Dope Sex

Air travel used to be glamorous. From the 60s to the 80s—the so-called “golden age” of flying—passengers could expect ample leg room, fresh flowers, and even steak carved seat-side by dapper attendants.  

Today, flying is an undignified game of roulette. Will they cancel your departure? Will they lose your luggage? Will this membrane of greasy tinfoil reveal the reheated chicken you were promised, and will it poison you?  

Fortunately, getting high the other way has followed the opposite trajectory. Thanks to the recent legalization of cannabis in Canada and many other jurisdictions, what used to be a dubious transaction behind the high school is now a reliably enjoyable experience. That in-flight chicken may poison you, but your cannabis won’t.  

That’s all good, but what does getting high have to do with getting it on? Plenty, as it turns out. Over the next five sections, We’ll help you understand if, why and how to incorporate cannabis into your sex life so you can fly high without enduring a security pat-down (unless, of course, that’s what you’re into…).  

How does cannabis work? 

The science of getting high (it’s actually interesting, we promise). 

Cannabis might change how—and how often—you have sex.  

The research has only just begun. Here’s what we know so far.  

What’s really going on?  

No, your bed isn’t actually levitating. Here are a few (real) ways that cannabis can enhance sex.  

Will I become dependent on cannabis to have sex?  

Probably not, but here’s what to do if you’re worried about it.  

I’m ready! Where do I start?  

A look at current options for enhancing sex with cannabis.  

 

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• How does cannabis actually work? 

First, let’s sort out the sexy science of getting high. 

Cannabis contains dozens of chemical compounds, but the two that get the most airplay when we’re talking about its effects are THC and CBD.  

THC: Let’s call this the The High as a Kite compound. Yes, I know “Kite” doesn’t start with “C,” but it’s easier to say than cannabinol, and it sort of makes sense because THC is responsible for the psychoactive effects of cannabis. In other words, it’s the part that makes you feel high.  

CBD: Can’t Believe it’s Dope. If THC is the hard-partying rockstar, CBD is its intellectual cousin. It has none of the intoxicating effects of THC; in fact, it can block some of the effects of THC while still delivering the benefits some people want in their weed, like lowered anxiety and heightened pain relief. 

Different strains of cannabis offer THC and CBD in different combinations. A strain with more THC will likely deliver that classic euphoric high; a strain with high CBD, on the other hand, is often preferred by those who have bad experiences while getting high (intense anxiety, paranoia, dizziness) but still want the benefits of cannabis (lowered inflammation, pain relief, improved focus).  

Thanks to science, you can now buy different cannabis strains with precise combinations of THC and CBD to suit your preferences and goals for a particular experience. What a magical life we lead!  

• Cannabis might change how—and how often—you have sex. 

There aren’t many conclusive studies about cannabis and sex because researchers are bound by the same laws as us regular people; while it was illegal, understanding its effects was difficult.  

But now that the law is catching up with changing social attitudes, we’re seeing the first academic studies about cannabis and sex emerge. And what they have to say is giving us high hopes. (Sorry.) 

First, it appears that cannabis can increase sexual frequency. This study from Stanford University, which analyzed more than 50,000 men and women, concludes that those who use marijuana on the regular have sex up to 20% more often than those who don’t.  

The news gets better from there, especially if you’re a woman: this study from the woke folk at Saint Louis University suggests that the majority (68%!) of women who use cannabis before sex say that it makes sex more enjoyable.   

• What’s really going on?

Some experts say that cannabis improves the frequency and pleasure of sex because it reduces the pain that some people feel during intercourse, especially women. Others theorize that getting high before sex is like public speaking to an empty room: you’re still doing the scary thing, but you’re way less hung up on your own performance. Less anxiety means a greater willingness to explore and seek pleasure, leading to a better experience. 

Of course, here’s the giant neon caveat hovering over all this: cannabis is complicated, and your own individual biology is complicated. Put the two together and it’s anyone’s guess what’ll happen, really. We can make generalizations all day long about the effects of THC and CBD on the body, but until you start experimenting for yourself, you can’t know for sure how you’ll react. So whatever you do, start with a low dose and take your time exploring its effects until you find what works best for you.  

• Will my sex life become dependent on cannabis? 

Sex isn’t always easy. In the pressure-cooker of so-called social norms and culturally reinforced expectations, it can sometimes seem like there’s so much to worry about. Am I doing this right? Is the condom still on? What does he want? Does she like that? Can my roommates hear us? Is my body doing that weird thing again? Am I showing enough enthusiasm? … or too much? 

It can all feel a little overwhelming.  

Cannabis can help. For some people, it can help a lot — it can reduce anxiety, discomfort, and distraction during the act, making the whole thing more pleasurable..  

Here’s the thing, though. If you notice that you’re unwilling or unable to have sex without getting high, there may be an underlying cause that you’d do well to address.  

Think of it this way: getting high before sex is, for some people, a bit like taking Advil for a toothache. It can give you enough relief to enjoy your next meal, but until you go to a dentist, you’re not really fixing what’s bothering you—and the problem could get worse.  

So ask yourself what’s really making you feel anxious or uncomfortable, and find ways to gradually change that (communicate with your partner, experiment alone with your own body, etc.). Cannabis should be an enhancement of your pleasure, not a stand-in for it.  

• I’m ready! Where do I start?  

We live in a wonderful world. A world in which cannabis is abundantly available in many different forms. It’s marvelous, but can easily overwhelm if you’re starting from square one. So I’ll leave you with a few suggestions of what to try, and how to try it.  

Remember: start slow, with a low dose, and take your time. Listen to your body.  

Ointments, creams and lubricants 

When you apply a topical cannabis product to super-absorbent areas like the rectum or the vagina, it enters the bloodstream quickly and can intensify your pleasure and your sensitivity to stimulation. 

Best use: Pair it with the Tango by We-Vibe to take advantage of your heightened sensitivity.  

Keep in mind: There’s not a lot of conclusive research about the effects of cannabis ointments on the genitals, so experiment slowly.  

Oils and edibles 

This option is not only discrete, it’s also long-lasting; your high from ingesting cannabis can last up to eight hours, versus only one or two hours from inhaling it.  

Cannabis oil can be ingested either in capsule form or by using the old eyedropper-under-the-tongue method.   

Best use: Because cannabis oil offers a sustained, pleasurable high over many hours, use it to gradually build arousal over the course of a romantic evening. End the night by playing with your favorite couples’ toy, like the We-Vibe Sync.  

Keep in mind: Unlike inhaling cannabis, it can take a little while to feel the effects of THC or CBD after ingesting it. Give yourself plenty of time to assess your experience before taking more, or you may find yourself uncomfortably (or even dangerously) high.  

Smoking and vaping 

We all know what smoking is (and we all know that it can impact your lungs); vaping, which uses a heating method to deliver cannabis vapor to your system (as opposed to combustion), may be a less harmful alternative. Both can deliver the benefits of cannabis within seconds. And thanks to legalization, you can now order precise strains to suit your desired vibe.  

Best use: You’ll feel the effects of cannabis almost immediately after inhaling it, so try incorporating this method into your foreplay for enhanced pleasure in the moment. To get the most from your high, add toys designed to arouse specific areas of your body, like the Wish by We-Vibe. 

Keep in mind: when you inhale cannabis, you’re delivering its compounds (like our old friends, THC and CBD) into your bloodstream via your lungs. One inhalation may be all you need to feel its effects, so it’s best to wait a few minutes after your first hit before taking a second so that you can assess its full effect.  

Conclusion 

The thrill of flying in a 747 may have lost its gleam, but you can still soar to new heights without losing your dignity thanks to legal cannabis.  

As you experiment, remember the rule of “slow and low”: start slowly and keep the dosage low while you get to know your own body and its reaction to THC and CBD. Once you find the winning formula for yourself, your love of sex and your own body’s capacity for pleasure will be higher than ever.  

Editorial note: One of our Instagram followers kindly reminded us that those arrested for cannabis possession often remain incarcerated even once it is legalized, and this incarceration unfairly impacts communities of color. We-Vibe values equality and diversity, and in such we have made a donation to the Southern Poverty Law Center.