The Effect of Marijuana on Your Sex Drive

Use of recreational and medical marijuana is on the rise, and sex’s popularity is everlasting, so one might think there would be more definitive answers about how cannabis affects human sexuality. While there’s a ton of research available about the many aspects of libido, there is a lot less rigorously tested science about the effects of marijuana use.

This is largely due to the fact that while medical and recreational marijuana use is slowly being legalized in more states, it’s still considered an illegal substance under federal law.

Most of what we know about how marijuana use affects people comes from self-reported data from people who use it. However, this information can’t be standardized, and we therefore don’t know if it holds true for all people, or if it’s purely anecdotal.

For this reason, much of what we understand about how marijuana affects sexuality is based on a general understanding of sexuality and an emerging knowledge about recreational and/or medical marijuana use. The bulk of possible research remains to be done, but we can reach some basic conclusions.

Short-term effects

In 2018, the Journal of Sexual Medicine published a study by Dr. Michael Eisenberg and others from Stanford University Medical Center. Eisenberg found that people who used marijuana on a daily basis reported having about 20 percent more sex than did their non-marijuana-using counterparts. While this doesn’t establish evidence of a direct cause-and-effect of marijuana use and sexual desire, it does show a positive correlation.

The reasons behind this correlation presently remain unknown, though there are many possibilities. For instance, it’s possible that when a person uses marijuana to relieve conditions like chronic pain or anxiety, the generalized treatment of these issues may put them in a better space mentally or physically to enjoy sexual encounters.

Cannabis is also a vasodilator, meaning that it opens up blood vessels, increasing blood flow throughout the body. This has been noted as a potential contributing factor to increased arousal and enjoyment of sexual pleasure, but whether it actually activates or magnifies the strength of the libido is still debatable.

There is not yet any definitive information on how using marijuana over a long period of time might affect libido. In fact, there’s actually conflicting research on whether long-term marijuana use might contribute to erectile dysfunction and lowered sperm counts.

Research through personal experimentation

You may be curious about the link between the two because you’re looking for a boost in the bedroom, or simply because you want to make sure if you take up the habit, it won’t affect your sex life.

Maybe you’re just a curious person in general.

With little hard research available and new findings coming out frequently, you may feel it’s easier to see for yourself and use marijuana as part of your sex life firsthand. However, if you decide to take a few hits of marijuana before your next date, be sure to do so with safety as your priority. Make sure to research your state’s laws on marijuana use before partaking. And, don’t forget: If you’re going to do a dab, take a cab.