We all love weed and sex, right? Now, how about combining the two?
Some of us may have already figured out how wonderful this experience can be, while others are here to learn about it for the first time. There are people who praise cannabis for the way it makes sex better. Just like how it makes movies and simple pleasures better, it does the same for exercise and sexual pleasure.
Cannabis enhances what we see, feel, taste, and smell in tremendous ways. These same effects can greatly enhance your next bedroom, sexual experience.
Medical marijuana users often need symptomatic relief, but if this helps enhance one’s sexual experiences, then even better. Let’s look at how combining cannabis and sex works and the science behind it.
Weed and Sex – How Does it Work?
We can thank the endocannabinoid system for the sensory enhancing effects of cannabis. It is through the activation of CB1 receptors in our brains that we experience altered sensations and perceptions.
If you think of all the possible sensations you could be feeling on your body right now, how many are you paying attention to? In general, we only perceive a small percentage of this incoming sensory information unless directed toward paying attention.
For example, if we would ask you to think about your left big toe right now. Prior to reading this sentence, you were probably not feeling much of all in your left foot.
That said, THC opens the floodgates a bit and lets more sensory information raise our consciousness level. This is why we don’t just hear music like always. We hear all the different instruments and the emotion of the singer all at once.
The same goes for THC and sex. Marijuana use opens up the sensory gates and helps us feel through the experience with more depth and breadth. Unlike alcohol, which does more to remove inhibitions, cannabis instead opens to floodgates to help you enjoy whatever activity you’re doing.
Yet, if marijuana use has led to negative sexual experiences, we would guess it may have something to do with anxiety. THC is a powerful compound that can reduce anxiety, but it can also increase it at higher doses.
If cannabis makes your anxiety and stress symptoms worse before other nerve-wracking activities, the same occurs prior to sex. The weed before sex may not be for you, but it could also be a matter of dosage and comfort level.
There will be a chunk of you who will be thinking about how getting high does not go well with sex at all. For those individuals, starting with some solo sessions might help change your mind. There are likely reasons related to prior experiences and to tolerance levels that play a role.
As far as potency goes, the first major tip is to reduce how much THC you’re consuming (and increase the CBD content if you can). Just a little puff may help get things going in bed while smoking an entire joint would instead have you sleeping in that bed in no time.
The Science Behind Cannabis and Sex
We can thank the presence of the endocannabinoid system for our enjoyment of cannabis. This natural and ancient system regulates numerous physiological processes throughout our bodies ranging from appetite to mood regulation.
While CBD also interacts with this system in beneficial and often opposite ways, we will focus more on tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) today.
THC is the primary active ingredient in marijuana that produces a high. The THC compounds enter our bloodstream and journey into the brain through the blood-brain-barrier. Just like alcohol, THC and CBD can cross this restrictive barrier with ease.
Once in the brain, the THC compounds bind to CB1 receptors throughout the brain. This activation of CB1 receptors leads to a variety of changes in subjective experiences. These include changes to mood, enhanced sensitivity to the world around us, relaxation, and alterations in time and space perception.
While somewhat outdated, a study in the 1980s explored the topic of marijuana and making love. The researchers discovered that under 1/3 of participants did not think it was enhancing. However, over 2/3’s felt that cannabis increases sexual pleasure and satisfaction.
In the year 2008, however, a small Canadian study found that half of the people did not report better sex with cannabis. That said, the other half found it boosted libido, increased sensitivity to touch, and improved erotic pleasure.
Luckily, we have had even more research on the topic in recent years to provide us with more certainty. In 2019, a team of researchers studied a group of over 370 women. They found that 34 percent reported using weed prior to sex.
Women shared that they experienced improved sex drive and orgasm, decreased pain, and no lubrication change. Basically, science has supported the claim that women orgasm better while high.
Researchers who have looked across studies found something interesting. When it comes to female cannabis users (and likely men) the size of the THC dose is important.
Low doses improve sexual experiences, while high doses impede them. And this is why you should use less marijuana before intimacy than you would before watching a movie, for example.
Best Weed Strains for Sex
When it comes to picking the right weed strain for sex, does it matter which one? To be fair, all cannabis is great, so you really can’t go wrong.
There are a variety of avenues to go down when it comes to using weed to supercharge to your next sexual experience, and many in the cannabis space are capitalizing on this unique gap in the market.
Some products are specifically designed to be applied to yours and your partner’s erogenous zones to heighten and elevate physical sensations. Others prefer vaporizing distillate for increased psychoactivity and feeling.
Ultimately, it depends on your needs. If a sativa strain can spiral you into anxiety, stick with an indica. If indica makes you too tired to move, go with a sativa to get you active. As for terpenes, there are so many great ones to name, but we’ll mention limonene and linalool below.
Lastly, always stick to a potency level within your tolerance to keep a level head for sexy times.
Partnered Activities
When enjoying the company of others, consider strains with high levels of the terpene limonene. This stimulating terpene is great for a quick energy boost.
Do you want enhanced sensations without fatigue or anxiety? Generally, Indica is a good place to start. Here are some suggestions:
- Bubblegum Kush (indica-dominant)
- Jillybean (indica-dominant)
- Wedding Cake (indica-dominant)
- Do-Si-Dos (indica-hybrid)
Solo Experiences
When spending some time alone, you might find your needs a bit different. Consider the terpene linalool for a calming effect. In terms of strains, sativa is more tolerable when alone and worth it. Here are a few suggestions for some intimate solo time.
- Sour Diesel (sativa)
- Strawberry Cough (sativa-dominant)
- Trainwreck (sativa-dominant)
Ready to Take it to The Next Level?
As we’ve learned in today’s article, weed and sex can go oh so well together.
The key is knowing the right amount of cannabis, strain, and terpene content for the situation. Terpene, such as limonene, goes excellent with sex if you want to experience enhanced sensations, while linalool works great to calm your mind and body.
For partnered activities, use strains such as Bubblegum Kush, Jillybean, Wedding Cake and Do-Si-Dos. Those who want some intimate time alone choose strains like Sour Diesel, Strawberry Cough and Trainwreck.
The idea here is to stick with less weed rather than more when it comes to intimacy. We hope you use this information for good and enjoy the enhanced pleasure that cannabis can provide!
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