By Ruth Hill R.N.
When you get supremely stoned, you’re probably not good for taking care of anything beyond a couple of bags of Doritos. However, more and more doctors that specialize in medical marijuana are noticing a surprising side effect from a light buzz: Patients getting cannabis for pain management, anxiety, or chronic conditions are reporting it’s helping in the bedroom, too.
We’ve known for a while anecdotally, that cannabis can enhance the sexual experiences of women,” says Jordan Tishler, M.D., a Harvard-trained physician who now runs a cannabis clinic in Boston. But, a recent survey of medical cannabis users conducted by https://hellomd.com a telemedicine platform, found that men and women (in equal proportions) had seen a boost in their sex life.
Dose Matters
In male sexuality, too much pot gets you that classic stoner couch lock and loses the desire to have sex at all. Solomon recommends male clients stick with a cannabis product that contains no more than 14 percent Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). Sativa strains have low THC. Also, go slow. A single toke from a vape pen may be all you need to get going. You should be aiming to get buzzed, not high. This advice is less pertinent for female partners. “Women seem to tolerate nearly any dose,” while still maintaining their libido, says Tishler. He adds, “In the anecdotal realm, women tend to report enjoying sex even on very high doses.”
Timing Is Everything
As the cannabis industry has grown, so too have the options for delivering THC to your system. Dr. Solomon recommends using a vape pen or smoking a joint a few minutes before hitting the bedroom since it’s going to give you a predictably timed high (in about five minutes).
While edibles are popular, they can take anywhere from 30 minutes to two hours to kick in. If you’re doing this with a partner, this means you may experience your highs at different times.
If It Doesn’t Work for You, It Probably Will Work for Her
We’ve known for a very long time that cannabis really enhances a woman’s sexual experience. A 2013 study where researchers had women watch pornography before and after consuming THC. Before cannabis, porn didn’t do much for women. After cannabis, their levels of arousal increased significantly.
The Mechanics Are Unclear
If you’ve struggled with erectile dysfunction, you know that it can be an extremely stressful problem. THC may work mainly because it allows men to relax and stop stressing about the status of their erections.
It May Help Beyond Erectile Dysfunction
The entire pharmaceutical industry has been so focused on curing erectile dysfunction that it’s completely ignored other issues. “We know that as many as 20 percent of men across all ages suffer from a lack of desire and many men suffer from orgasming too soon or trouble achieving orgasm at all,” says Tishler. There are no real treatments for these conditions — Viagra and Cialis won’t help one bit. In cases like these, both Tishler and Solomon often recommend trying cannabis.
Best Strains for Sex
Based on anecdotal evidence, most users know that cannabis enhances sensory pleasure, improving the quality of everything from music to sex. Some of the most influential and popular strains include the Northern Lights, the Do-Si-Dos, the Mimosa, the Sour Diesel, and the Cookies. This column will explain in detail the strains in another article.
Like With Alcohol, Consent Becomes Tricky
Tishler says that, for the most part, people can have small amounts of cannabis and still make clear-eyed decisions. But there’s a point where your decision-making capacity goes seriously south. If you’re enjoying cannabis with a partner and think there’s a chance it’s clouded his or her judgment, call it a night. Engaging in sexual activities with anyone who can’t clearly consent is rape.
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