Sex, drugs, and rock and roll
On Oct. 17, the legalization of cannabis took effect. Research on the impact of cannabis on sexual activity is limited, and more will need to be done now that Canadians are able to legally use cannabis.
Of the few studies that have been done on the impact of cannabis on sexual activity, the main message is: it varies. Researchers at the University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB) note that not everyone has the same reaction to cannabis and that people’s reactions can change from one use to the next.
Researchers Andrew Sun and Michael Eisenberg recently found that people who use cannabis more often have more sex, but there are many other factors as to why this might be. It could be that personality plays a role, in that there may be a personality trait that influences both sexual activity and cannabis use.
Researchers from Saint Louis University asked females if they had ever used cannabis before engaging in sex and what the impact on their pleasure, sex drive, orgasm, and lubrication was. About one third of females had used cannabis before sex. One quarter of those females did not know what impact cannabis had on their sexual interactions.
Most females in the Saint Louis University study saw an increase in pleasure, sex drive, and pleasure in orgasm. While few saw a decrease in these areas, many females (up to 26 per cent) saw no change at all. One issue related to cannabis use before sex for females may be a lack of lubrication. The results showed that 17 per cent of females experienced a decrease in their lubrication.
Lubrication may not be the only issue with cannabis use. A study out of Australia by Anthony Smith and his colleagues found that cannabis use is sometimes associated with problems regarding orgasm, including the inability to reach it, or either reaching orgasm too quickly or too slowly.
This finding was replicated in a study done by Andrew Hathaway, an associate professor at the University of Guelph, involving participants from Toronto. Hathaway found that 23 per cent of people had experienced inability to reach orgasm while under the influence of cannabis and 15 per cent of people attributed this phenomenon to their cannabis use.
Hathaway also found that only 26 per cent of people felt that cannabis made them feel aroused while 29 per cent of people experienced a lack of sexual interest when under the influence of cannabis.
Being under the influence of cannabis during sexual activity often impacts the length of the sexual activity. Hathaway found that 66 per cent of participants had experienced prolonged sex at least once. Experts at UCSB note that this is likely an illusion as cannabis distorts the user’s perception of time.
There are some consequences of using cannabis before sexual activity. Some studies find that those who use cannabis before sex are more likely to take sexual risks, such as foregoing protection, which can lead to the contraction of STIs and unwanted pregnancies.
Tina Gunderson and colleagues found that smoking cannabis impacts sperm. Smoking cannabis once a week can result in a 29 per cent decrease in men’s sperm count. Not only does cannabis affect the quantity of sperm, but it can also negatively impact the quality of sperm.
Last but not least, being intoxicated impacts your ability to give and understand consent.
As cannabis is made legal in Canada, it is important to consider both the benefits and risks of being under the influence during sexual activity.
Illustration by Cara Aitchison