Okay, so if you search around the web there are a growing number of "medical" opinions and loosely correlating data that suggests that THC, or other cannabinoids, play a role in sexual satisfaction and arousal. Personally I think the anxiety reducing effects of THC leads to better sex simply by allowing you to focus on your partner and let the other BS go.
Cannabis is a psychoactive substance that affects people differently. To ensure you have the most pleasant and healthy experience possible, start low, go slow, and take some precautions, particularly if this is your first time using marijuana.
To refresh your memory, cannabis is legal for medicinal use in 33 states plus the District of Columbia, and for adult (recreational) use in ten states plus the District of Columbia. However, since cannabis is still illegal at the federal level, there are some clear legal risks associated with using it for some purpose in the United States. It's also necessary to keep in mind that certain states have age limits.
It has not been until recently with the development of THC isomers such as Delta 8 THC (D8 it is commonly referred to) that legitimate laboratories could begin to test the effects of some of the compounds found in the Marijuana plant. The Fam Bill of 2018 paved the way for research and development into the medicinal and societal effects of cannabinoids.
For now however we have to reply on a few sources to provide background on the benefits and drawbacks of using cannabis before sex. Below I have taken information found in the references at the bottom for you to explore the original content.
In a population-based study published in the Journal of Sexual Medicine, researchers examined the relationship between marijuana use and sexual frequency. Based on the results of a survey, they found that after adjustment for covariates, male and female marijuana users had more monthly and daily sex compared with those who never used. Moreover, they noted a trend indicating that higher levels of marijuana use was linked to increased coital frequency.
“Marijuana use is independently associated with increased sexual frequency and does not appear to impair sexual function,” they concluded. (ref)
According to Dr. Tishler, as researchers look at sexual pleasure, they may include biological, social, and psychological factors that may play a role in attraction, arousal, orgasm, and overall satisfaction. But while all of this is accounted for, good sex means something different for different people — and even something different for the same person, depending on the day. It is therefore necessarily a little difficult to sample, which is good to bear in mind when evaluating the findings. Jordan Tishler, M.D., medical cannabis expert at InhaleMD in Boston.
Self-reported surveys account for the majority of what we know about cannabis and sex. Given that cannabis is said to help with anxiety and pain, it's reasonable to assume that the plant could indirectly improve sex for some people by unduly influencing other issues. However, there isn't much evidence that cannabis is related to sexual pleasure.
Cannabis is difficult to research in a regulated setting since it is classified as a schedule I substance in the United States (meaning it has a high potential for abuse and a low potential for medical benefit). For example, you can't just give people cannabis and see how their sexual behaviors alter. (Or at least most U.S. researchers can't because using the actual substances necessitates a particular form of drug license, which has traditionally been exceedingly difficult to obtain.)
But that is beginning to change with the availability of federally approved derivatives such as Delta 8 THC. I expect we will see more research in the effects of regular and intermittent use of THC in sex. Hopefully it is the beginning of a new era of enlightenment into the benefits of cannabis and sexual health but for now researchers have often used self-reported surveys—in which participants are asked about their drug use and their sexual experiences—to get an idea of what’s going on.
Rather than handing out a questionnaire to their (all white, 62 percent male) college student participants, the researchers interviewed them in a report published in 1984 in the Journal of Sex Studies. The findings of the analysis were similar: The majority of participants said cannabis improved their sex in some way, but they added a few interesting specifics.
Although 58 percent of men in that study reported that it increased the quality of their orgasms, only 32 percent of women said the same. But men and women agreed in about the same amount that cannabis increased their desire for a familiar partner (50 percent of men and 60 percent of women), increased sexual pleasure and satisfaction (70 percent of men and 76 percent of women), and improved the sensation of touching (59 percent of men and 57 percent of women). Additionally, only 34 percent of men said cannabis increased snuggling, but 56 percent of women said it did.
Your body makes its own natural version of cannabinoids (endocannabinoids), and there is a significant amount of receptors for those compounds “in areas of the brain that deal with sexual function,” Dr. Lynn says, such as the amygdala and hypothalamus. Recent research suggests that 2-AG, an endocannabinoid, is released in humans after orgasm, suggesting that these compounds may be involved in normal sexual processes. (ref)
“Animal research suggests that stimulating the CB1 receptor delays ejaculation, so reports about the time of the act in humans could be true (and not just a result of impaired time perception),” Mitch Earleywine, Ph.D., professor of psychology at the University at Albany, SUNY (ref)
Looking for What to Smoke before Sex?
A recent article on Healthline.com reported numerous strains to help you chill out prior to the party in your pants. They outline strains of cannabis for various situations and personality with the realization that the desirable effects of cannabis vary per person. Thus experimentation is necessary to find what strains help you get it on.
Despite the lack of testing, a plethora of sex-related cannabis products (CBD and THC) are available. There is a lot of room for improvement in the research on cannabis and sex. As a result, your experience with any product seeking to aid or change your sex experience will certainly vary. And the placebo effect could play a role in a lot of what happens.
Papa & Barkley Body Releaf Oil
Although the brand is best known for its pain-relieving balms, this cannabis-infused coconut oil promises to soothe and calm you all over, making it a great addition to a sensual massage. To experience the results, the company suggests massaging it into the skin for around 20 to 30 seconds. Within 15 minutes, it should start working and last for up to three hours.
1906 Love Chocolates
Although it's difficult to predict how and when edibles would perform, these low-dose choices, flavored with Blue Dream cannabis, have received rave reviews and are undeniably Instagram-friendly.
Sex is an critical part of the human experience and for generations people have experimented with ways to elevate their experience. As we move into a modern world where the incorrect actions of past generations are being addressed, we are opening the doors to tremendous opportunities to improve the human experience. THC offers a plethora of health benefits yet to be discovered and I expect we will see a positive correlation between sex and cannabis in the research yet to come.
