Ah, the aroma of skunk and jet fuel. What more powerful aphrodisiac could one ask for? All kidding aside, anyone involved in a long-term relationship understands the need to keep the fires burning! Cannabis may help benefit couples looking to support each other’s wellness goals, unwind from the stress of life and possibly even spice things up!
Even though some people do not find the smell of skunk and jet fuel particularly romantic, cannabis has long been associated with intimacy. Anecdotal reports of increased desire, better performance, longer endurance etc. provide most of the evidence for cannabis as a romantic aid. As far back as ancient times, cannabis has been recommended for help with sexual performance. Fortunately for many, the long list of consumption methods includes many that avoid the aroma of weed.
Read on for the many ways that cannabis may (and may not) help couples enhance the romance and how CBD can boost intimacy!
SUPPORTING EACH OTHERS' WELLNESS GOALS
CBD helps many people relax and overcome stress and discomfort. This alone may benefit many couples, but there are other potential benefits as well.
Less discomfort and stress may encourage more physical activity, support weight loss efforts, and enhance enjoyment of life.
Stress shortens everyone’s “fuse.” Promoting relaxation may lead to fewer angry encounters.
Because CBD is non-intoxicating, it can be used by almost anyone to promote a sense of calm and wellbeing. (5)
Using CBD to Boost Intimacy and Have More Fun
Cannabis benefits for couples are not just for sex. This plant can also help couples have more fun together! And couples who have more fun together tend to be happier and stay together! (9)
Most people know how easy it is to fall into a rut and let the routine tasks of daily life suck the fun out of a relationship. A little euphoria can go a long way toward promoting relaxation, laughter, and enjoying a bit of Zen together.
Also, many people relax in the evenings or on weekends with alcohol, which is a depressant and can cause unpleasant mornings. Many of our customers have replaced their evening alcohol with THC beverages. Fewer (or zero) calories, no hangover, no impact on blood sugar, and no liver damage may make cannabis a better choice.
A FEW SUGGESTIONS:
Share a cannabis edible and put on your favorite funny movie. Or share one and take an Uber to the movie theater!
Enjoy some cannabis beverages with dinner instead of wine.
Try creating some of your own CBD or THC infused edibles. Add CBD chocolate to your brownies. Try some Delta-8 oil in your next batch of cookies etc (be sure you understand dosing!).
For more intimate fun, try uplifting a sensual massage with CBD massage oil.
CANNABIS FOR INTIMACY
If you are looking to spice things up in the bedroom, read on. Many couples find that THC (in moderation) can enhance desire and pleasure. Heightened touch, increased libido, and better relaxation are among the reported benefits. One 2019 survey found that (2):
73% of those using cannabis reported increased sexual satisfaction.
58% mentioned higher sex drive.
74% reported greater sensitivity to touch.
65% reported experiencing more intense orgasms.
If you are looking to spice things up in the bedroom, read on. Many couples find that THC (in moderation) can enhance desire and pleasure. Heightened touch, increased libido, and better relaxation are among the reported benefits. One 2019 survey found that (2):
73% of those using cannabis reported increased sexual satisfaction.
58% mentioned higher sex drive.
74% reported greater sensitivity to touch.
65% reported experiencing more intense orgasms.
Other surveys support these findings. Another 2019 study of just women revealed that: (2)
68.5% of respondents who reported marijuana use before sex said they experienced greater pleasure in the sexual experience.
60% mentioned having a higher sex drive.
52% noted they had more satisfying orgasms.
Last, but certainly not least, there are several studies suggesting that THC users have more frequent sex.
Many people indicate that cannabis might can help you relax and have more fun, want sex more, and have better sex when you do! If you are new to THC, please see the dosing recommendations below.
CONCERNS FOR MENOPAUSAL AND POST-MENOPAUSAL WOMEN
In the immortal words of Grandpa Eddie – “Getting old sucks, and don’t let anybody tell you different.”
There is a great deal of truth in that statement for women experiencing menopause. Hot flashes, unexpected (often unexplained) anger or tears, sleeplessness, anxiety, feeling like you are losing your mind, and weight gain are among the myriad joys for women as they age. But lack of libido (fighting the urge to smack your partner upside the head if they touch you) can be one of the most frustrating.
Project CBD has an excellent article on their website entitled “Sex – I Want to Want it.” (7) Cannabis may help ease some of these symptoms, including the loss of libido. Read the whole article if this topic interests you.
A point of particular interest was the following discussion of the book Magnificent Sex, by Dr. Peggy Kleinplatz. (10)
“After doing 15 years of research with thousands of couples who identify as having had extraordinary sex, Kleinplatz distills the common themes into eight primary components. None of them include orgasm, position, or particular skills. It’s things like presence, embodiment, vulnerability, empathic communication … components that are accessible to all people of all ages if they take the time to practice them. Cannabis can help with all of these things! So grab some flower [or other method], pick up this book, and relearn everything you think you know about desire!”
Dr. Peggy Kleinplatz.
MORE ABOUT THE LINKS BETWEEN CANNABIS AND HUMAN SEXUALITY
While cannabis may be helpful, fun, and improve intimacy, don’t be fooled by outrageous claims.
Recently, marketers have filled the Internet with claims about CBD. These claims indicate that credible research proves CBD can improve male performance and endurance. The wildest of these claims are false. There is no such research, unfortunately. However, there are promising signs in research that the endocannabinoid system plays a vital role in pleasure. And this is true for both men and women.
ADDRESSING A FEW OF THE COMMON CLAIMS:
Wild claims about miracle solutions are simply untrue. Cannabis is not a cure for sexual dysfunction. There are too many causes and contributors to problems in this area for any one solution to solve all of them. However, there are some interesting correlations.
The role of cannabis in the body – Humans have cannabinoid receptors in the organs that produce hormones and in the sexual organs themselves. This suggests that cannabinoids have a definite role to play in sexuality. (8)
Erectile Dysfunction – The truth is that CBD is unlikely to have a direct effect on erectile dysfunction caused by circulatory issues. While CBD is a very mild vasodilator (as is THC), it is unlikely to impact most ED. (8) Unsurprisingly, clients who have bought it for this purpose have never come back to report success or purchase more (just being honest).
Lack of Libido / Desire – There is evidence that THC has an impact on both desire for and enjoyment of intimacy. Many people feel that getting “high” helps them relax, lower inhibitions, and they enjoy intimacy more. There are definite boundaries for consumption. Too much THC (too intense a high) and the opposite can be true. Because cannabis is biphasic, low versus high doses can have the exact opposite effects. (8)
Stress, Anxiety, Pain Related Concerns – People suffering from any of these conditions are less likely to desire and enjoy sex. CBD alone and CBD with THC can potentially positively impact all these issues. This may help sufferers indirectly improve their romantic lives.
Arousal – There are small studies that show higher levels of circulating endocannabinoids correlate directly to arousal in women. It stands to reason that supplementing these with their plant-based versions would have a similar effect. CBD alone or combined with THC may achieve this result. (8)
Premature Ejaculation – Many anecdotal reports exist indicating that cannabis can improve ejaculatory performance. However, there is no direct research supporting this. Without getting into the nitty gritty of the research, there is some evidence that CB1 Agonists (which CBD is) may prove helpful in this area. Please note that there are no available clinical human trials on this and while marketing hype is rampant, real, and anecdotal evidence is lacking. (7)
DOSING AND METHOD MAY MATTER
More is not always better when it comes to CBD. However, it is unlikely that you will experience unpleasant side effects other than sleepiness from too much. THC, on the other hand, can be very unpleasant at too high a dose. There is very little risk of any lasting harm, however too much can cause paranoia, racing heart, dizziness, and even panic attacks. Note that a moderate to large dose of CBD can help offset feeling too high from THC. So, if you feel too high, take some CBD immediately.
DOSING:
If you have never tried CBD, read our CBD Made Easy article and look at our Dosing Guidelines. If you have never tried THC, less is more (especially for arousal). Here are a few helpful hints:
Delta-8 THC – while mellower than Delta-9 THC, high doses can still lead to unpleasant sensations. Try a starting dose of 5-10mg
Delta-9 THC – this is the famous one, start with a dose of 1-2mg
METHOD (NOTE THAT TIMES HERE ARE AVERAGES – SOME PEOPLE HAVE DIFFERENT EXPERIENCES):
Vape / Smoke – onset occurs within 5-10 minutes. We suggest starting with 1-2 s mall puffs and waiting 10 minutes before consuming more. Rapid in = rapid out, so you can expect effects to last a few hours.
Water soluble (beverages, syrups and powders) – onset is typically 15-30 minutes. Try ½ the dose you think you can handle and wait 30 minutes. You can expect effects to last 2-4 hours.
Sublingual Oils – onset is typically 15-45 minutes. Effects can last 6-8 hours
Edibles – slowest onset at 1-2 hours (begins about 1, full effect in 2). Effects can last 8-10 hours. Our advice for those consuming edibles is to make sure they have a 10-hour window available (this can include sleep).
For a thorough education about THC Dosing, refer to Dr. Dustin Sulak’s THC dosing guidelines. (11)
We hope you find this article helpful and interesting. If you would like particular recommendations for products, please feel free to reach out to us by email at info@bluelotuswellnessandcbd.com or by phone at 407-235-0653.
WORKS CITED
1. Testa, M, et al. (2019). Marijuana Use Episodes and Partner Intimacy Experiences: A Daily Report Study. Cannabis (Research Society on Marijuana).https://doi.org/10.26828/cannabis.2019.01.002
2. Wiebe, E, et al. (2019). How Cannabis Alters Sexual Experience: A Survey of Men and Women. The journal of sexual medicine. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsxm.2019.07.023
3. Lynn, BK. (2019). The Relationship between Marijuana Use Prior to Sex and Sexual Function in Women. Sexual medicine. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.esxm.2019.01.003
4. Sun, AJ, et al. (2017). Association Between Marijuana Use and Sexual Frequency in the United States: A Population Based Study. The journal of sexual medicine.https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsxm.2017.09.005
5. Shannon, S, et al. (2019). Cannabidiol in Anxiety and Sleep: A Large Case Series. The Permanente journal. https://doi.org/10.7812/TPP/18-041
6. Nguyen, T. (2019). Working out with weed. https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-019-02529-0
7. Misuraca, Melinda (2021). Sex – I want to want it. https://www.projectcbd.org/wellness/sex-i-want-want-it
8. Lidicker, Gretchen (2019). Sex and Cannabis. https://www.projectcbd.org/wellness/sex-cannabis
9. Wonders, L. (n.d.). Couples Who Play Together Stay Together Happily. wondercounseling.com: https://wonderscounseling.com/couples-play-together-stay-together-happily
10. Kleinpatz, P. et al. (2020). Magnificent Sex. Old Saybrook, CT: Tantor.
11. Sulak, D. THC Dosage Chart by Delivery. Healer.com: https://healer.com/blog/thc-dosage/