For most people, sex is an important part of a healthy and happy life. Whether you are someone who just feels something is lacking in your sex life, or you are finding that your libido just isn’t what it used to be, you may want to consider the fact that cannabis products can help you have a healthier sex life. For many years, you may have heard, or even experienced, the tales of intense orgasms and sexual escapades of those who smoked weed. No one ever knew why it felt so good, but it worked so people did it. Now, we understand far more of the science behind the reasons of cannabis. With the legalization of medical marijuana, fewer restrictions on personal amounts of recreational marijuana, and the legalization of cannabidiol (CBD) products, there has been more research geared toward fact-finding and data collection on all the ins and outs of cannabis products. It is imperative that research continues to work toward finding all the ways in which this medicinal plant can be used.

There is much potential in cannabis to help people from all walks of life. The number of products that have been developed so far are just scraping the tip of the iceberg. Data suggests that we’ve only found about 1% of the potential market for these products. In other words, cannabis not only could change modern medicine, it is already.

The Science of Cannabinoids

The human body has many different systems. You learned about most of them in school, but one of these systems is relatively new to science and it is just becoming more clearly understood. This system is called the Endocannabinoid System (ECS). The ECS is a system of receptors located all over the human body. It is made up of lipid-based neurotransmitters that move around the body and bind with these receptors. These lipids are manufactured by your body and they are neurotransmitters. This means that they travel along the neural pathways, along with other transmitters that send messages back and forth. The cannabinoid system, endo means “within”, so the endocannabinoid system is within the body and it makes little neural transmitters that are comprised mostly of lipids – which are fats.

Because the neural pathways are where this process happens, it influences many things that are regulated in the brain or in the nervous system. The ECS, we now know for a fact, is involved in regulating many of the cognitive functions, including fertility, pregnancy, appetite, moods, pain perception, and more is being discovered as this is written.

The ECS was discovered in 1990 and since then, a great deal of research has happened, but far more is yet to come. What is known as fact is that this system produces its own endocannabinoids, 2-AG and anandamide. There is approximately 170 times more 2-AG than anandamide produced. It is thought that 2-AG is the endocannabinoid responsible for moods, metabolism, the health of bones, function of the immune system, sleep and sleep cycles, memory, neuroprotection (keeping the brain’s circuitry intact) and now we can add to the list – sexual pleasure.

There are two types of cannabinoid receptors in the body, CB1 and CB2. It has been learned that 2-AG bonds primarily with the CB2 receptors, which are located all over the body, whereas CB1 are concentrated mostly in the brain. Cannabidiol (CBD) and tetrahydrocannabidiol (THC) are phytocompounds found in cannabis. Phyto means ‘plant’, so the word essentially just means ‘plant compounds’ and there are over 60 phytocompounds in cannabis. The main two that we know about now are CBD and THC. The rest are beginning to get some attention also and with ongoing study we will surely learn even more ways that cannabis can be of essential use to the human body, for health and happiness.

CBD primarily will bond with the CB2 receptors located all over the body. This means that it is the compound that most impacts moods, pain reception, thoughts and moods, and has vast medical uses and potential. THC primarily bonds with the CB1 receptors in the brain and is known as a psychoactive compound. THC is responsible for getting you high. They will both, on occasion, bond with the opposite receptor from which they are most attracted to, but not nearly as likely.

CBD specifically, blocks the enzyme responsible for breaking down anandamide and 2-AG, though mostly anandamide. What that means is that both endocannabinoids stay in your system longer. CBD, it is believed by researchers, could increase the number of endocannabinoids in your body and the density of the receptors – meaning they can produce more.

Sex and Cannabis

All of the research so far seems to support the words of cannabis users over the last two generations, ‘it works’. Cannabis helps to prolong the sensations, deepen the sensations, and heighten the awareness of the body and enhances the total sexual experience. Performance can be improved, when used with some moderation.

A study conducted on mice showed that testosterone dramatically increased from low doses of THC but that it plummeted rapidly after twenty-minutes. This means that moderation is key, and so is timing. All the research so far has led scientists to believe that too much THC usage can hinder the sexual performance of males if used too often and in large doses. Moderation is strongly recommended.

Tips:

• Don’t use too much – No matter your relationship status, or how many people you sleep with, try using extremely small amounts of cannabis for sex to add a new page to your repertoire. Don’t make this a habit though! If you begin to make this your norm, you may become dependent upon it for gratifying sex. It should be an enhancement that you use sometimes, like all other sexual experimentation and products on the market, it just isn’t meant for full-time use.

• Try using a CBD oil – CBD oils have less than .03% THC and CBD has a relaxing effect on your entire body. We all know that sex is so much easier when we are relaxed, care-free and calm. CBD can enhance your mood to help you be more receptive to sex in the first place and this is part of what we all experience as difficult these days. We’re wired all the time. Trying CBD should help you enormously if this describes you, and it won’t have the psychoactive impact on your life. It really is hard to function, work, take care of kids and even drive, when you’re stoned out of your mind on THC. Using CBD products allows you take part in all the benefits, without suffering the failure of a drug test (while it is possible, it is highly unlikely unless you are using extreme amounts of CBD) or being too high to function. In fact, CBD cannot get you high at all. You will feel noticeably calmer and in a better mood, but that isn’t being high.

• Eat right – Stimulating your own ECS is possible by eating plenty of omega fatty oils. Adding good oils to your diet will help stimulate the production of 2-AG, which we know will help enhance those sexual desires, as well as a plethora of other great things that will enhance your life. Your moods can dramatically increase. This reason, alone, is enough for most people. Throwing in the fact that you can get healthier and receive the benefits of better sex is often just the nudge that people need to start incorporating a few better things into their diet. You don’t need to make major changes, and you should never try to do that all at once anyway. Make small changes and make them habits. You will be so much happier and healthier in no time. You’ll never want to go back to the you that you were before.

Now That You Know the Science

You’ve had a short crash-course in cannabis. You will also want to take the time to learn about the many products that are on the market, the different types of CBD and where you can acquire these things. CBD is often thought to be the same as marijuana and for this reason, people are under the misconception that they need a doctor to give them a prescription for it or that it is illegal for them to possess otherwise. This is a falsehood.

In 2017 CBD products were made legal from coast to coast in the United States, except for a few municipalities who really don’t understand much about CBD and want to remain in the dark. CBD contains no THC (trace amounts) and it is a natural product, not chemically enhanced. CBD products are available online and in shops all around the country. A simple search on Google will show you thousands of products and websites where you can obtain CBD products right now.

CBD is safe, and there's even CBD for dogs. Products are made exclusively for dogs that help them with anxiety issues. If you have ever owned a dog with separation anxiety, you’ll know what a help this can be. Dogs also suffer with arthritis pain and pain from previous injury, just like people do. CBD can be a great aid in giving them a better quality of life and you don’t have to worry about side-effects. CBD has also been shown to stop or lessen seizure activity, even in animals. Some dogs can develop epileptic-type seizure activity in old age. CBD has been proven to lower these in number and in impact on their quality of life.

CBD is safe to give to children, with parental supervision. You cannot overdose from CBD, though you can have uncomfortable side-effects if you start with a dose that is too high. Diarrhea, stomach cramps, and headaches are all potential side-effects from taking too much CBD at one time. If you are new to the products, it is advisable to start with a low dose and gradually taper up if you feel it necessary. For those taking CBD to help with pain, for example, it may be necessary to take more on a bad day or to gradually increase the dose until pain is effectively managed.

Some types of products:

Vaping oils – Blends of CBD oil that are designed to be inhaled with vaping pens. You’ll need to invest in a vaping pen, then purchase the oil that is specifically designed for use in this way. Many different flavors are available, and the benefit of vaping is that it will enter your bloodstream rapidly, giving you nearly immediate results. This is particularly useful if you are using CBD for panic attacks and need swift relief.

Capsules

These can be purchased so that you may take a dose of CBD just like a daily vitamin. There’s no taste involved with capsule use, which turns some people off. CBD can have a powerful smell and flavor (caused by the terpenes of the cannabis). If you ever smoked weed, you’ll be a bit shocked at how much CBD oil smells and tastes like weed. Remember, it has no THC though.

Drops

Using the CBD oil directly from the bottle, with a dropper, is the most popular way it is bought. You can add drops directly into a drink, into food, on top of a salad, pair it with another oil and use as a dressing if you like. You are not limited to the foods you can add CBD oil to. Placing drops directly under your tongue is the second fastest way for it to hit your system, as it is absorbed directly into the blood stream via the tiny capillaries under your tongue. There is a cluster of these capillaries that are hidden there and will absorb CBD and have you feeling the effects in about ten to fifteen minutes. If you add it to food, the absorption rate is slowed considerably. You may not feel the effects of CBD for up to two- hours, if you’ve recently eaten. Taking on an empty stomach may yield faster results, but still longer than twenty-minutes.

Topicals

Several products are available that can be used topically, from sprays to CBD creams. Shampoos with CBD infused to help people with dandruff and dry skin conditions that are chronic. People who suffer with psoriasis can use topicals directly on the eruptions and get instant relief from the painful itch that makes this condition so awful to live with. CBD can soften skin and allow the body to absorb omega fatty acids that are so important in fighting free radicals that we know can be cancer contributors.

Pure CBD products

Pure CBD is often in a hard form that looks like rock candy. This substance is said to be the best that you can get but is also at a higher price point. This type of product is highly concentrated due to the purity. You can take less but receive a higher dose. This is recommended for those who are using CBD for cancer or serious chronic conditions who need the maximum benefit that they can achieve. It seems to be utilized more swiftly in the body, due to the purity as well.

CBD edibles

Just like the medical marijuana industry has done, the CBD industry has made CBD capsules, candies, gummies and drinks that are infused with CBD already in them. This may be a great alternative for those who just want a small dose, on an occasion. You’ll know the mg dose that you’re taking because it is packaged to tell you how much is in each serving. For some, this is especially important so they can track their dosage and taper it when needed also. This is also a really great way to dose children. CBD can help with sleep, tooth pain, ADHD symptoms and much more, where children are concerned.

As you can see, CBD has many different forms and they aren’t all listed here, only the most common. CBD is safe and easy to acquire. CBD is legal in most locations around the United States. CBD will not make you high, and it shouldn’t cause you to fail a drug test either. We cannot say its impossible, only that this isn’t likely.

CBD is not a cure for anything. It’s best to think of CBD as a life enhancement. It helps your body to feel better, overcome too many signals of pain, or anxiety, or messages that it should have seizures or be in a bad mood, etc. CBD can make your life better in so many ways, and this includes your sex life. All the above ways can affect your sex life, and then there is the benefit of enhancing the way you feel during sex. Understand that CBD is not a miracle cure, it is a powerful tool for a better life if you are seeking one, however. Do a little research. Learn about the types of products. Learn about full spectrum products versus CBD isolates. This will help you learn which products will fit your lifestyle better, and when using cannabis to enhance your sex life remember that not over-using it is the key.