Cannabis + Sex

By Lea Holz

EXPLORING NEW OPTIONS

Yes, sex and cannabis. Why would you overlook this area of your life when you contemplate your cannabis use? By now, you know cannabis can help treat countless health issues. From the top of your head to the tips of your toes, nearly every inch of your body can benefit from a little cannabinoid love— but there may be one very important area you’ve overlooked.

In a first-of-its-kind US study published in the Journal for Sexual Medicine, researchers at Stanford University Medical Center set out to assess the relationship between how often people had sex and how often people used cannabis.

Expecting to find less frequent sexual activity amongst cannabis users due to concerns that use may impair sexual desire, researchers were surprised to report that in a fourweek period, non-cannabis using women had sex an average of six times—while the cannabis using counterparts reported 7.1 sexual encounters in that same amount of time. 1

While Senior Author Michael Eisenberg cautions against the misconception that smoking cannabis will lead to more sex, the study does suggest some very groundbreaking notions.

Frequency of sex gradually and steadily increased alongside frequency of cannabis use, and this dose-dependent relationship suggests that cannabis could play an active role in supporting and possibly treating a myriad of sexual issues.

In the United States today, a whopping 43% of the female population reports struggling with some sort of sexual dysfunction. 2 That’s nearly half of women in the United States missing out on the joy, gratification, and health benefits of regular sexual expression.

The majority of reported sexual dysfunction in women is generally categorized as one of the following: lack of desire, inability to orgasm, problems reaching arousal, and/or pain during sex. Could cannabis provide an answer for relief?

For post-menopausal women and men suffering from sexual dysfunction, cannabis use can be used to increase sensations and experiences. Many doctors are recommending cannabis to aid with difficulty orgasming, or for with low libidos. It could be that using cannabis in small doses may offer relaxation that lowers your anxiety levels, releases tension in your muscles, provides anti-inflammation, and lowers your inhibitions.

Dr. Hervé Damas, Miami, FL holds workshops to educate patients on the products, methods, and strains available to treat common sexual issues. He recognizes cannabis and sex as two topics intimately entwined. So, how does cannabis make sex better?

“Our body’s natural endocannabinoid system is key in regulating things like pleasure, pain, relaxation and homeostasis,” says Damas. “When it is activated by the cannabinoids in cannabis, it can leave users feeling relaxed, with increased pleasure and decreased pain.”

Anecdotal evidence exists in the form of thousands of women enjoying a multitude of new and emerging products designed to add some spice to their bedroom routine. Whether it’s a deeper connection with your partner, heightened sensation, or physical support you need, cannabis can be at your service.

The sociology department at the University of California Santa Barbara has stated that while people sometimes feel aroused after consuming cannabis, most of the time they fall somewhere in between. 3

There are very few studies using marijuana. “It’s a wonderful tool that nature gave us to connect with our bodies and ourselves and the sensuality of life,” says Dr. Nick Karras, a San Diego sexologist and author of The Passionate High: A Guide to Using Cannabis for Sex and Intimacy.

The cannabis industry’s sex market is growing—according to research from the Global Wellness Institute, the global health and wellness market reached $3.7 trillion in 2016, with expectations in growth projected at 17 percent over the next five years. 4 And with the legal cannabis industry booming, medically-infused products with the aim of treating women’s sexual issues have the potential to claim a significant slice of the pie. Already, analysts project Health and Wellness to be a noteworthy growth sector in the US cannabis market. 5 You know what that means: more options to help you reach your optimal pleasure experience.

“Introducing cannabis in the bedroom can lead to increased arousal, making sex even more enjoyable,” says Damas. “For some people who experience increased pleasurable sensations with cannabis, this effect can make sex feel even better.”

An informal poll by Psychology Today showed that 67% of respondents felt cannabis enhanced their sex lives. 20% claimed it depended entirely on the circumstances at the time. 6

References: 1 https://www.jsm.jsexmed.org/article/S1743-6095(17)31417-0/fulltext - 2 https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/9121-sexual-dysfunction 3 http://www.soc.ucsb.edu/sexinfo/article/sex-and-marijuana - 4 https://globalwellnessinstitute.org/press-room/press-releases/wellness-now-a-372-trillion-global-industry/ - 5 https://investingnews.com/innspired/cannabis-boost-sexual-health-lucrative-cbd-trillion-dollar-market/ - 6 https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/all-aboutsex/201105/marijuana-and-sex-surprising-results-blogger-s-informal-survey