Any Utah consumer looking to purchase medical cannabis at Deseret Wellness in Park City would need a valid medical cannabis card just to enter the pharmacy. And in order to get a card, the consumer has to be diagnosed by a qualified medical provider (QMP) and have a qualifying condition. Utah’s list of qualifying conditions is rather narrow. Does it include sexual dysfunction?

It does not. However, an interesting study out of Spain seems to suggest that treating people suffering from sexual dysfunction with some sort of cannabis-based medicine is worth looking into. The study shows that young people who use cannabis regularly report better sexual function and satisfaction.

The study, conducted at the University of Almeria, looked at both cannabis and alcohol consumption among young people in order to gauge how both substances affect sexual performance. They also wanted to better understand the risks of alcohol and cannabis misuse as it relates to sexual function.

• Better with Cannabis

More than 170 young people took part in the study, conducted through the first half of 2020. Participants included eighty-nine males and 185 females between the ages of 18 and 30. Some were regular cannabis or alcohol users; others were non-users. Researchers did their best to exclude users of other substances as well as those with pre-existing conditions that could influence sexual function.

When all was said and done, the cannabis users scored higher on observational tests that measured overall sexual function and relative arousal and orgasm. Those subjects who used cannabis more frequently actually scored higher. However, the higher scores seemed to level off at a level of moderate use. There was no measurable difference in the scores between moderate and heavy users.

The results of this particular study line up with previous studies suggesting that cannabis use enhances both sexual function and pleasure. Some of the previous studies also demonstrated that regular cannabis users have sex more frequently.

• Cause and Effect

As with any type of observational study, one must ask about cause and effect. What is it about cannabis use that increases sexual function and satisfaction? Does cannabis have some sort of physiological effect, or is the effect psychological only?

The authors of the Spanish study believe that the cause here is reduced anxiety and shame. As an intoxicating substance, cannabis has the ability to help people reduce their inhibitions. If they feel less anxious about having sex, they may find it easier to enjoy the experience.

That being the case, the authors also suggest that future therapies for people suffering from sexual dysfunction focus on reducing anxiety and stress. There are ways to do that without encouraging them to use cannabis or alcohol. Researchers encourage looking at those other therapies rather than recommending alcohol or cannabis.

• The Most Appropriate Treatment

Getting back to the Deseret Wellness pharmacy in Park City, UT, their customers have medical cannabis cards because the QMPs who recommended cannabis believe the drug is the most appropriate way to treat their qualifying conditions. This is key to determining whether sexual dysfunction should be considered a qualifying condition.

Even if it is a qualifying condition, QMPs may decide there are more appropriate ways to treat it. Being on the list would not necessarily guarantee a patient would be recommended for a medical cannabis card.

The sexual dysfunction study lays the groundwork for looking at a whole host of medical conditions cannabis proponents want added to qualifying lists. It is one thing to discover that cannabis helps. It is another to determine that cannabis is the most appropriate way to treat.