Written by Rebecca Olmos
I spent the first three years working in the cannabis industry as a budtender. A highly complex job that never gets the credit it deserves. I saw endless lines of customers all who had their own set issues that they use cannabis for. Customers often seek help for sleep, pain, anxiety, and general relaxation issues. While those were always easy consultations, some of my favorite and memorable dispensary conversations revolve around cannabis, sex, and intimacy. Customers often approach it as taboo, with a slow lean over and the cautious whisper, "Do you have anything… for… sex?”
I was always happy to answer, gather a few product options, and share that it was more common than they thought to utilize weed for sex.
I do get the shy component of the topic, as it’s a private matter, but sex is one of the best activities to use cannabis for, and you should feel confident searching for a product to enhance this part of your life. Cannabis is helpful in various ways when it comes to being intimate with yourself or a partner(s), and there can be a few different ways to incorporate it into your most personal private moments.
Below I’ll share some helpful insight about cannabis and sex, some of my best (former) budtender, (long-time) consumer tips, and some products that might be fun to start with.
Many people have found ways to use cannabis to enhance sex. In fact, one survey of over two hundred adults found that over 50% of them used cannabis to enhance their sex life in one way or another. While a few found that cannabis had adverse effects, like difficulty reaching orgasm, many participants found it helped them relax and focus while increasing their sexual desire and sensitivity to touch.
Another study linked regular cannabis use to just having more sex. It doesn’t seem to be isolated to one demographic, either. Michael Eisenberg, MD, assistant professor of urology and one of the lead authors of the study, explained, “The overall trend we saw applied to people of both sexes and all races, ages, education levels, income groups, and religions, every health status, whether they were married or single and whether or not they had kids.”
There are a few ways cannabis can help enhance intimacy, including reducing anxiety and pain and increasing satisfaction, sensitivity, and orgasms.
It’s important to note that cannabis is a biphasic molecule, which means what it does to someone in small doses may differ from what it does in higher doses. So you may not find the perfect fit the first time, stay open to trying different products and methods while remembering it’s always best to start low and slow. It’s easier to add more to the psychoactive experience than to take away from it. An intimate moment, especially when a partner is present, may be the hardest time to overconsume or adjust your dose, so it’s better to start introducing cannabis in small increments.
I probably inadvertently experienced sex and cannabis before really taking note of how it affected me. The first time I noticed weed could enhance my sexual desire was after I smoked a nice bowl of Wedding Cake (a cultivar repeatedly listed as one of the top choices for sex). The effects took over slowly, but it was a full head-to-toe experience. The next thing I knew, I needed a moment alone – if you know what I mean.
I’ve found that there are also now several different products that can help enhance bedroom play, and I’ve tried more than a few. Cannabis lubricant is amazing, and I’ve tried this both solo and with a partner. Sometimes I could reach multiple orgasms, while other times, it just enhanced their intensity. I’ve used THC and CBD-rich products and other full-spectrum tinctures or isolated cannabinoid edibles.
I also find cannabis consumption to be an intimate habit as is. Smoking with someone or sharing an edible before getting into foreplay is so fun and another way to connect. Plus, having the psychoactive and physical experience hit at different points in the pleasure session provides another layer of euphoria.
I encourage you to be open with yourself and your partner. I’ve found that sometimes being open, playful, and curious with them can help them feel more comfortable and open to your experience.
Of course, I’m sure you’re wondering what products you should start with, and please understand there are more than a few options. Whatever is right for you or your partner will depend on various factors. Sometimes what you and your partner need may be completely different. Below is a list of some of my favorites, but I hope you use this as a starting point to explore which one best suits your needs.
Om Love Balm is my absolute favorite topical. It’s silky smooth, it's sexy, and it has some of the highest potency for an intimate topical. Make sure you take note of the base of any topicals if you’re using them in more sensitive areas, OM isn’t latex safe, but a water-based infused lube from Kush Queen is. Sometimes you don’t necessarily need a lubricant, but you may want to relax other body parts. Papa and Barkley has an amazing massage oil that is great when you need a little massage to get you going.
I love any 1:1 THC: CBD ratio for sex. It’s the perfect amount of zen. Be careful with this dosage, though. Sometimes too much can make you feel drowsy. A nice low dosage can go a long way. Some of my favorites are from Care By Design, A Cosmic View, and Rosette.
There are endless cultivars to choose from these days. Finding what is recommended online can be hard, but you can always ask your budtender for their best suggestion if you need further guidance. Cultivars I love are Wedding Cakes (or any cake variety, really) and GMO Garlic Cookies. These are categorized as ‘indica,’ but some people find sativas may work better for them. It’s all subjective, so find a strain you either know makes you feel good or are comfortable experimenting with.
I do believe that cannabis can help to enhance your intimate experience, whether solo or with a partner. Research and survey participant responses heavily lean in that direction as well. Although it may not be the case for everyone, it seems that it can be a matter of finding what works best for what you need in those private moments. Stay open and curious, take notes if possible, and always remember to start low and slow.