To the average person, the feeling of falling in love can best be described as walking on air, heaven on Earth, or warm apple pie. To the average scientist, love is simply a chemical reaction in the brain, specifically the release of a stimulant called phenylethylamine (PEA). This chemical is naturally produced in higher doses when we eat delicious foods like chocolate or when we meet that special someone.
Where Does Weed Come In?
Now, let’s add sex and marijuana to the mix. THC triggers the release of dopamine to give us that “high” feeling. Surprise, surprise — sex does the same thing. We’re talking about combining two “feel-good” components. Naturally, we have to wonder how much cannabis can enhance our sex lives and how much the “evidence” is backed by science. If you like what you read in this article, it may serve you well to buy marijuana seeds before your next date night (wink, wink).
Let’s explore this!
Cannabis Canoodling Goes Way Back
Historians believe the practice of combining sex and cannabis started in ancient India. You’ve heard of Kama Sutra, right? We think of it now as a cheeky sex book you buy as a joke for a friend, filled with all these wild positions — or something you only read about in Cosmopolitan magazine — but back then, it was an art form. And tantric sex practitioners believed cannabis could enhance the libido, produce longer-lasting erections, and delay ejaculation, according to Men’s Health. In the words of Daft Punk: harder, better, faster, stronger.
But what does science say about all of this? It’s doubtful the Kama Sutra text, written by Vātsyāyana, received factual examination before being published. But hey, people are going to believe what sounds good (and feels good) to them. Here’s a little disclaimer: there’s not a whole lot of concrete proof that cannabis has aphrodisiac qualities (the same goes for oysters, by the way), but there is a strong body of anecdotal evidence to support the idea that cannabis and mind-blowing sex are linked in more ways than one.
Marijuana’s Makeup Matters
To better understand the relationship between sex and cannabis, we first need to know what cannabis is made of. The flowers of the cannabis plant contain tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). This chemical compound attaches itself to cannabinoid receptors in our brains (the endocannabinoid system) to make us feel happy and rewarded. According to Leaf Science, this wave of positivity is thanks to the short-term production of extra dopamine.
To Each Their Own
When analyzing cannabis’ effect on sexual activity, we have to remember that our bodies are all extremely different. THC effects us on a variety of levels that cannot be predicted straight out the gate. It takes time to figure out how much cannabis makes us feel good, and not overly sleepy or hungry — two things you don’t want to experience during sex. Regardless of research data, experienced cannabis users are damn sure the plant enhances their bedroom skills. In one 2016 study, over half the subjects reported feeling “aphrodisiac effects” after smoking cannabis. Seventy percent said they felt “enhancement in pleasure and satisfaction.”
Setting the Mood Before Smokin’ the Doob
Speaking of being in the mood, Men’s Health posted a video on seven all-natural tips to make your partner extra frisky. These are all so simple, almost too simple, that most of us may have overlooked them in our ever-so-busy lives.
- Go to bed early (well-rested folks are 14% more likely to have sex)
- Give your partner a massage (relaxation is key to getting in the mood)
- Watch a romantic movie (visualization never hurt anybody)
- Exercise together (all that sweating and pumping endorphins)
- Focus on her (women who have more orgasms want more sex)
- Take your partner on an adventurous date (adrenaline goes a long way)
- Show off your talent (seeing mad skillz makes most people a bit tingly in the nether regions).
Branching Out with Products
Our next source of information comes from Cosmopolitan, because, of course. They bring up a good point about using cannabis in sex-based products. Smoking cannabis is one way to reap the benefits of a night in the sack, but what about lubricants, vibrators, and condoms? Those are all fair game, too. The company Foria sells a lubricant infused with THC oil that is meant to get your vagina high (literally). The reviews for this stuff are no joke. “The greatest (seriously, greatest) effect it had was the intensity and length of my orgasms,” one user wrote. Another mentioned it felt like “a warm and very sexual hug.” Sign us up!
Next, we’ve got cannabis-flavored condoms, which should come as no surprise considering banana, strawberry, and chocolate have been on the market for forever. Even the shape of the cannabis leaf has sparked inspiration in the sex toy department. You can actually buy cannabis leaf vibrators and — get this — pipe dildos. Yes, you read that correctly. There’s an invention out there that acts as both a dildo and a pipe. Doesn’t sound very sanitary, though.
The Downside to Sativa in the Sack
Haters will say we’re making this up, but there has to be at least one downside to using cannabis during sex, right? It can’t all be rainbows and butterflies. Turns out, the one con to cannabis in the bedroom is also a pro. Cannabis has been known to make guys last longer, which can be an amazing thing, or an “OK buddy, let’s wrap this up, I gotta go to work” thing. Also, there’s the issue of getting too high to function, which can happen at any time. Smoking too much of certain types of cannabis may also delay erections because all the muscles are so relaxed.
In the end, combining cannabis and sex is all about finding the perfect balance — your happy place. Too much and the idea of sex may be too taxing, too little and you may not reap all the benefits. But once you find that sensual middle ground, it’s all going to be worth it. THC will work its magic on the brain to release dopamine and make you feel good on so many levels. And when they deed is done, head out for a romantic dinner to address the munchies. Sounds like a great night, doesn’t it?
