Does Weed Make Us Sexier? Science And Experts Explain How Cannabis Influences Sex Appeal

By Hernán Panessi via El Planteo

There is a feeling in the air that is the result of a positive bias: cannabis makes us "sexier." No one confirmed it completely and, nevertheless, due to some emotional springs of self-perception or due to mere cannabis culture, something happens. Sometimes for the better and other times, well, not so much.

If cannabis combustion endows us with qualities that we know are absent, scientific truths are neither conclusive nor affirmative. Now you see it and now you don't, now you're sexy and now you're not.

For example, there are instances in which what has to happen happens: inexplicably, a cannabis cigarette provides some confidence. Like Popeye with his spinach, cannabis inflates us with certainties.

Studies & Data

Meme culture tends to synthesize and compress ideas in a practical, agile, and concrete way. There is a meme in which, in the first frame, someone lights a cannabis cigarette. The text reads: "Get's medical marijuana for anxiety." In the second frame, they have red eyes and a puzzled face; the text reads "has a panic attack."

Let's look at the data. There is a study on sexuality and cannabis conducted by Stanford University, published in the Journal of Sexual Medicine, in which data from surveys conducted on more than 50,000 Americans between the ages of 24 and 45 was analyzed, in different periods between 2002 and 2015.

The results of the data analysis showed that women who smoke daily had sexual intercourse an average of 7 times more in the last four weeks, compared to 6 times for those who denied having used cannabis in the previous year.

And among men? The relationship is 7 against 5. Here we are not talking about the quality of the experience, but quantity. Although, it could be assumed that if they have more sex it is because they are enjoying it, right?

"(...) I could say that these surveys are quite biased and are not enough to say that 'marijuana positively enhances the sexual experience' because those who answer these surveys are, generally, those who know that 'it suits them well,'" says Martín Rieznik, author of the book The Science of Seduction, speaker at TEDx with his talk "Seduce to be happy" and head of LevantArte, the first company dedicated to the study and dissemination of scientific knowledge on seduction.

And he continues: “Imagine that we do a survey asking those who eat sushi. ‘Does eating sushi make you happy?’ Of course most would say yes, which is not enough to say ‘eating sushi brings happiness according to science’, Does what I say make sense?

Seduction and Its Variants

In addition to particular flashes and singular chemistry, there are no scientific studies that answer the question by itself: 'Does cannabis make us sexier?'

The voice of formal science, in the mouth of Damián Cantaloube, doctor in medicine and specialist in endocannabinology, is added: “Regarding seduction, it is a complex issue that involves social, emotional, and psychological aspects.”

There is no self-perception of sexiness without a seduction game. There are no captivating gestures without peculiar circumstances. Everyone has a trip in their head, it's hard to agree.

“Some people may find confidence, a sense of humor, or empathy attractive, while others may value other attributes,” Cantaloube adds, who is also the founder of INDECAN, an organization dedicated to research and development in endocannabinology.

Causes and Effects

Taking a close look, for a string of more or less evident reasons, it is difficult to establish a precise relationship between cannabis and self-esteem (or the self-perception of sensuality) mainly for three reasons: the effects of cannabis vary from person to person, the varieties of the plants and their psychoactive effects, and the doses administered.

“One thing that I find very interesting about the relationship between marijuana and self-esteem is how different the effect can be, even in the same person,” explains Rieznik, also the director of Una historia de la prohibición, a documentary dedicated to narrating the main milestones of the war on drugs.

And he elaborates: “Talking with friends about the topic, we all agree that, sometimes, smoking enhances connection, relaxation, and enjoyment in encounters with others, but at times, it generates the opposite: inhibition, insecurity, difficulty in expressing oneself, nervousness, and paranoia.”

Along the same lines, Cantaloube ensures that “cannabis can have different effects on each person, and some users may feel that it helps them relax or release inhibitions, which could be related to the perception of feeling 'sexier.'”

However, to avoid generalizations, he takes an even-handed view: “These effects can vary widely, and not all individuals will experience an increase in their personal attractiveness due to cannabis consumption.”

Danger! Be Careful Here

To understand these dynamics, it is necessary to mention that the cannabis plant contains at least 550 active chemical compounds, and the cannabis commonly consumed contains high levels of THC. In other words, a psychotropic substance.

“In most people, THC stimulates alertness (autonomic nervous system) and, in fact, chronic consumption can generate anxiety and a direct effect on that system,” explains Cantaloube.

With that data in mind, it can be deduced that the answer to the question (so, does marijuana make us "sexier"?) depends on the effect it generates in each individual.

“If cannabis consumption is habitual for both individuals on a date and both consume cannabis, this will help coordinate their hinges and thus favor empathy, and we will see the other person 'sexier',” Cantaloube explains. “Now, if one of the individuals does not consume cannabis regularly, we can induce anxiety and lose the coordination of the hinges, thus reducing the connection.”

Yes, No: What About Marijuana and "Sexy"?

In an essay published in 1971 in the book Reconsidering Marijuana, astronomer Carl Sagan, one of the most recognized scientists of our era and a confessed cannabis consumer, wrote under the pseudonym “Mr. X” that “cannabis enhances the enjoyment of sex” and “gives exquisite sensitivity.”

Without being perception aces, we can infer that marijuana made him feel sexier. Carl Sagan, the one from Cosmos. Have you ever thought about Carl Sagan having sex? Well, now you did. Let's move on.

One moment: what do those who work every day to "look sexy" think about it? Cuchi Laino, an onlyfans content creator, and seduction expert responds (and surprises): “I don't think it makes me sexier. I do really like photos and videos with smoke. I find that sexy. But I don't know if the act of smoking is sexy.”

Okay, okay, anything else? We're taking notes. “Yes, in fact, I don't like the smell that lingers. I mean, I love the smell of marijuana. But the smell that stays on clothes and fingers, no, I don't like it. So, I wouldn't say it's sexy. And let's be honest: the smell that lingers on clothes is not very sexy either.”

In reality, it's all about self-awareness, context, experiences, companies, and limits.

“Marijuana expands your senses and, in a way, makes you more vulnerable. You feel more, and that can be great if you're in a pleasant environment and in good company. And it can be a source of insecurity and paranoia in a hostile and inadequate environment,” Rieznik stirs.

So, the expert in seduction is convinced that “conscious consumption is the key to a healthy relationship with these substances, and it's always good to ask yourself before getting into anything, 'Why am I going to do it?' 'For what?' 'With whom?' Everything in life is better in balance and with awareness.”

There, Laino folds: “Regarding smoking and its relationship with self-esteem, for example, I don't smoke with people I don't know or with people I'm just getting to know. It makes me nervous and more anxious. In other words, it's something I use for personal consumption, for my creativity, to feel more relaxed. But I don't know if I would recommend a joint to boost self-esteem because I don't know if that's what happens, at least not to me. In fact, it can work against you, depending on who you're with.”

What Miracles Do We Ask of Cannabis?

In summary, according to Cantaloube, “cannabis can have both positive and negative effects on sexual behaviors, but these effects can vary from person to person and their brain chemistry.”

If studies suggest that consumption can have positive effects on sexual desire and arousal for some, it is noted that results may vary for others.

If there is a side A, there is a side B: reversals, virtues, and downsides.

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