We’re all grown-ups here, right?

We’d better be, since no one under 21 is supposed to be anywhere near this website. With that settled, let’s talk about sex. Or more specifically, cannabis and sex.

Lots of people like to combine the two, claiming that “high sex is the best sex,” or at least a reliable way to spice things up in the bedroom. But does this widely accepted weed wisdom have any scientific basis? Is it purely placebo? Or can cannabis really improve your intimate adventures… and how?

Does cannabis make sex better?

As Barry White would say: “Ohhhhh yeah.”

Anecdotal evidence abounds among those whose sex lives have been revitalized by the wacky tobaccy. But you don’t have to take our word for it. A 2023 study in The Journal of Cannabis Research found that, out of more than 800 participants, over 70% “reported increased desire and orgasmic intensity,” both solo and with a partner.

Since sexuality exists on a beautiful spectrum, it’s important to note that the study included both men and women, ranging in age from 18 to 85, and that at least 25% of participants identified as LGBTQ+. While more women than men participated, the sexy results did not seem to be impacted by the subject’s gender. In other words, weed seems to be a pretty equal-opportunity intimacy enhancer.

Why does cannabis make sex better?

This question is harder to answer. As that same 2023 study outlines, there’s conflicting evidence – and even more conflicting theories – about what’s really going on at a scientific level.

For example, some research suggests cannabis, which dilates your blood vessels, can increase lubrication in vagina-having people, enhancing arousal and reducing potential pain. Then again, a 2019 study in Sexual Medicine found that, while a majority of female respondents reported increased desire and better orgasms after using cannabis, lubrication was not meaningfully impacted. Meanwhile, some evidence suggests weed can help erections last longer, but still other studies seem to indicate that using cannabis habitually can make it harder – erm, that is, more difficult – to achieve the erection in the first place.

In the absence of definitive data, we can’t confidently explain the biological or neurological effect of cannabis on your sex life, but we can make some educated guesses. For one, cannabis tends to enhance sensation by increasing blood flow and stimulating your brain’s reward center. Ever notice how much better food tastes, or how intense that hot shower feels, when you’re under the influence? Extrapolate those enhanced sensations to your bedroom. Need we say more?

Of course, it’s not all about the body. They say the largest sex organ is the brain, and cannabis certainly impacts that. Many people struggle to find sexual satisfaction because they’re too in their heads, anxious about what their partner may be thinking or preoccupied with life outside the here and now. Cannabis can relax you, distract you from your thoughts and let you focus on feeling rather than fretting. Which brings us to our final question…

What are the best cannabis products for sex?

There are a ton of sex-specific canna-products out there, from specific “intimacy” formulations to THC-infused lubricant, massage oil, or bath bombs. Some of these may be just what the love doctor ordered, but you don’t necessarily need a sex-specific product to see results. Here’s an incomplete list of things to consider when selecting your pre-coital cannabis:

• Other compounds! There’s more to cannabis than THC. Rare cannabinoids like CBG can elevate mood and relieve stress, which is particularly helpful if you’re prone to distractions or anxiety during intimacy. You might achieve similar chill through a strain high in terpenes like limonene or linalool, though there is no real scientific evidence as to which specific terps can optimize your sexy times.
• Dose. Paranoia and anxiety are common side effects of too much THC, and paranoia usually isn’t sexy. Stick to a serving you know won’t send you spiraling. If you’re new to the plant, start with a low dose – 2.5 to 5mg of an edible or a single puff of flower – and wait at least an hour (for the edible) or 15 minutes (for the flower) before consuming more.
• Product form. Smoking flower together is a great form of foreplay: intimate, immediate, and fairly easy to control, at least in terms of dosage. But if you’d rather keep your lungs – if not the rest of you – pure and virginal, ingesting your cannabis has plenty of advantages. You’ll have to wait a bit to feel effects, but edibles deliver a uniquely potent THC molecule called 11-Hydroxy-THC, which famously produces a powerful “body high.” Do we need to connect those dots for you? ALSO: if you’re not an experienced consumer, take care with products like infused lubes or bath bombs, which are difficult to dose since they reach your bloodstream through, uh, not the usual entrance.

Bottom line: there’s still a lot to learn about why and how cannabis enhances sexy times. But we can say with confidence that it often does. Until we have more scientific data, you’ll have to conduct your own experiments to find out exactly what kind of weed works best for you. Who knew research could be so much fun?