Cannabis intimacy oil is one of those key products floating around when it comes to sex, women and cannabis. We’re sold on the great heights these products can take sexual experiences, but we feel that something is amiss.
Maryland’s medical cannabis market seems to lean into the recreational territory sometimes. And companies may push the envelope with their marketing because of this.
So with that in mind, we’ll dive into:
- The reality of what cannabis intimacy oil and how it “works”
- What “highgasms” resolve for the chokeholds of female sexuality
If you’ve been on the fence about trying Curio’s OH or Apothecanna’s Sexy Time Personal Intimacy Oil, get the scoop on what next step you should take here.
Because we’re going deep into what isn’t being discussed with women and sex when it comes to cannabis.
The reality of cannabis intimacy oil
These products are seen as prime methods for improving sexual experiences of women. But in our very diverse world, the truth is that the target market is a certain type of woman. The focus is on cisgendered women in heterosexual relationships.
Cisgendered means that they identify with the gender assigned at birth. So it’s not as inclusive as it could possibly be, regardless of statistics. Patients have a variety of identities—and sexual needs!
That aside, cannabis intimacy oils address the “orgasm gap”: cisgendered women statistically don’t achieve an orgasm at the same rate as their cisgendered male partners. More on that later.
Diving directly into the components of the products, know that they’re not lubricants. It’s just easier to say “weed lube.” What’s actually happening is that when the oil is applied to the vagina, the endocannabinoids there increase blood flow after interacting with THC receptors.
So in a sense, the vagina is feeling a “high”—unless you consume cannabis, it won’t go to your head. Which isn’t the same case for applying the oil to your rectum if you’re into anal sex.
With all that said, the target audience is just people with vaginas.
And sex isn’t limited to vaginal penetration.
What’s really at stake for highgasms?
Cannabis intimacy oils start the conversation on highgasms and fully addressing what hasn’t been happening for female sexuality. And just overall inclusive sexual experiences. It’s both brave and safe because of what it can offer beyond the selling point of an “OH” you never knew before.
As mentioned before, the oils won’t create a psychoactive effect when applied to the vagina. But as Dr. Jordan Tischler, Harvard M.D. told Leafly,
“Topicals are very “in” at the moment for sex with cannabis. I’m less sold on this as it takes a while to kick in (who wants to wait?) and also only really affects the genitals. Since most of [our sexuality] occurs ‘above the neck,’ topical cannabis misses the really important sexual organ, the brain.”
This opens up the can of worms about why women in heterosexual relationships are seeking out these options.
There’s no disputing that cannabis makes sex great.
But diving into sexology, female sexuality is treated with a similar stigma to cannabis despite research and education showing otherwise.
According to the work of Rosemary Basson, (cisgendered) women crave variety in partners as much, if not more than men. And our type of desire triggers have more breadth than men.
If anything, we’ve been socialized to inhibit our sexuality—and intimacy oils are bringing us back. Expectations are low for our pleasurable experiences and climaxes. And we’re taught to just “go along” instead of being active participants.
Which also highlights the lack of consent in the marketing language for these products.
Takeaways
Closing the orgasm gap and increasing women’s pleasure and desire when it comes to sex is a great empowering aim for the cannabis industry.
But we need to keep the spotlight on WHY these products are even necessary and what more needs to happen for patients with vaginas.
Companies creating cannabis intimacy oils and marketing them with women in mind are off to a strong start. But that’s what it is: a start. The lifespan of the products ought to be opportunity to educate about the reality of modern sex and push beyond the confines of mainstream understandings of sexuality.
Tell us what your experiences are on female sexuality and cannabis intimacy oil products like Curio’s OH and Apothecanna’s Sexy Time and Foria’s Awaken (hemp-derived CBD).
