The History Of Cannabis And Sex

Cannabis has been used by many cultures for thousands of years in conjunction with sex. Today’s scientists are eager to add “aphrodisiac” to cannabis’ many health benefits, but the results are inconclusive. Vancouver Island-based sex therapist Kim Switnicki suggests that the intentions set while using cannabis have a lot to do with whether it makes sex better.

“If it works, great! But is it really causation? Is it any different than other intentions, like looking someone in the eye,” she asked. “If you’re vaping to have better sex, you’ve set an intention.”

She argues that the same logic applies to ancient times, when drugs and herbs were used in ceremonial rituals that often culminated in sex. In other words, maybe there was something in the substances themselves, but the ritual aspect is similar to setting an intention.

Cannabis and sex have been intertwined for centuries. Across cultures, people have used cannabis in connection with sexual activity as part of religious ceremonies or simply to enhance pleasure. Today, many people continue to enjoy the benefits of combining cannabis and sex.

Ancient Rome

The Greek god Priapus was influential in Roman religion, according to David Hillman’s 2014 book Seeking the Sacred with Psychoactive Substances. To receive the prophetic words of a devoted Priapus priestess, men had to undergo a purification process using a drug concoction called satyrion. This mixture of snake venom, alcohol, ivy, and cannabis caused a hallucinogenic haze.

The young priestesses of Priapus would tie up the hands and legs of prophetic seekers in order to avoid being raped. They would then rectally insert a satyrion-medicated dildo, which would result in a forced erection. These young witches would then be charged with reciting oracles while using medicated dildos to bring initiates to orgasm.

Cannabis has been used throughout history for a variety of purposes, including suppressing sexual desire. In his text De Materia Medica, Greek physician and Roman army doctor Pedanius Dioscorides noted that the cannabis used in the making of rope was also used to treat earache and suppress sexual longing.

The country of India is a place of incredible diversity, with a culture that is centuries old. From the bustling cities to the stunning beaches, India has something for everyone. It is no wonder that India has been called the “jewel of the world.” With such a rich history and culture, India is sure to leave a lasting impression on anyone who visits.

Since the second century, Tantrism has been present in both Hinduism and Buddhism. Part of this practice involves the use of cannabis to help people reach a higher level of consciousness and achieve a sense of unity with others. Tantric sex is not about achieving pleasure or orgasm, but rather about achieving a sense of oneness with the other person and the universe as a whole.

In The Great Book of Hemp, Rowan Robinson references academic Ernest Abel’s modern-day observations to suggest that consuming cannabis before sex can help enhance the experience. Abel noted that those who partook in this pre-sex ritual would drink a mixture of bhang (a type of Indian cannabis) and water while chanting mantras and pleading for occult power. The result, according to Abel, was more pleasurable and satisfying sex.

Scandinavia

The Viking Age saw the rise of the Norse goddess Freya, who was responsible for love, fertility, and protection of flax and hemp fields. There is no direct mention of using hemp for recreational purposes, but the Encyclopedia of Aphrodisiacs suggests that hemp fields were once used for pagan and erotic rituals related to the sowing and reaping of the crop. One such example took place in Switzerland, where unmarried girls would roll naked in the community hemp field on the eve of midsummer, weaving hemp leaves into wreaths that they would then throw at the nearest tree. The number of times the wreath fell back to the ground was said to be the number of years the girl would remain unmarried.

Authors Ratch and Müller-Ebeling point out that local boys certainly knew when and where this marriage oracle took place, and it can be assumed that young people found each other among hemp. They also quote this eloquent ancient Germanic love charm: “Hemp, I sow you; hemp, I reap you, and the love of my heart will come for me and reap me.”

Medieval Europe

The Inquisition was a dark time in history, when many innocent people were persecuted for their beliefs. During this time, herbalists and healers used cannabis to treat a variety of conditions, including low libido. However, Pope Innocente VIII eventually banned the use of hemp in ritual, classifying it as heretical. People of the time also feared the so-called satanic mass, or witches’ sabbath, where supposedly witches would gather to feast and engage in sexual intercourse while under the influence of a mix of cannabis and other drugs like opium, hemlock, and belladonna.

This hemp mixture supposedly helped drive the satanists into an ecstatic frenzy, making them hungrier and more aroused for their orgies. When not used for ritual purposes, hemp seed oil was purportedly a key ingredient in the “flying ointment” that witches used to fly on their broomsticks.

Recent research suggests that cannabis was used as a sexual lubricant and pain reliever long ago. Although its use was common knowledge, few people dared to speak openly about it for fear of persecution by the inquisition.

19th century America

Having sex on the first night of marriage is a very ceremonial act, and often anxiety-inducing. In 1851, Frederick C. Hollick published a text called “The Marriage Guide; or, Natural History of Generation: A Private Instructor for Married Persons and Those about to Marry”, which went into great detail about the act.

This book is perfect for first-timers, as it provides helpful advice on sex and includes a recipe for an aphrodisiac made from hash which was commonly available at pharmacies in the U.S. at the time. Although Hollick was later debunked as a medical authority, his book has been reprinted over 200 times, providing interested readers with access to his secret recipe.

20th century Soviet Union

Cannabis has been used for centuries as a way to help young brides on their wedding night, as noted by Polish anthropologist Sula Benet. In Ethan Russo’s Cannabis Treatments in Obstetrics and Gynecology, he references Benet’s research from the capital city of Tashkent, where cannabis was mixed with lamb fat and applied vaginally “to reduce the pain of defloration” (and, hopefully, to enhance pleasure). In the same area, Benet noted that women also made a confection for themselves called guc-kand, a mixture of boiled cannabis with sugar and spices, to put them in a “happy mood”.

Weed and sex in the modern era

If you’re also looking to connect with the gods of lust or simply improve your earthly sex life, Switnicki says cannabis can be a great tool for today’s couples. “The bottom line for me is that if using cannabis makes you feel more comfortable having consensual sex on your own terms, then go for it.”