“Marijuana engulfs me in sex foam. I’m just pure sex on that stuff. It’s great. I could never feel that way sober or drunk.”
This provocative statement comes from a 2011 blog post in Psychology Today, where the writer conducts an informal survey of readers’ experience with cannabis and sex.
As the quote demonstrates, some respondents were enthusiastic about the benefits of marijuana on having sex—67% of them. But there were 12% who were much less positive about adding cannabis to their bedroom activities.
“My boyfriend and I have smoked (fairly heavily) for the past year, and I would say that it 100% has a terrible effect on our sex life. It's been a huge libido killer for our relationship,” one person writes.
The post points out that studies to date show “that weed has wildly contradictory effects on sex,” evenly split between yeas and nays. It’s too bad that more definitive research hasn’t been done.
Fast forward to October 2017.
Regular Marijuana Use Is Linked to More Sex
That’s when a study published by investigators at the Stanford University School of Medicine comes down squarely on the side of cannabis making for better, or at least more frequent, sex.
The analysis of more than 50,000 Americans, ages 25 to 45, notes that regular marijuana users have “about 20% more sex than abstainers” do.
“Frequent marijuana use doesn’t seem to impair sexual motivation or performance. If anything, it’s associated with increased coital frequency,” says the study’s senior author, Michael Eisenberg, an assistant professor of urology.
The study also acknowledges that cannabis’s “status as a procreational drug remains ambiguous: There are reports of erectile dysfunction in heavy users, and rigorous studies have found reduced sperm counts in men who smoke it.”
RELATED: IS CANNABIS GOOD OR BAD FOR MEN’S SEXUAL HEALTH?
Still, it’s hard to refute the results of the Stanford University study, drawing on 15 years of National Survey of Family Growth data compiled by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
While there’s a strong connection made between marijuana and sex in the study, the authors acknowledge they don’t know what the causal link is. But science can give us a clue as to how cannabis stokes sexual desire.
A 2017 Men’s Health article sums it up on a chemical level: “THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) attaches to cannabinoid receptors in our brain, affecting our perception of pleasure. It produces an effect that is very similar to that of a neurochemical called anandamide, which is produced by your body and is also known as a bliss molecule.”
So, science seems to back up what some people have known for centuries—ancient cultures in India and China, and even modern populations in Uganda and Morocco use cannabis as an aphrodisiac. But what are the best ways you can take marijuana to boost your performance in the bedroom?
1. Find the Right Cannabis Strain for You
If you Google marijuana strains for sexual satisfaction, you’ll find lots of suggestions. Of course, you should look to trusted sources and experiment with different strains to find out what works best for you.
But using broad brushstrokes, indica strains tend to be more sedating, while sativa ones are more stimulating. Strains with too much THC may make you anxious, while cannabis rich in cannabidiol (CBD) could put you to sleep. Or maybe a heavy-hitting THC-rich strain will result in you passing out before sexy time even begins.
What it comes down to is that everyone’s biochemistry is different. So it’s important to experiment a bit to see what cannabinoid and terpene combinations put you in the mood. Some experts recommend an indica-leaning hybrid as a good place to start. But again, everyone responds differently to the wide variety of cannabis out there.
RELATED: MARIJUANA INCREASES YOUR SEXUAL EXPERIENCE
2. Microdose Your Marijuana to Feel Just Right for the Bedroom
Microdosing is gaining popularity among cannabis consumers. This method is when you take a small amount of marijuana multiple times in a certain period to create a specific effect. Many folks use this technique so they don’t feel any psychoactive effects while reaping cannabis’s benefits. Or for some, it helps them feel just slightly altered rather than experiencing an all-out high.
Incorporating microdosing into your bedroom routine may deliver the aphrodisiac effects of marijuana without making you too sedated, anxious or out of control. Depending on your ingestion method, you could smoke or vape a small dose of cannabis right before you hit the bedroom or take a mini-dose of cannabis oil around 20 minutes before you want to feel the effects. This is a good idea, especially as more and more potent strains of marijuana are making their way onto the market.
3. Consider Cannabis-Infused Lubricants, Which Get Rave Reviews
Cannabis oils especially formulated for sexual pleasure have recently made their way to Canada. Foria, already a popular brand in Colorado and California recently debuted a high-THC cannabis oil. Its oil can be taken sublingually, but is best for the bedroom as a topical on ladies’ private parts. Many women claim the oil leads to better orgasms without any psychoactive effects—as long as it’s used topically.
4. Vape Together for a Shared Cannabis Experience
Of course, either smoking or vaping is a fast way to get cannabis into your system. Playing with the dosage level is a good idea, so you’re not too high to enjoy its aphrodisiac effects.
Besides being healthier for you than smoking is, some claim that vaping allows the floral bouquet and flavor notes of many cannabis strains to come through more than with smoking. So why not load up the vaporizer and bring it into the bedroom? You and your partner can share the vaporizer without having to worry about a lighter, ash, an ashtray or what to do with the end of a joint. And all of those delicious floral or spicy cannabis scents can be sexy in their own right, too.
5. Ingest, Then Massage Your Partner With a Cannabis Oil
Cannabis-based oils are a great way to get the aphrodisiac into your system without smoking or vaping. They’re also a great low-calorie option as opposed to the typically sugar-laden cannabis edibles. You use a dropper to place the infused oil under your tongue, experimenting with doses until you find what works best for you.
Starting with 1 mL is a good idea. Then wait at least half an hour before deciding if you need more.
With marijuana oils, you can either make your own or buy one from a reputable licensed producer.
After ingesting your cannabis oil, you can even use some of it to give your partner a sensual massage to get you both more in the mood. With cannabis and sex, experimenting is always part of the pleasure.
Photo credit: John Schnobrich
