Does a low dosage of marijuana help libido?

Cannabis is known to relax, unwind and make life more enjoyable – in the right amounts. Data results indicate that both men and women felt that cannabis use increased their sexual functioning and satisfaction, particularly increasing desire and orgasm intensity. The modern medical community recognizes the importance of libido as one of the key indicators of overall health and quality of life, and if a little weed could help….

“Several studies have examined the effects of marijuana on libido, and it appears that changes in desire may be dose-dependent,” the review authors explain. “Studies show that lower doses increase cravings, but higher doses either decrease cravings or do not affect cravings at all.”

The review examined 20 different studies published between 1970 and 2019. “We used the following search terms: 'cannabinoids', 'endocannabinoids', 'marijuana', 'cannabis' and 'female sexual function' or 'sexual function',” we explain the authors.

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The studies analyzed include 8 studies with animals and 12 with human participants. The animal studies showed that THC had an impact on the libido of female hamsters. If they consumed THC, they were more likely to mate. The research also found that female hamsters who consumed too much THC were not as receptive to sex as those who consumed lower doses.

As far as human studies are concerned, we still lack studies with human subjects, so most answers were obtained from questionnaires. Overall, women were more likely to report feeling aroused when using marijuana. A 1974 study found that 57.8 percent of female college students had a higher sex drive due to cannabis. Only 39.9 of the male participants said the same. According to another study, women who used cannabis before sex were more likely to have a pleasurable orgasm than women who didn't.

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While the exact role of marijuana in sex is still unknown, reviews like this are important to re-contextualize the information we have and provide researchers with guidance for future studies. More and more data suggests that cannabis has a positive impact on sex, especially when it comes to women.