Does Weed Affect Your Sex Life? The Answer May Surprise You

As more and more states greenlight marijuana, more and more people are discovering it's pretty great. Chill AF? Tons of giggles? All the snacks? Yes please.

But some are concerned about what kind of effects sweet Mary J has on sex. Is it safe to smoke and bang? Are there any long-term, sex-based effects of marijuana use?

According to the experts, here is how weed affects your sex life.

Weed Might Make You Have More Sex

A 2017 study conducted at the Stanford University School of Medicine found that people who smoke weed have more sex than people who don’t — about 20% more, to be specific.

The women in the study who didn't imbibe had sex, on average, six times per month — but women who smoked regularly had sex 7.1 times per month. As for the gentlemen, nonsmokers clocked in 5.6 times a month while imbibers enjoyed 6.9 bangs per month.

Weed Might Lower Testosterone Levels

The Journal of Clinical Pharmacology published a study in 2002 that found that weed was linked to lower testosterone levels in both sexes. Since testosterone is a big component of sexual desire, low levels might cause a decrease in libido and even cause erectile dysfunction.

Dudes, before you toss your stash out the window, remember that this is just one study, and more research needs to be done before drawing formal conclusions.

Marijuana Might Make You Feel Naughty — In a Good Way

A study published in the Archives of Sexual Behavior discovered that the illicitness of weed may make co-smokers feel like partners-in-crime, which can often lead to partnering in a different sense.

This study was conducted before MJ became mainstream, but the logic still stands. For many people, weed still feels naughty even though its technically legal now (in many places). And that naughtiness is an excellent aphrodisiac.

High Sex Begets More High Sex

That same study also found that couples reported desiring more sex while high after the first time they experienced it. Must feel pretty good then!

Weed Decreases Inhibition

There’s been study after study that shows marijuana lowers anxiety of all kinds. A side effect? Reduced inhibition. While inhibition is necessary for not taking your shirt off at the bar, lowered inhibition is great for trying that new sex position you've wanted for ages but have been too shy to ask for.

THAT BEING SAID, this lowered inhibition is also connected to unsafe sex practices. Psychology of Addictive Behaviors linked smoking weed with a lower frequency of condom use and an increased frequency of sexually transmitted infections.

Weed Can Cause Vaginal Dryness

Do you know how you can get super thirsty and feel all cotton-mouthed after smoking? Well, weed can have the same effect on the vagina. Dr. Judy Holland told Vice that some MJ strains cause “drying of the mucous membranes.” So if that one strain leaves your mouth dry, it will also dry you out down south.