, there is even evidence to back this idea up.

For instance, a study published in the Journal of Sexual Medicine last year, he analyzed data from the National Survey of Family Growth, covering nearly 60,000 people, and found that people who consumed marijuana tended to have more sex. For example, women who consumed marijuana weekly had 34 percent more sex than those who didn’t; the number was 22 percent more for men. Sometimes sex can be uncomfortable to talk about, let alone experience. but the results were clear here.  Cannabis can ease anxiety, heighten excitement and it can be enjoyed together. Scientists also concluded that passing medical marijuana laws led to higher birthrates. Specifically, it increased the birthrate by approximately four births per quarter for every 10,000 women of childbearing age.

So we reached out to Mindful Mary to ask her some silly yet thoughtful questions about cannabis and sex!

Cannabis and Sex Life

via Marijuana.com

Will cannabis actually improve my sex life?

Mindful Mary: This is actually the truth. Cannabis and sex, when paired together, can be very euphoric and stimulating. It can actually help to improve your sex life for yourself and with your partner. An in-depth study from the Archives of Sexual Behavior on how alcohol and weed impact sex found some couples want:

“more sex after the first sexual episode on marijuana.”

In addition, another large 2017 study in The Journal of Sexual Medicine was done by a team led by Dr. Andrew J. Sun and Dr. Michale L Eisenberg. This study strongly suggests that regular cannabis use may increase sexual drive. Nevertheless, people who used cannabis had 20 percent more sex than those who did not—and this applied to both genders.

“Marijuana use is independently associated with increased sexual frequency and does not appear to impair sexual function. A positive association between marijuana use and sexual frequency is seen in men and women across all demographic groups.”

Researchers are beginning to study the link between cannabis and sexual desire, with some interesting results. In one recent study, for example, investigators found that men and women who used marijuana daily had about 20% more sex during the previous four weeks than their peers who abstained from the drug.

What are “weed googles”? Is that something like “drunk glasses”?

Mindful Mary: Similar to “drunk glasses” there is some sort of effect that occurs in the body. On the other hand, while alcohol makes people less choosey, weed has the opposite effect. Account to a study one by the Archives of Sexual Behavior, cannabis make one more picky and specific about the people they want to be around.

“Weed goggles,” in other words, can have the converse effect of “beer goggles,” for most of us.

I am feeling nervous about all of it, and I am not a very sexy person. How can cannabis and sex help?

Mindful Mary: Cannabis can lower inhibitions, fosters intimacy and increase sensuality.

While this may not take away all the nerves and stress, it can definitely help in the right situation. Unlike alcohol, you are still aware of your surroundings but perhaps more relaxed. In fact, people who use marijuana may have more sex because they put less pressure on themselves when they are high, so they don’t have the same performance anxiety as those who are sober. Sex therapists explain this phenomenon as a small amount of marijuana may also help increase your ability to communicate your preferences to your partner.

Dr. Monica Grover who is double Board certified in Family Medicine and Gynecology, is currently conducting independent research. She states that the consumption of small quantities of marijuana prior to sex may increase libido in female patients, which in turn can release positive endorphins and increase vaginal lubrication. Reduced sexual libido in women usually correlates with any anxiety or stress they are experiencing. So, in the short-term, cannabis has anxiety-reducing effects.

In fact, reducing anxiety can have positive effects on your sexual life and experiences.

In particular, delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol — the cannabinoid THC — appears to target a part of our brain associated with sexual arousal, at least in females. You see, our body’s natural endocannabinoid system is key in regulating things like pleasure, pain, relaxation, and homeostasis. When it is activated by the cannabinoids in cannabis, it can leave users feeling relaxed with increased pleasure and decreased pain. This can lead to increased arousal and make sex even more enjoyable. For others, the reason is the increased pleasurable sensations that can arise with cannabis. This effect can make sex feel even more enjoyable.

In addition, sex and weed can enhance physical sensations. Many users have reported that their sense of touch is heightened along with other senses. This helps men’s brains to shift from a single focus and helps women experience a more sensual intimacy. Furthermore, in one survey of 800 men, 83 percent reported cannabis enhanced their sexual pleasure.

via Ubyssey

Can cannabis and sex help with orgasms?

Mindful Mary: Yes, yes and yes! The facts are your perception of time is slowed by smoking and for most this means that the experience can not only last longer but leads to a better climax. A few women report that weed can make it more difficult to orgasm, because of a certain lack of focus, according to the Archives study. However, more say that it helps with orgasms. Why? Because it lowers due to lowered inhibitions, increases relaxation, and heightens sensuality.

How much cannabis is appropriate to smoke and what weed should I smoke?

Mindful Mary: It really comes down to knowing yourself and knowing what effects you. Dosage is very important and should be taken into consideration. Oversmoking can lead to dehydration, and no one wants the “pasties” during sex. In fact, lubrication can be a bit of an issue when it comes to smoking. So smoke enough to make you relaxed and relieve anxiety. Also, if this is just an issue, you could always grab some cannabis-infused lube to help you out!

Nevertheless, dosing should be up to you. Maybe share a joint between the two of you, or smoke a couple of bowls. Make sure its something uplifting and for the daytime. Don’t want to knock out to early! Simply because some people experience increased anxiety when using marijuana, and others find that it has the opposite effect. We need to understand that every person has a unique makeup both psychologically and physically, and for cannabis to help improve sexuality, you must find the type that works for you. This is why cannabis and sex experts like Nick Karras recommend experimenting with a small amount of indica strains, Sativa strains and a hybrid of both to see what works best.

Family in bed via pexels.

Delivery and dose matter

Almost all of the experts for cannabis and sex recommend starting out with a small amount of cannabis and using a specific delivery method. It definitely recommended smoking or vaping as you’re learning how to use cannabis because you can overshoot with edibles and have an uncomfortable experience. Because it’s more difficult to control the dose of cannabis in edibles, it could lead to a longer-lasting or unpleasant high.

That said, a growing number of edible products contain carefully dosed amounts of cannabis. These products contain a low dose of cannabis, along with certain herbs, in a non-cannabis base. Interestingly, the aphrodisiac qualities of cannabis seem to only occur in low to moderate doses, pointed out by many personal experiences and studies. Consumption of small quantities [of marijuana] prior to sex may increase libido in female patients, which in turn can release positive endorphins and increase vaginal lubrication. In high doses, cannabis can have an opposite effect.

THC vs. CBD

The cannabis plant contains roughly 100 cannabinoids, which are its active components. The best-known of these is THC, which is believed to be mainly responsible for cannabis’ psychotropic effects, including marijuana’s high. But another cannabinoid, CBD, doesn’t contribute to euphoria and is legal when used recreationally if it’s derived from hemp. CBD derived from either hemp or marijuana is legal in 46 states when used medicinally. Some products aimed at improving your sex life contain CBD but not THC.

These are topical creams, ointments or lubricants that capitalize CBD’s apparent anti-inflammatory effects. They are meant to quell inflammation and increase circulation, which may in turn improve sexual function and arousal in women with problems such as endometriosis and other types of chronic pelvic pain. Other products that are CBD-based target for women who experience pain during intercourse. Because some women find that the THC in marijuana seems to cause vaginal dryness, CBD-based lubes could also be a way to counteract that side effect.

Cannabis and Sex: The ultimate cure?

Of course, cannabis isn’t a cure-all, and it can’t fix many of the root causes of sexual dysfunction or relationship problems. But if you want to experiment to see whether it enhances libido and gives your sex life a boost, you may find that marijuana is one more way to spice things up. In fact, this discovery is actually nothing new. See, cannabis has been used as an aphrodisiac in many cultures for centuries. In India, it was used as far back as the seventh century. Its use for sexual health was documented in Chinese texts, amongst Germanic tribes and by many African cultures, so now, it’s high time we rediscover it and start applying it in the bedroom.