Can cannabis boost your sex life?

Odds are, if you're reading this article, you already know how many benefits cannabis can bring to your daily life. But new studies are concluding that weed can help improve your sex life, too!

HOW CANNABIS CAN IMPROVE SEX

For starters, it increases your sensitivity to touch, meaning that touching and being touched can feel even more amazing than usual! When you’re stoned, something as simple as a gentle caress along your bare skin can leave you with chills and goosebumps. Cannabis is also known to be able to help to calm your nerves and relieve stress and anxiety, which adds to the already existent feelings of sexual bliss.

According to Dr. Michael Eisenberg, a urologist at Stanford University Medical Center and the senior author of a recent study on cannabis and sex, those who use weed daily have about 20% more sex than nonusers.[1]

Although some people who use cannabis have long claimed that it's a natural aphrodisiac, many others would assume it has the opposite effect in the bedroom. In the past, scientific literature has turned up a mixed bag of results and weed was often compared to tobacco, which is known to decrease libido. But as we now know, cannabis and tobacco have very few similarities.

HOW DOES IT WORK?

There are two main ways that weed contributes to heightened sexual euphoria. Number one, it boosts the senses. As previously mentioned, being stoned increases your sensitivity to touch, but that's not the only sense it has a strong effect on. Depending on the type of weed you smoke, it can also lead to things looking, smelling, and even tasting better! Plus, weed can also affect one’s perception of time, which can possibly lead to sex feeling longer and more satisfying.

Another noteworthy thing to mention is that, as many people already know, people who are a bit stoned often like to take it slow. They’re usually not in a rush and prefer to take their time accomplishing tasks. While this can be problematic at times, when applied in the bedroom, nothing really improves sex more than taking your sweet time, exploring each other’s body, and savoring every moment of it.

Now on to reason number two; weed changes the brain's chemistry, creating some wonderfully profound reactions. THC often replicates the effects of neurotransmitters dopamine and anandamide, the chemicals in our brain connected to reward and pleasure. Increased dopamine in the brain can lead to increased hormone production, better blood circulation, and elevated heart rate, all of which occur naturally when we are aroused.

WHAT DOES THE RESEARCH SAY?

A recent study from Stanford University shows a connection between regular cannabis use and increased sexual desire.[2] This study, which is the first of its kind, analyzed the lifestyles of over 50,000 American men and women.

Upon review, the researchers determined an indisputable conclusion; cannabis is indeed an aphrodisiac. Women who used pot daily had sex about 7 times a month on average. Compare that to 6 times monthly for nonusers. The stats for men were similar, with marijuana users having sex 7 times a month, compared with 5 times for nonusers.

The research did center around a somewhat specific group - men and women between 25-45 years of age. However, independent factors such as race, education level, income status, religion, health, and marital and parental status did not change the “positive association” between cannabis and increased sexual activity.

CANNABIS AND RELATIONSHIPS

In addition to cannabis’ bedroom appeal, weed can also foster healthy emotional bonds between couples. Yes, it makes people happy and relaxed, but all that aside, cannabis is used both for therapeutic and recreational purposes. Some are casual users, while others include weed as part of their daily lifestyle. Believe it or not, relationships where both partners use weed can be quite supportive and successful.

Couples can have fun together shopping at dispensaries, collecting paraphernalia, growing plants, going on hikes or nature walks and getting stoned, baking edibles, and so much more. Some couples even get into business together, opening dispensaries or other cannabis-related companies.

Whatever it is you like to do, pot will most likely have a welcome place in that niche.

What can be great about weed is that it can sometimes help us be more open and emotional with our partners. It’s important to keep in mind that relationships themselves are like plants. They need to be nurtured early on and from their core. Tending to your emotional needs is an infallible way to improve every aspect of a relationship, including the physical side.

TO SUMMARISE

Basically, no matter how you slice it, cannabis actually does have the potential to improve your sex life. Consider it a safe and natural way to spice things up in the bedroom. Even if you don't necessarily need the extra spice, it's always fun to try new things. Just remember: Be careful with smoking in your bed and don’t get burned!