THE HIGH GUIDE: SEX & CANNABIS

Written by April Pride

Cannabis is like a sixth sense that heightens the other five – bringing more pleasure to most any activity, for sure. See what happens when you intentionally “just add weed” to a typical daily/weekly/monthly experience. And whether you enjoy sex on the daily (I’ll have what she’s having…), every Friday night or on the 1st and the 15th of each month, mos def “just add weed.”

What do you think about when you hear the word pleasure? Does the word itself please you or does it invoke feelings of guilt and confusion? Much like cannabis has been stigmatized, pleasure has long been associated with shame. Perhaps cannabis can help us get over our puritanical beliefs around pleasure while also amplifying the pleasure we allow ourselves to enjoy.

How are cannabis & sex connected?
First, it’s about the endocannabinoid system, or ECS, the balancing system in our body. For a refresher on the ECS, listen to Episode 1 of How to Do the Pot. After the brain, women’s pelvic regions have the 2nd greatest number of endocannabinoid receptors to cannabis. When phyto-cannabinoids – plant-derived cannabinoids like THC or CBD – activate endocannabinoids – naturally occurring cannabinoids found in (endo) the body – like anandamide (“the bliss molecule”).

Why does cannabis support women’s sexuality?
Basically, cannabis helps amp up what your body already does naturally, but maybe not so easily – due to the many stressors of daily life. Cannabis applied topically to your sex organs is vasodilating. That means it allows blood vessels to open, which leads to an increase in blood flow, self-lubrication and sensitivity – the basis of physical arousal. We recommend starting with topical cannabis – like weed lube – because it will not get you high, since it only stimulates the physical area where you put it.

What is weed lube?
Firstly, every woman should have weed lube in her bedside table. Weed lube is a topical lubricant containing cannabis and coconut oil. Apply it topically with your fingers to the area where you want increased sensitivity, and wait 10-20 minutes to feel the effects. As with any product for your absorptive mucosal membranes (sounds sexy, right?) like the vagina or urethra, quality ingredients really matter. Check the Certificate of Analysis, and we have tips for what to look for here.
But weed lube smells like weed – so you can’t just sneak it into the bedroom. We believe that consent is the most important part of sex and sexuality.

What is different about weed lube with CBD or THC?
CBD lube can be purchased in store and online to freely ship across Canada, and weed lube with THC is only available in licensed cannabis retail stores. Both CBD and THC are vasodilating, but topicals with THC have a stronger or more immediate noticeable effect. If you have any pain with sex, CBD has anti-inflammatory properties that help relax muscle tension.

And what about cannabis suppositories – or weed tampons?
Cannabis suppositories offers all the same benefits of a weed lube – from the inside out…and front to back(side). Once the pelvic floor is relaxed, well, these are the things that stronger orgasms are made of.

How to help you start the conversation with your partner:
What is motivating you to bring cannabis into the bedroom? It will help to know why you’re considering it and be able to communicate that to your partner. Is it because of pain or a pelvic-related condition like endometriosis? Or is it challenging to relax because you can’t stop thinking about the bills, the kids, and the evaporated year of life? Whether you desire stronger, longer orgasms, increased intimacy, or more relaxation, just add weed.

Cannabis strains to amplify your senses:

Cinex
– Energetic body high that melts anxiety
– Inspires focused, creative play
– May interfere with post-coital sleep

Chocolope
– Motivating, energizing
– Dreamy, cerebral effects with euphori
– A good bet for great morning sex

Strawberry Banana
– Sharpens sensory awareness
– Happy, peaceful, mellow high
– Adds pleasure to any sex session

Not into smoking? Not to worry! Take a bath with cannabis-infused bath salts. Feel into your body where you need more love – more pleasure.

Podcasts we recommend to explore getting high & getting it on:

How to Do the Pot, hosted by April Pride. Episode 52 “The High Guide to Sex, Part 1” featuring Antuanette Gomez, the Toronto-based co-founder of sexual wellness company Pleasure Peaks as well as London, Ontario-native Carlen Costa, a clinical sexologist, psychotherapist, cannabis advocate and bestselling author.

Speaking of Sex, hosted by The Pleasure Mechanics. – a weekly podcast w/ candid conversations about sexuality and all that’s possible – in bed.

Dirty Diana, starring & executive produced by Demi Moore. This fictional podcast is the story of a woman escaping her carefully curated life and secretly running an erotic website where women reveal their intimate sexual fantasies.

And to amplify your sexual possibilties, we HIGHLY recommend Dipsea – an app with sexy audio stories (read: AUDIO PORN!) that spark your imagination and get you in the mood. From lessons in deep breathing to episodic stories that explore every shade of sexuality, pipe Dipsea into your headphones for your own audio-induced pleasure or to share and, well…what comes next is up to you.

Seriously, after the year we’ve had, gift yourself a silent disco – in bed. Getting high and listening to sexy stories is both a true expression of modern self-care and perfect for a rebel mama.

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April Pride is co-creator and host of How to Do the Pot. A serial creative entrepreneur, in 2016 April launched Van der Pop, which continues to be recognized for its woman-focused, education-forward content. VdP was acquired in 2018, by Canopy Growth, the world’s largest cannabis company.