Recent research published in Journal of Sex Research This provides evidence that young people often use cannabis during sex to increase pleasure, reduce anxiety, and cope with societal expectations regarding gender. This finding suggests that conversations about the combination of sex and cannabis need to move beyond focusing solely on risks and recognize the role of relaxation and sexual well-being.
“Despite being the second most commonly used substance after alcohol during sex, cannabis has received little attention in research and remains taboo in broader conversations about sexuality. Additionally, existing research on the subject tends to focus primarily on risks and negative outcomes, often overlooking the important role that pleasure can play in young people’s sexual experiences and motivations for sex under the influence of cannabis,” said study author Mael Lefebvre, a doctoral student at Des Deux University. Sherbrooke conducted the study at the University of Quebec in Montreal.
“Furthermore, few studies have investigated how these experiences are shaped by gender norms and expectations, which can influence how people navigate intimate relationships and drug use. Therefore, by centering the role of pleasure and gender in shaping motivations for sex under the influence of cannabis, we aimed to better understand the full range of these experiences and, hopefully, better inform sexual health promotion efforts and services.”
To gather detailed perspectives, Lefebvre and colleagues conducted semi-structured interviews with 27 young people in Quebec, Canada. All participants were between 18 and 24 years old and reported using cannabis in a sexual context with a partner at least once in the past year. The sample included a diverse mix of gender identities, including cisgender men and women, transgender men, and nonbinary, agender, and queer individuals.
At the beginning of the process, participants completed a demographic questionnaire and standardized screening tests to measure general levels of drug involvement. The scientists then guided the interviews using a flexible set of questions designed to explore specific sexual experiences and the risks and benefits of cannabis use. Interviews lasted between 60 and 150 minutes, and participants were free to talk about their intimate lives in French or English.
Based on a theoretical model that views gender as a social construct, the researchers analyzed the interview transcripts to identify recurring themes. This model posits that society’s expectations about gender influence how people think about themselves, how they interact with their partners, and how they behave in intimate settings. The analysis revealed three main categories of motivations for using cannabis during sex.
The first major theme focused on enhancing and transforming the sexual experience itself. Participants frequently reported that cannabis enhanced their physical sensations, making ordinary touch feel very pleasurable. Many noted that the substance helped them develop a deeper emotional connection with their partner, often describing the experience as a shared bubble of intimacy.
Cannabis also appears to improve sexual function and self-confidence, but these effects vary by gender. Cisgender men often used this substance to boost their energy and help meet society’s expectations of male sexual performance and dominance. Transgender men, on the other hand, sometimes relied on the drug to stimulate spontaneous sexual desire, allowing them to feel ready for sex without thinking too much about the process.
The second major theme concerned using cannabis to facilitate sex by breaking down mental and emotional barriers. For many participants, cannabis served as a tool to relieve anxiety and stress associated with sexual activity. Cisgender women in particular report using cannabis to calm intrusive worries about daily life and to avoid overthinking during intimate relationships.
This calming effect also helped participants manage deep-seated anxiety about their bodies. Women often use cannabis to feel less self-conscious about their appearance, allowing them to focus on pleasure rather than worrying about looking attractive to their partner. For transgender people, cannabis has sometimes alleviated gender dysphoria, the severe feeling of distress that occurs when a person’s body does not match their internal gender identity.
In some cases, cannabis helped participants tolerate sexual experiences they weren’t fully into. Some people used the substance to detach emotionally from sex, out of a sense of obligation to please their partner. People with a history of trauma or involved in sex work also reported using cannabis to mentally distance themselves from physical acts.
The third theme focused on how situational and incidental factors drive cannabis use during sex. For the average consumer, the combination of cannabis and sex was not necessarily a calculated decision aimed at altering the sexual experience. In many cases, cannabis was simply part of their daily life and social environment.
Many participants used this substance daily, so they were understandably under the influence when voluntary sexual contact occurred. Over time, some people developed a conditioned reflex in which the act of ingesting cannabis automatically triggered sexual arousal. In this situation, the association of drugs and sex has become a habit rather than a specific strategy at this time.
Although these findings highlight the active and intentional use of cannabis, scientists caution against interpreting the substance as a universal treatment for sexual difficulties. Relying heavily on cannabis to hide trauma, manage body image issues, or endure unwanted sex can prevent individuals from seeking healthier, long-term solutions. Professionals in the sexual health field should consider offering treatments that address the root causes of these anxieties without judging how patients cope.
This study also presents some limitations that need to be considered. Participants were a convenience sample of individuals who were comfortable talking openly about their drug use and sexual habits. People who feel ashamed of their drug use or sexual behavior may have a different perspective that is not reflected in these findings.
“The key point is that when you use cannabis during sex, the goal is often pleasure,” Lefebvre told SciPost. “It can play a role in making sex more pleasurable in a variety of ways, including strengthening connections, reducing anxiety, helping people feel more present, improving body image, and overcoming gender norms.”
“These experiences are not simply about individual choices; they are embedded in social dynamics and gendered expectations. Overall, this suggests that conversations about sex and drug use should go beyond focusing solely on risks and negative experiences (although these are still important to consider) and take pleasure and well-being into account.”
The study, “‘It’s a Beautiful Feeling’: Exploring the physical, psychological, and gender-based motivations for sex under the influence of cannabis among young people,” was authored by Maël Lefebvre, Mathieu Goyette, Adele Morvanneux, Kira London-Nadeau, Marianne Saint-Jacques, and Olivier Ferlat.
