Cannabis Lubricants Promise More Pleasure, But No Scientific Proof

Vibrators for clitoral suction, dildos of different sizes and discreet bullets. In sex, a multitude of accessories have the sole purpose of increasing pleasure. Even a cannabis-based lube.

Cannabis has been researched for medicinal uses for a few years, such as for the treatment of epilepsy and even Covid-19. A use that has been gaining ground is in sex, but still without scientific evidence of efficacy and safety, nor with regulations for this purpose in Brazil.

In the United States, for example, there is Foria, a company that already has several cannabis-derived products in its portfolio. The customer can buy lubricants, massage oils and even suppositories.

In Brazil, marijuana is still prohibited for recreational use. Brazilian women, however, have some options. One of them is Xapa Xana, a plant-based lubricant that seeks to facilitate orgasm and can be purchased online.

Founder of the initiative, Débora Melo, 45, says that the standards imposed by society contribute to women having recurring problems with their sexuality. “They end up forgetting about themselves, about seeking their own pleasure.”

In fact, a pleasurable sex life depends on several factors, explains Silvana Chedid, a gynecologist at Hospital Sírio Libanês in São Paulo. Libido, for example, is influenced by hormones such as estrogen and testosterone, and the menstrual cycle also plays a role in sexual desire, as “after ovulation, progesterone is produced, which has a negative effect on libido.”

The Magic of the Clitoris (and Marijuana)

In addition to sexual desire, orgasm is essential for pleasurable sex. For women, reaching the height of pleasure primarily involves clitoral stimulation. Chedid says that it is very difficult for a woman to reach orgasm through vaginal penetration alone.

This is why there is a misconception that orgasm in women takes longer, as the erection of the penis can be faster. But Chedid points out that this is not a rule.

“There are women who manage to reach orgasm faster and there are men who have greater difficulty in maintaining an erection and therefore end up taking longer to have an orgasm”, he says.

Because of its importance for sex in women, it is on the clitoris that cannabis-based lubricants are usually applied, as is the home of Xapa Xana. Before inventing it, however, Débora was not very excited about the idea.

It all started when she met a homemade marijuana lube in São Paulo. But the attention was not so much. Débora worked with art and thought that the idea of ​​embarking on the production of a sexual lubricant did not make sense.

It was only when she moved to Uruguay, where recreational use of the plant is already allowed, that things changed. Her new stay coincided with the harvest season, and at the home of a person she visited, she had a very large marijuana plant.

From then on, Débora studied the products marketed by Foria, an inspiration for her, and understood in more detail how cannabis could be used in her lubricant.

The product basically emerged from attempts she made with friends: they used and passed feedback. That is, the product has not undergone scientific tests that prove its safety and effectiveness.

Between comings and goings, the final lubricant was prepared and Débora was concerned with making a visual concept. With vibrant colors and illustrations that evoke female sexuality, Xapa Xana has a visual identity, as in fanzines that accompany each lubricant.

With sales increasing, stories of women who had benefits came in. One example was a young American woman who was 25 years old but had never had an orgasm in her life. Débora met her during a trip to California and gave her a copy of Xapa Xana.

“She used it with a person […] and had her first orgasm. She was very blown away,” she says.

Other reports that marked the founder of the lubricant in these years were from older women who used the product during menopause — the moment can be marked by a decrease in libido. “These women come to thank me”, completes Débora.

Another case was that of Thais Carol Sfeir, 30. It was out of curiosity and in favor of the decriminalization of marijuana that she became interested in testing a lubricant composed of the plant. According to her, the subject was also on the rise in mid-2019, when she experienced it.

Before using, Thais researched some lubricant options and opted for one that claimed to be 100% natural. “I wasn’t afraid because it was a natural thing. I was pretty sure of it,” he says.

This product is not the same as Xapa Xana and was purchased by her on Instagram. Thais did not want to reveal the brand since recreational use is not yet regulated in Brazil.

In the end, the experience for Thais was positive. According to her, the sensitivity to touch increased with the product. On penetration, she also felt a heightened sensitivity. “You can orgasm a lot faster,” she says.

But will it?

While there are reports of women experiencing improvements in their sex lives, the use of cannabis for sexual purposes is uncertain.

One of the most researched compounds in marijuana is CBD (cannabidiol). Chedid, a gynecologist at Sírio Libanês, explains that the studies carried out on the substance for sexual use are very recent and therefore there are still no certainties about its efficacy and safety. The gynecologist, even so, has an optimistic view.

“I see these works very positively and I believe that with more experiments we will be able to show the benefit of CBD for sexual dysfunctions”, he says.

Even so, it is still important to have caveats. Chedid explains that it is always necessary to have medical monitoring and also not to use products without a reliable source.

“The secret of cannabis medicine is that the dose of CBD is individualized for each patient and only medical monitoring can achieve this”, he says. In the case of lubricants sold illegally in Brazil, the dose is the same for everyone.

In addition, resorting to products to have a better sex life, whether derived from any substance, is not always the way to go. Sex is an act that depends on several factors.

“There are women who are upset with their partner, they can close themselves off, and there is nothing wrong from the clinical point of view. They can become less receptive to the sexual act and have more difficulty in getting aroused”, exemplifies Chedid.

In such cases, you may just need some time. Or maybe make the other part of your relationship more dedicated during sex. In the end, it’s all good—and who knows, soon the orgasm will come.