Why Does Weed Make You Horny?

For some people it could be flirting, sexting or PornHub.
For others, it’s candles, sexy music, lingerie, strawberries, and champagne.

And…don’t forget the weed.

The key stimuli aren’t the same for everyone, but we all have “horniness triggers” that are likely to get us into the mood for sex.

A simple text message or burning candle isn’t enough to get our motor revving, of course. The arousal process has to do with the way the brain processes those stimuli and the body’s subsequent responses. Our individual experiences, memories, and even genetics determine those triggers and how we react to them.

Some stimuli, though, are more likely than others to make people horny, because they’re able to physically affect the libido.

As it turns out, weed is one of them.

The Factors That Affect Sex Drive

A person’s libido, or desire for sex, is a product of social, biological, and physical factors. It’s a complicated mix, and experts have theorized about it and studied it for centuries.

Here’s what’s important for our purposes, though. The mesolimbic pathway, the part of the brain that regulates many cognitive processes, is intimately involved.

More specifically, neurotransmitters and hormones like dopamine, serotonin, norepinephrine, anandamide, oxytocin, testosterone, and estrogen, interact in this part of the brain to affect the human sex drive.

Increased levels of dopamine, for example, boost sexual desire and contribute to sexual arousal. Serotonin may either increase or inhibit arousal. Sex hormones like testosterone and estrogen, needless to say, have enormous effects on sex drive.

What does that have to do with weed? A lot.

The Brain, Hormones, and Cannabis

The psychoactive cannabinoid THC delivers the majority of its effects by interacting with the body’s endocannabinoid system (ECS), a network of receptors and neurotransmitters that controls and regulates an enormous number of bodily functions.

Once in the body, THC does its work by binding to ECS receptors. It’s able to do that because its molecular structure is almost identical to several ECS neurotransmitters, like anandamide.

There are a large number of ECS receptors in the brain, which is why THC can have such a huge effect on the way the brain functions when users are high.

More specifically, there are large numbers of ECS receptors in the mesolimbic pathway, in the areas of the brain where hormones like dopamine and serotonin are produced, and in the regions where the production of sex hormones like testosterone and estrogen is regulated.

So it’s not surprising that smoking weed might greatly affect the physiological mechanisms that cause humans to get horny.

Weed and Its Effects on Sex Drive

There haven’t been many studies directly measuring the effect of cannabis on sexual desire. One animal study is interesting, though. It found that THC caused female rats and hamsters to assume the “lordosis” position; which means they arched their backs to indicate that they were receptive to sex.

But let’s move on to humans and discuss one of the most often researched effects of cannabis: it causes an increase in the body’s release of dopamine. That’s the so-called “feel-good hormone” that not only makes us feel happy but motivates behavior that would increase happiness.

As we’ve mentioned, it’s been shown that higher levels of dopamine can boost both sexual desire and arousal. Add to that the fact that people are simply more likely to feel horny when they’re feeling happy (which was confirmed by one research study), and you have one explanation for why weed can get your motor running at a higher speed.

There’s less evidence of THC’s effect on other neurotransmitters and hormones that can affect libido, although studies have shown that it may have a negative effect on male sexual performance. One study specifically linked weed use to erectile dysfunction, and others have shown a relationship between cannabis use and reduced fertility.

Not all men feel that smoking up hurts their sexual performance, though. A survey by the International Society for Sexual Medicine found that while some respondents did report issues after weed use, many others said it lowered performance anxiety and provided them with greater enjoyment.

There’s no question that you’re more likely to feel sexual desire if you don’t feel anxious about sexual activity. That’s just one of the reasons that surveys of cannabis users support the long-standing belief that weed may make you feel hornier.

Weed Users and Libido

There is no conclusive scientific evidence allowing experts to say that weed unquestionably boosts libido. There have been a number of surveys conducted on the subject, though.

One project asked Canadian respondents if they felt hornier after smoking (actually, they put the question in more scientific terms). In the first round of questioning, 25% said “always or often,” and 40% said “sometimes.” In the second round, the respondents split about 50-50 between “yes” and “no.”

Another study surveyed female weed smokers’ sexual responses and found that, after smoking, most experienced higher libido, better orgasms, and less pain during sex.

A much larger survey of Americans didn’t ask specifically about sex drive but did find that, in a nutshell, cannabis users had more sex. That doesn’t tell us that weed made them hornier, but it’s pretty easy to guess that they didn’t feel less horny.

Other Reasons Weed Could Make You Feel Horny

The psychoactive effects of weed may also play a role in increasing libido. Most users know from experience that their senses and sensations can be heightened when they’re high. That would make them more sensitive to verbal and non-verbal cues from potential partners and their environment, and more likely to get horny.

We’ve already mentioned the well-known ability of cannabis to relieve anxiety; many medical patients use it for that exact reason. Reduced stress and anxiety will, needless to say, make people more desirous of sexual activity.

Finally, even those who aren’t stressed or anxious usually feel more relaxed after they’ve smoked a bowl — and that can only help create an atmosphere in which sexual arousal is more likely to occur.

Why Does Weed Make You Hornier: FAQ

Q: Are there specific types or strains of weed that are likely to make you hornier?
A: The best may be the ones that are best at relieving anxiety. Perhaps surprisingly, choosing a strain with bountiful amounts of terpenes like limonene and linalool may be more important than choosing based on whether it’s an Indica or Sativa. Some of the strains often recommended for boosting libido include Green Crack, Trainwreck, Mimosa, and L.A. Confidential.

Q: When I smoke, I’m more interested in sleeping than sex. Why is that?
A: It may have to do with the type of weed you’re smoking; try an energetic Sativa if you’ve been using a sedating indica. It may also be that you’re one of the many people who simply don’t get hornier when they use weed; everyone’s different, and the explanation could be as simple as that.

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