How marijuana affects your sex life
Christina Campbell, MSW, RSW, Sexologist
Cannabis is by far the most commonly used drug in the world,
according to the latest Global Drug Survey, and it is also the
most frequently abused drug worldwide according to the
National Survey on Drug Use and Health. Smoking marijuana
is the most common way of use reported by the National
Institute on Drug Abuse.
When someone smokes marijuana, its active ingredient, THC
(tetrahydrocannabinol), travels to the lungs before entering
your bloodstream. Once in your blood, it travels to your brain
and other organs (i.e., heart, tissues, etc.). Drinking or eating
marijuana can delay the effects of THC. But, once it bonds
with your brain’s neural receptors you become “high.”
THC can also affect the sections of your brain that control
memory, thinking, concentration, focus and coordination.
When this happens, it can trigger unpleasant side effects such
as distorted thinking, delayed learning, lethargy, increased
appetite, low inhibitions, hallucinations, distorted perception,
clumsiness and memory loss. While these side effects are
normally temporary, they can still lead to unsafe consequences
especially if you drive while under the influence.
The relationship between marijuana and sexual activity is still
unclear however, an internet search pulls up ample claims that
marijuana can improve your sexual experience.
Some people swear it enhances sex, while others claim it
interferes with their performance including, in some cases,
a worsening of sexual dysfunctions and too often can lead
to some unpleasant side effects, according to Marriage and
Family therapist, Dr. R.Y. Langham.
Sun & Eisenberg (2017), studied a relationship between
marijuana use and sexual frequency and function in 30-year-
old men and women in the U.S., from 2002-2015. They found
that both male and female marijuana users had better sex at
higher rates than their non-using counterparts.
On the other hand, Koff (2010) studied the relationship
between marijuana and sexual activity. His study suggested
that smoking large amounts of marijuana on a regular basis can
do more harm than good to your sex life.
What is clear is that more research is needed on the effects
of marijuana on sexual activity. Because marijuana may
interfere with sexual function in some people, it’s important
to understand the potential benefits and risks of the use of the
drug in this area.
Resources:
https://www.theglobeandmail.com/cannabis/article-can-
cannabis-contribute-to-improving-womens-sex-lives/
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/
S1743609517314170
https://www.statista.com/chart/9566/prevalence-of-drug-use-
worldwide-in-2016/
https://www.verywellmind.com/drug-use-4157311
https://psychcentral.com/blog/could-marijuana-contribute-to-
sexual-dysfunction/
https://www.livescience.com/24558-marijuana-effects.html
https://www.healthcentral.com/article/marijuana-sexual-
dysfunction-what-you-should-know
https://drrylangham.webs.com/
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/
abs/10.1080/00224497409550850
https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/drugs-
medication/cannabis/about.html?utm_source=google&utm_
medium=cpc_en&utm_content=thc_2&utm_
campaign=cannabis-18
https://www.psychologytoday.com/ca/blog/all-about-
sex/201808/the-largest-best-studies-yet-sex-and-
marijuana?amp
https://www.jsm.jsexmed.org/article/S1743-6095(16)30726-3/
abstract
People aged 18 to 35
are experiencing more
mental health issues
than any other age group Les personnes âgées de 18 à 35 ans
éprouvent plus de
problèmes de santé mentale
que tout autre groupe d’âge
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