Marijuana or weed, as it is popularly known is often exploited for the ‘high’ that it brings on. People claim that it makes everything just feel better. So does the same hold true when it comes to sex? We explore the possibility.

The placebo effect

People’s exaggerated response to how weed makes them feel is often speculated to be more than genuine. Thus, for those who claim that weed makes their session great, it might be that their expectations of this happening are so high, that they actually believe this to be true and it turns out that way and works wonders for them. The placebo effect is common when it comes to the scientific hacks working for some people and not for others.

Scientists and researchers had foreseen this obstacle, but conducting full-blown studies is tough. This is because firstly, in many countries weed is still illegal. Another obstacle is that even if weed were procured legally for the purpose of the study, the strain would differ from the one that people actually consume. Hence the results might not be credible.

Surveys to the rescue

Since there are loopholes in carrying out studies and clinical trials to assess whether weed is leading to better sex, surveys were found to be a good way to check. In this case, people who use weed on a regular basis were asked if they are having a good time in the bedroom. The surveys showed promising results.

In a 2017 study, routine cannabis use was associated with an increased frequency of sex. Another study reported that women who smoked weed before coitus and were high during it reported more satisfying orgasms.

What is the role of THC?

THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) is commonly known as the psychoactive ingredient in weed. Studies have now found that this ingredient can decrease the painful sensation associated with having sex. Thus it is a boon for people who wish to enjoy the experience. The drug helps not just physically but also mentally. There are people who get anxious and thus cannot be fully present in the moment. Weed helps get rid of those anxieties and improve inhibitions.

Is weed proportional to better sex?

In the brain, there are certain regions that are responsible for sexual functions. In these same regions, there are abundant cannabinoid receptors that are present. Hence, when weed is smoked or ingested, the THC binds to the receptors, boosting sexual function and leading to a heightened response to things like touch, etc.

Consumption of marijuana is also thought to increase libido in females and thus leading to the flow of more endorphins and thus a better sexual experience on the whole.

How much is too much?

The dose of weed that is needed for inducing more pleasure is another debated topic. Dr Peter Grinspoon, a primary-care doctor at Massachusetts General Hospital Chelsea HealthCare Center said to the New York Times “At low doses, cannabis helps libido, but at high doses, it often isn’t as effective,” going on to say that at higher doses, the effect could often be in contrast to what was intended.

Dr Stacy Tessler Lindau, a gynaecologist at the University of Chicago Medicine also said to the New York Times that weed can have side effects and thus it is always important that before incorporating it in your bedroom, those who use these psychoactive drugs before sex “must take into consideration whether people using the product and their partners can have safe and consensual sex. Sex with a stranger ideally would not involve any intoxication of anyone involved.”

What is the ideal delivery method?

When it comes to cannabis, there are several ways that it can be had. And each has its own potency and time that it takes to act. Tinctures that essentially have concentrated amounts of cannabis are a favourable delivery method as the amount of cannabis can be controlled.

Dr Jordan Tishler, a former emergency medicine doctor and president of the Association of Cannabinoid Specialists says “Taking one puff on a cannabis flower vaporizer before having a sexual experience can work faster and more predictably than edibles or lubricants infused with THC. I teach patients to take a puff in a particular manner. A very deep, slow inhalation that allows us to estimate how much doses they are getting.”

Would you try it?

Some share the idea that if someone is into you, it wouldn’t need weed for them to get high and enjoy sex. It all depends on how you see it, the compatibility you have with someone, whether the two of you are open to experimenting with weed and trying it for your sex life and also if you or your partner like the high that weed brings on.