Marijuana and sex

Originally Published: April 5, 1996 - Last Updated / Reviewed On: August 27, 2012
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Dear Alice,

Does the use of marijuana affect a person's sexual performance?

Dear Reader,

Whether it's sex, socializing, or skydiving, marijuana's affect on performance can vary. Pot is in a drug class by itself — neither considered a stimulant, nor a depressant, because its effects are in large part determined by the expectations of its users. If you anticipate or hope for a mellow, ride-with-the-tide, go-with-the-flow result from lighting up, that is probably what you will get. If a giggle-fest is your goal, then your tokes may well tickle your fancy. By the same token, marijuana, alcohol, and other drugs can also amplify one's pre-existing personality traits: paranoia; fearfulness; gregariousness; anxiety; aggressiveness, etc. And, these factors don't jump out the window when you jump into bed.

Aside from the variety of possible reactions, certain effects of pot use remain consistent. Smoking up impairs both coordination and judgment, much in the same way that alcohol use does. So, making safe and comfortable decisions about sexual behavior might be difficult, and interactions might be filled with a lot of fumbling. Let's face it: sex can take a lot of coordination, even while completely sober!


One last note: long-term use of marijuana does seem to affect reproductive health. Marijuana can impact testosterone production and other hormones. This can in turn can affect fertility, erectile dysfunction, menstruation, and other areas. Also, heavy, long-term marijuana use can either cause or contribute to low motivation and sex drive — for sure not on any pot smoker's wish list.