Enhancing Libido: Exploring the Connection Between Cannabis-Derived Products and Sex

The desire for sex and intimacy is a basic human driver. No wonder why cannabis and sex go way back. Cannabis has been used since ancient times to stimulate libido, or sexual desire, and purposely inhibit the desire for sex. Regardless of age, gender, or sexual orientation, the hectic pace, stresses, and challenges of modern life often impact — negatively — our sexual activity. So, any tool that can help us have better sex is always of great curiosity. Especially, if there are no negative side effects attached to it, like having a never-ending erection after consuming Viagra, or probably worse, not being able to hold an erection after a night out of too much drinking.

In America, where cannabis has been broadly legalized in most states, people who use cannabis have 20% more sex than everyone else, after adjusting for things like age, according to a study from Stanford University. A third of U.S. women have tried cannabis for sex, reporting that it helps them have more satisfying orgasms. Not only necessarily THC, but also CBD, which may not be quite as exciting or potent to get you in the mood for sex but is a very safe way to dip your toe in the water of combining a cannabis plant-based product for sex.

Much like with anxiety and other uses, with THC at least the result seems to be dose-dependent. At low and even micro doses, many studies report that THC enhances the sexual experience from many angles: desire, sensation, orgasm, and relaxation around the sexual experience. At high doses, performance and desire can be compromised, and testosterone in males can be reduced.

The sweet spot can vary from person to person but the endocannabinoid system which regulates the endocrine system and the nervous system (biological systems that influence all things to do with sex) releases endocannabinoids at the time of the orgasm, and when experiencing an unbalance of this system due to stress levels or other life factors, phytocannabinoids from the plant bind to our endocannabinoid system receptors to promote healthy endocannabinoid system function that can also help take the nervous system out of fight-or-flight (sympathetic) mode and into rest-and-digest (parasympathetic) mode. This is because cannabinoids can act on the amygdala and the hypothalamus, two of the brain areas involved in sexual function and sexual behavior.

CB1 receptor activation can also delay the time to orgasm — something THC may do too. That may be helpful if one suffers from premature ejaculation, but if not, an excess of THC may delay orgasm too much. Again, it’s about finding the personalized cannabis-sex sweet spot (dosage) unique to you.

Another great catalyst for enhanced libido, without having to endure the psychotropic effects of THC, and the most effective biological method of consumption is sublingual tinctures or CBD oil. World-leading cannabis medicine expert Dr. Dani Gordon explains in her book The CBD Bible: Cannabis and the Wellness Revolution that Will Change Your Life that a lot of people subscribe to CBD oil or sublingual hemp-derived tinctures as their go-to substance before sex. Empirical evidence from her patients, that used to resort to Viagra or alcohol before sex, shows that with 30–60mg of CBD taken 30–60 minutes before sex makes people feel more relaxed and in the mood. She also adds that even though no published studies exist yet to guide on this specific point of use, smaller doses may have an effect for some people too (everyone is a bit different), but even high doses are very safe to try; advising the user to experiment with what does the trick for them.

The same experimenting approach applies to topical cannabis products and may also help better a consumer’s sex life, if, for example, one partner suffers from pelvic pain, making touch more enjoyable by relaxing muscles and due to cannabis’ anti-inflammatory properties.

Other published research awaits to answer other FAQs about the chronic use of cannabis when it comes to sex or reproduction. For instance, sperm count and cannabis in men, which has had studies conducted on animal models that suggest it reduces sperm count. Which is mainly linked to the chronic abuse of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). And doesn’t directly correlate to the effects of cannabis in men. While there are a great deal of preliminary studies pointing out the long-term effects of cannabis on fertility, in both, men and women, we reserve to elaborate on it until further evidence and research from clinical trials involving human models becomes more available and more certain.

With that being said, this is not medical advice of any kind. It is advised to consult a doctor of medicine before engaging in the consumption of psychoactive substances. Lastly, thank you for your interest in the science of cannabinoid use and sexual behavior. There is no doubt cannabis makes sex better, but if you have any doubt about CBD dosage, or anything related to this article, contact us at greendrophealth1@gmail.com.