Marijuana Sex Enhancement is Real but is it For You?

We’ve probably all found ourselves reaching for that post-coitus joint now and then but how many of us have actually reached for the glass pipe before going under the sheets? It may seem like a monumental mistake along the too-drunk-to-fuck vein, but a surprising amount of research over the years has built up a strong case for the contrary. Smoking weed may actually improve your sex life from every angle. And sex is all about hitting as many angles as possible.

Cannabis as an Aphrodisiac

Back in the coke-fueled ‘80s, a group of scientists got a nod from Psychology Daily when their findings indicated that a great high for people who actually still wanted their sex organs to work was weed. The 1984 study showed subjects experiencing a marked amplification in libido following a few tokes. Horror movies at the time seemed to get this, showing that perfect storm of smoke and sex as a beacon for repressed otherworldly serial killers in masks. While the ‘80s may seem like a lifetime away, the science sticks. Explaining the details of marijuana sex to The Cut in 2014, professor of psychology at the State University of New York at Albany, Dr. Mitch Earleywine, explained that each of the brain’s CB1 receptors “seems to be involved in improved tactile sensations and general euphoria.” What can we take away from this? According to science, marijuana makes you horny. Yet, these claims don’t come undisputed. According to the University of California Santa Barbara’s psychology department, marijuana’s impact on sexual desires is as varied as its impact on practically anything. There are countless factors to consider, including the strain, the person’s general sexual health, and the person’s current mood. You could assume that, until further research is done into the matter, for every person that feels the insistent pull of lust after hitting a joint, there’s another who actually is thinking about anything but sex. So maybe Jason Voorhees and Freddy Krueger were just overreacting. Yet, a 2011 Psychology Today survey found 67% of respondents claiming that they felt weed enhanced their sex lives. But then we must consider the scientific evidence that shows cannabis leads to a reduction in testosterone. While you may associate testosterone with muscular bum slapping in locker rooms, its actually present in both men and women and highly responsible for feelings of lust in both. However, further research is needed to determine whether the testosterone trimming associated with regular weed indulgence is significant enough to impact libido.

Heightened Sensitivity and Intensity

So, it seems ganja has a tendency to play Cupid, but once you’re in bed, are you just left to lay there like a couple of couch-locked blow-up dolls? A lot of this will depend on how hard you hit that pipe, but let’s assume you know your ratios and you’re smoking a strain that works well with you. This is the point where marijuana sex really begins to work its carnal charm. Studies from Planned Parenthood show that 15% of women find achieving orgasm to be challenging. If that’s not sobering enough, 10% of sexually active women admit they’ve never had an orgasm. While this no doubt owes much to a large problem of lack of thorough sex education and minimal research into female anatomy, marijuana may be able to act as a band-aid of sorts. Both men and women admitted to increased sensitivity after smoking weed. One reason such a large portion of women have trouble reaching orgasm is a lack of relaxation in the bedroom, so weed can immediately help in establishing a conducive atmosphere. Comfort is crucial in getting into the right frame of mind for sex but marijuana tends to give users a little something extra. As psychiatrist Dr. Lester Grinspoon explained to High Times, cannabis “greatly enhances the sexual experience for many people. There’s no doubt that when people are high, they’re more sensitive to their sexual feelings and urges.” Men and women alike have shared testimonies of marijuana’s tendencies to not only increase the length of orgasms but also up the intensity. The science has already been taken to the bank with Foria, a cannabis-infused sexual lubricant designed to not only help women achieve that ever elusive orgasm but also heighten its length and extremity.

Effects on Sexual Performance

Of course, when a woman is having trouble climaxing, cleaning out a dispensary’s entire supply of Foria isn’t going to do much if her partner doesn’t know what s/he is doing. And if the woman in question is paired off with a stoner dude, the marijuana sex may still leave her unsatisfied according to a 2009 Australian study. The researchers found that men who smoke weed on the regular had complaints about their own sexual performances, feeling like they were orgasming too quickly to properly pleasure their partners. Luckily, this is yet another one of those “more research is needed” cases. In 1982, the Journal of Psychoactive Drugs published research indicating that 75% of their male subjects showed greater sexual longevity after smoking weed directly before sex so there have been opinions on both sides of the fence for some time.

The Risks of Marijuana Sex

Aphrodisiacs and longer, more extreme orgasms sound great but there’s also a downside to incorporating ganja into your sex life. Couples trying to have a baby may want to nix the marijuana sex as it’s noted for reducing sperm count in men and impacting sperms’ ability to fertilize an egg. And for those definitely not wanting a baby, while smoking weed may be more fun than birth control pills and condoms, it’s not even close to as effective. Then there’s the occasional issue of vaginal dryness. Dr. Julie Holland gave Vice the lowdown on the potential issue of weed resulting in parched lady parts that would definitely throw a bag of ice on the crotch. So, taking a hit off a big fat J before a roll in the hay is a crap shoot but one that several people are emphatically risking. Luckily, the consequences of marijuana sex aren’t too severe. It seems that cannabis offers you the potential for extreme pleasure or a lackluster sexual write-off. So perhaps the next time you’re feeling lucky, you can surprise your partner with a bouquet of roses and a bouquet of flower.