It might not come up every day, but budtenders often get questions about cannabis and sex. 

Of course we know that weed is great for social activities, connecting with friends and even alleviating social anxiety—but what about weed for those one-on-one, clothing-optional interactions?

While there’s no single cannabis product that improves everyone’s love life, research indicates that cannabis can boost libido and increase sexual satisfaction. 

A 2019 study published in the Journal of Sexual Medicine (JSM), How Cannabis Alters Sexual Experience, offered some eyebrow-raising results in a survey of 216 men and women:

• 58.9% of study participants said cannabis increased their desire for sex
• 69.8% said cannabis helped them relax more during sex
• 73.8% reported increased sexual satisfaction with cannabis
• 65.7% said cannabis use resulted in an increased intensity of orgasms

Keep fanning yourself, because a 2017 Stanford University School of Medicine study of more than 50,000 Americans also showed a positive correlation between marijuana use and sex. 

Why it Makes Sense to Combine CBD with THC 

While these numbers are pretty remarkable, more study of cannabis and sex is needed (of course it is!). While we wait, it’s important to remember what any knowledgeable budtender will tell you: 

• All cannabis is not created alike, and the varying types and amounts of cannabinoids affect people differently. 
• And while cannabis can help some people reduce anxiety, the plant has the opposite effect on others—and when it comes to sex and intimacy, nothing kills the vibe faster than anxiety or stress.

Research has shown that too much of the prime psychoactive compound in cannabis, tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), can induce anxiety and discomfort. And while cannabidiol (CBD, the current “It Girl” of cannabinoids) doesn’t get you high, it relaxes you—and it mellows out some of THC’s uncomfortable side effects. 

This desire for a balanced, even experience—high but not anxious—is why some people seek out specific formulations of cannabinoids. While smoking flower can be unpredictable, targeted extract formulations offer a more reliable experience. So if you or your partner are wary of being overwhelmed by a high-THC strain on a romantic night, try seeking out a product with a 1:1 ratio of THC to CBD (such as LucidMood’s Loving vape pen).

CBG and the Mood-Boosting Powers of Cannabis

And while it doesn’t take a chemistry lesson to figure out whether or not weed increases a person’s chemistry with their partner, it’s important to note that cannabis is more than its most famous component, THC. In fact, the plant contains hundreds of distinct compounds, including a group known as rare or emerging cannabinoids. 

One rare cannabinoid in particular has gotten more attention of late: cannabigerol (CBG). This non-intoxicating compound is thought to help regulate mood due to its ability to act on the serotonin system. The more common cannabinoid CBD has been shown to boost anandamide, which is often called the body’s native “bliss” molecule for its role in activating cannabinoid receptors in the brain that elevate mood. (LucidMood’s Loving vape pen includes both CBG and CBD for this reason.)

And if that’s not enough science for you, cannabis also contains many different terpenes, which give plants their distinctive scents (think pine and rose), and some of which also have profound effects on humans. Terpenes like linalool and limonene, commonly found in lavender and citrus, have been shown in lab studies to have relaxing properties, which may help to relieve stress and improve low moods. The right combination of cannabinoids and terpenes can create a feeling of being deeply relaxed but also very tuned in to your senses. 

When it comes to weed and sex, it’s helpful to remember that cannabis facilitates connection in many ways. When we are less stressed and more relaxed, less anxious and in good spirits, it’s easier to bond with other people, whether that’s through going out for brunch with friends or staying in for a romantic evening with a new crush. 

Cannabis can be an excellent tool for improving emotional and physical intimacy, but if we’ve learned anything, it’s that weed is way more than just a puff of a bowl or vape pen. Cannabis is a complex plant with unique and powerful effects, so why not experiment with how different formulations affect your desire? 

So please, friends: consume your cannabis with the intention of being open and tuned in to the moment and to yourself—which is what intimacy is all about.

What’s in the LucidMood Loving formulation: A 1:1 ratio of THC to CBD, plus CBG and the terpenes Ocimene and Nerol.

About Tristan Watkins, PhD.

Dr. Tristan Watkins is a neuroscientist who studies how terpenes and cannabinoids interact with the nervous system and applies this knowledge to create cannabis formulas that deliver distinct and predictable effects. His cannabis research began as a passion project during graduate school at Vanderbilt University, where he researched how changes in brain structure and function lead to changes in behavior. Dr. Watkins currently serves as the Chief Science Officer of LucidMood, where he formulates and validates experimental products.