A new strain of cannabis designed to make women come

One night, Karyn Wagner, founder of Paradigm Medical Marijuana, a cannabis cultivation company, smokes a joint before sleeping with her partner and having the best sex she's ever had.

«After smoking that joint,» she recalls, «I said, You know, honey, that was perfect. Save some for next time.«. His partner carefully labeled the bag of weed «Sexpot.» And inspiration struck.".

Sexxpot

Sexxpot, a derivative of a a cannabis strain with low THC content, Mr. Nice was grown, packaged, and marketed by Karyn Wagner’s company as an «aphrodisiac weed»—the first to target women directly.

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Aphrodisiac weed is not a new concept. Carl Sagan, a contemporary American author, wrote: «Cannabis enhances the pleasures of sex. On the one hand, it provides exquisite sensitivity, but on the other hand, it delays orgasm—in part by distracting me from the flood of images passing before my eyes. The actual duration of an orgasm seems to lengthen wonderfully, although this is probably due to the sensation of time stretching that comes with the cannabis use. »Even before Sexxpot, we were already looking for specific varieties to boost libido.".

Eloise Theisen, a Berkeley-based consultant and nurse, regularly treats both men and women—but often women in their 50s or 60s—who want to use weed to help with their sexual problems or are looking for an extra boost of arousal. «It’s still taboo for women. Men are more likely to ask,» she explains.

In addition to certain cannabis lubricants, Eloise Theisen has had a hard time finding products designed for women and their libido, and sees great potential in Sexxpot. She has heard a lot of feedback from women who have tried Sexxpot—for example, at «Tupperware»-style gatherings around San Francisco—and who say that this strain is a real «game changer.».

Sexxpot, explains Karyn Wagner, has a lower THC content than usual—about 14%—while smokers often prefer strains with 18-20%. She says this is a real advantage, as the product provides a sensual sensation without ever causing a numbing effect that would prevent you from enjoying it.

«Women generally need less THC,» says Eloise Theisen. «And THC levels can affect the activity of anti-estrogens, although scientific research on this is very limited… I think Sexxpot, with its low THC content, regulates the endocannabinoid system »and helps balance hormones without sacrificing its therapeutic properties.".

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Stephen d’Angelo, the well-known cannabis activist and co-founder of the Harborside Health Center (the world's largest clinic) is rather skeptical about the science behind Sexxpot. He explains that there are hundreds of terpenes various (a compound that contributes to the taste, smell, and psychoactive effects of cannabis), and the effects of each have not been isolated.

But regardless of Sexxpot’s scientific rigor, Stephen d’Angelo says its marketing is clever: his experience at Harborside confirms that both men and women seek out weed specifically to enhance arousal. «Cannabis is good for everyone’s sex drive,» says d’Angelo.

So Sexxpot isn't the only strain that can improve one's sex life. And it seems it might not be as effective for men, who generally prefer strains such as strains with higher THC content. Wagner herself says that her male employees have had disappointing experiences smoking Sexxpot, although none of them had any complaints about the effects on their female partners. A strain designed for women is an appealing addition to the cannabis market, which is heavily focused on male consumers. And even though the scientific data is very limited, Sexxpot fans are very enthusiastic.

Wagner talks about one of his regular customers who told him that this strain helped her overcome the mental blocks she had about sex: «She told us that it relaxes her enough that she doesn’t think about it at all anymore. She wasn’t hyper-aware or hyper-anything.» Wagner pauses before continuing. «Actually, she might have given me too many details.»