Dirty, Sexy, Honey: Can Cannabis Improve Sexual Pleasure?

Dirty, Sexy, Honey… With Anita Couche: The Orgasm Gap

Listen up, party people, because it's time to talk about the real gender inequality that's been keeping women up all night. Move over pay gap, because more than half of American women are now confessing that they find sex unsatisfying. And honestly, we're not surprised.

If you listen to Dr Raelia Lew, founder of Women's Health Melbourne and co-founder of the intimate care brand Lovers, there’s real talk to be had here. While men pretty much orgasm 100 percent of the time, women are left behind, revealing a massive orgasm gap that size of the Grand Canyon. Now we’ve been checking the receipts and don’t even get us started on the portrayal of women as pleasure pleasers or providers. Right here and now, we want to make it clear we think it's high time that women come first.

Dr. Lew, a gynecologist and fertility expert with almost 20 years of experience, and others in the sexual wellness space are finally realizing that cannabis is that true “secret ingredient” to spice up even the most unsatisfying of sex lives. To understand why that’s so, you first have to understand the truth of what so many women are living.

Pardon the well placed pun – I couldn’t resist – but we dove in deeper with Dr. Lew, and according to a survey that Lovers conducted of 1,000 women, one in four experience pain during sex, one in three have a low libido, and one in twenty suffer from vaginismus, a condition where your vagina muscles involuntarily contract during penetration. (Sidebar here, who the hell thought up “vaginismus” – a word that sounds like we are naming a recently discovered amphibious creature from the Pleistocene era?)

Can Cannabis Help You Have Better Sex?

Let’s keep it real, no matter who you are… everyone wants to have better sex. For your best chances of achieving just that, we think it’s time to add a little green to your routine. Now, safety first. It’s important to be sure to check your state's laws before you do anything else to figure out if you can go “whole hog” with cannabis-infused products or if you may need to stay a bit more mainstream with hemp-based offerings.

Whichever direction you might head, it’s time for me to blow more than just your mind (pardon more puns). Get this: The vagina is actually a powerhouse delivery system for molecules to get into the body's circulation and produce an effect. With lots of blood vessels and a thin layer of skin, the vagina is the perfect vehicle for THC, CBD, and other novel cannabinoids to do their magic.

Cannabis-Infused Lube: Elevated Sexual Pleasure

One popular method of incorporating cannabis into your sex life is by using lube. When looking at THC or CBD based personal lubricants, we find that most reach their full effect within 20 to 30 minutes, granting you a perfect window for “priming” your experience, whether you are playing solo or with a friend (or two). Apply a CBD-based lube 20 to 30 minutes before any action, and you'll be in the zone in no time.

Now, let's tackle the stigma around using lube and drop some serious knowledge and analogies that'll make you want to scream "YAAAS!" Ladies, the first thing to keep in mind is that not all lube is created equal. Using lube is like wearing shoes – it's a simple enhancement that makes things better and really level up any moment. The right pair of shoes will take you anywhere and the same thing is true with your lube. We need to disabuse ourselves of the notion that this is about fixing a deficit in yourself. I am here to tell you that it's about upgrading your sexual experience and achieving a better outcome for yourself. So let's toss out those negative thoughts and embrace the wonderful world of lube. Viva la orgasm!

But before you ditch your fancy lingerie and candles for a bag of green, consider the larger issue at hand. We need to change the way we think about sex.

The Research: How Does Cannabis Increase Sexual Intensity?

Hold onto your bongs, folks, because we went down another sex-fueled rabbit hole with a study from the Journal of Cannabis Research that is about to blow your mind...and maybe a few other things (pardon the pun a third time. Hey, it’s hard in this environment… Oh, and I guess pardon that one too.). According to this recent study, a whopping 70 percent of people surveyed reported increased sexual desire and orgasm intensity when using marijuana. Over 40 percent of women claimed to have achieved multiple orgasms in a single sexual encounter. Now that's what we call hitting the high notes.

Of course, the devil is always in the details, so to be fair, let’s look at the fine print before you trade in your sexy candles for a stash of weed. This study wasn't exactly conducted with the scientific rigor of a clinical trial. The researchers just asked a bunch of people who already smoked weed if it improved their sex lives. And surprise, surprise, the majority said yes. Cannabis also seems to have a chillaxing effect, with almost 90 percent of respondents feeling more relaxed during sex. And as for the age-old question about weed and erections, fear not, gentlemen! The survey showed that the majority of male respondents had no trouble achieving or maintaining an erection while under the influence of cannabis.

It is worth noting that the survey respondents were predominantly white, educated, and in monogamous relationships. What significance does that have? Well, perhaps it’s our cisgender friends who need the most help.

The Takeaway: Rethinking Sex And Cannabis In American Culture

But no matter who you are, society’s notions about sex need reframing. It's time to break down the barriers and start prioritizing female pleasure. Women deserve to have an orgasm every time they have sex. With the help of THC and CBD based lube and some good old-fashioned foreplay, we can make it happen.

So there you have it, folks. Cannabis might just be the next big thing in the bedroom. But do remember that these studies only surveyed people who already use cannabis, so don't go blaming the ganja if things don't go as planned. And in every circumstance, remember to practice safe sex, because nothing is sexier than consent and being responsible.

Here at Honeysuckle, we want better orgasms for all. Listen to your body and use cannabis wisely, and you might just hit the (O)G spot.

Got questions for Anita Couche about sex and cannabis? Hit us up at @honeysucklemagazine on Instagram or @HoneysuckleMag on Twitter so we can pass your inquiries on!

A version of this article was originally published in Honeysuckle's 16th print edition. Click here to get your copy now!