Can Cannabis Improve Your Sex Life?

April 20th is popularly known as 4/20 Day. It’s an unofficial holiday celebrating all things cannabis. This is going to be a hot topic of conversation this month, so let’s take a look at how cannabis affects our sex lives.

In a previous blog, we covered how marijuana use has been linked to a number of sexual benefits, including more frequent sex, more pleasurable sex, and better orgasms. To build upon this, we came across a study published in the Journal of Cannabis Research looking at how cannabis influences users’ perceptions of sexual desire, orgasm intensity, and overall satisfaction, as well as its effects on arousal and masturbation. The study analyzed responses from over 800 adult, self-reported cannabis users.

Over half of respondents said they intentionally used cannabis before sexual activity, and most felt that cannabis did not impact their sexual decision-making.

How Cannabis is Linked to Sexual Desire and Orgasm

The majority of both men and women in this study felt that cannabis increased their desire for sex, with women reporting an even greater boost than men. Similarly, about 70% of participants said cannabis made their orgasms feel more intense. Also, for some women (40%), they reported that it was easier to have multiple orgasms.

How Cannabis Impacts Sexual Arousal  

Both men and women reported little to no change in physiological arousal. Women didn’t report meaningful changes in vaginal lubrication, while over 90% of men said cannabis either had no effect on their ability to get or maintain an erection—or even improved it.

So, while these findings suggest cannabis may not necessarily help women “get wetter,” they also run counter to earlier research linking cannabis to erectile difficulties in men. Part of the reason cannabis may enhance arousal for some users is that it can help promote more relaxation during sex.

How Cannabis Affects Masturbation

Almost 80% of the sample reported using cannabis before masturbating, and over half felt it increased their pleasure. This may be due to several factors, including enhanced sensations of touch and improved relaxation.

Important Considerations

Overall, the findings from this study suggest that cannabis may have the potential to enhance certain aspects of sexual experience, mirroring patterns observed in earlier research. However, these effects are far from universal. Individual responses vary widely, and for some people, cannabis may actually have negative effects. Legal status also differs by location, adverse reactions are possible, and different strains and dosages may lead to different effects.

To learn more about this topic, check out our podcast episode with sexologist Ashley Manta, “How Cannabis Affects Sex.”

If you have a sex question of your own, record a voicemail at speakpipe.com/sexandpsychology to have it answered on the blog or the podcast. 

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