Did you know that gender and body type are just two of many factors that can influence how cannabis affects you?

While the effects of weed on the body often follow predictable patterns, individual experiences can vary. Given that no two people are exactly alike, it’s only natural that the effects of cannabis will differ from one person to another.

 

Table of Contents:

• Does Gender Influence the Effects of Cannabis?
• How Men Are Affected by Cannabis
• How Women Are Affected by Cannabis
  • Key Differences:
• Is Cannabis Consumption More Common Among Men or Women?
• The Bottom Line

 

Several factors, including one’s mental and physical condition, play a role in determining the specific effects of cannabis, whether it’s consumed through smoking a joint, using a bong, or ingesting edibles.

But what about gender? Do you believe that cannabis affects men and women differently?

Does gender influence the effects of cannabis?

In short, yes—there may be gender-based differences in how cannabis affects individuals. The four primary areas where these differences manifest are:

• Genetics
• Hormones
• Physiology and anatomy
• Neurobiology

The common belief that men generally have a higher tolerance for cannabis than women is rooted in one key factor: tolerance levels. This comparison, of course, assumes that both individuals have similar lifestyles and regularly use cannabis recreationally.

The effects of weed on men and women differ not only in physical and emotional sensations but also in psychological responses. Although the endocannabinoid system—responsible for maintaining balance in the body and the primary site where cannabis effects begin—exists in both sexes, its manifestations can vary between men and women.

As Bradley E. Alger notes in The Endocannabinoid System and How to Get High, “With its complex actions in our immune system, nervous system, and virtually all of the body’s organs, the endocannabinoids are literally a bridge between body and mind.”

There’s a common misconception that women would naturally experience stronger effects from cannabis due to hormonal differences, but this is simply not the case.

In reality, this couldn’t be further from the truth; research indicates that women actually have a higher tolerance for both pain and cannabis.

Read more to explore the relationship between cannabis and women’s health

Women appear to have a greater tolerance for THC, the psychoactive component in cannabis, compared to men. This is attributed to oestrogen, a female sex hormone that is more prominent in women. The close interaction between the endocannabinoid system and sex hormones forms the basis for the different behavioural patterns related to cannabis use across genders.

These sex hormones are closely linked to the density of cannabinoid receptor type 1, which can influence the levels of endogenous cannabinoids and the enzymes that break them down. Furthermore, pregnenolone, a precursor to steroid hormones, has been found to affect the activation of cannabinoid receptors, further establishing the connection between sex hormones and the endocannabinoid system.

However, the differences in how cannabis affects men and women are also influenced by several other factors, including body fat percentage and specific brain receptors. Let’s delve into these differences and see how they compare.

 

How men are affected by cannabis

The availability of the CB1 receptor, which is lower in men, plays a key role in the gender differences observed in the effects of cannabis. This difference in the endocannabinoid system between men and women may explain why they experience cannabis differently and have distinct usage patterns.

Additionally, there may be variations in how men metabolise cannabis. This suggests that men might not need tolerance breaks as frequently as women, given that women often exhibit a higher tolerance for both THC and pain.

However, there are downsides for men as well. For instance, after consuming cannabis, men tend to experience reduced sexual arousal due to a temporary drop in testosterone levels triggered by high doses of THC.

Three significant areas where men’s and women’s experiences with cannabis diverge are tolerance, withdrawal, and the “munchies.”

Cannabis also tends to reduce risk-taking behaviour in men. This effect is linked to the reduction of both natural and synthetic male sex hormones by THC. Ever wonder why some men go to extreme lengths to impress women? Anabolic steroids play a role in this behaviour, and in some cases, these hormones may also contribute to the development of a cannabis addiction in men.

Finally, when it comes to the “munchies,” men and women experience this cannabis effect differently. Men are more likely to have a strong craving for food after consuming weed compared to women.

Do you want to find out cannabis shelf life on average and how long can it stay fresh?

How women are affected by cannabis

Women often report sensations of increased confidence, euphoria, and heightened sensitivity following cannabis use. However, they may also experience temporary vision changes and greater short-term memory deficits compared to men.

Ever wondered why you might feel more emotional after smoking a joint? Cannabis tends to amplify our sensitivity, reawakening emotions and keeping them on high alert.

Research from Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine indicates that women may experience more discomfort or withdrawal symptoms than men when abstaining from cannabis. These symptoms can include stomach discomfort, restlessness, and irritability.

Interestingly, studies involving rats have shown that oestradiol, a hormone crucial for puberty and reproductive health, influences the endocannabinoid system, which in turn boosts oestradiol production.

Researchers found that female rats exhibited distinct differences in endocannabinoid levels and receptor sensitivity compared to males, particularly in brain regions responsible for motor control, social behaviour, and sensory input filtering. These differences are especially pronounced during the menstrual cycle.

Key Differences:

• Tolerance: Due to their higher tolerance for cannabis, women may require longer tolerance breaks than men when using the drug regularly.
• Pain Relief: Women might need larger doses of cannabis to alleviate pain because they generally have a higher pain tolerance than men.
• Libido: The stimulating effects of cannabis on a woman’s libido tend to be more pronounced than those on a man’s.
• Hormones: Cannabis can negatively impact men’s testosterone levels, while its interaction with female hormones can have different effects.
• Withdrawal Symptoms: Women often experience more severe withdrawal symptoms than men when they reduce or stop using cannabis.

Gender influences how the endocannabinoid system interacts with brain dopamine synthesis, which can affect the pleasure and reward associated with cannabinoids.

Further research has shown that female rats benefit more from THC’s pain-relieving effects, although they eventually require higher doses of the compound compared to male rats.

Everyone should take a cannabis tolerance breaks, its a holy grail for your pleasure!

Is cannabis consumption more common among men or women?

Cultural factors play a significant role in this discussion. So, when addressing the question, “Who uses cannabis more, men or women?” be prepared for a spirited debate.

Both genders might eagerly claim they consume more than the other, and the conversation could quickly spiral into discussions on gender equality and feminism.

Sociologists and anthropologists generally agree that men are more likely to consume cannabis than women, a conclusion that might not sit well with some female readers. Men typically start using cannabis at a younger age than women, likely due to societal pressures.

On average, men tend to use psychotropic substances, including cannabis, more frequently and in larger quantities than women. Studies have shown that men are more prone to developing drug dependencies and generally engage in more frequent substance use than women.

The effects of weed also tend to be more pronounced in men than in women. However, as with any drug, both contextual and genetic factors influence patterns of cannabis use.

While genetics may influence our susceptibility to substance abuse, there is currently no conclusive evidence that any specific gene variant affects sensitivity to cannabinoids.

The bottom line

There is evidence to suggest that cannabis may affect men and women differently. However, gender is not the only factor that influences the effects of weed.

How you experience a high can be shaped by various factors, including your mood, the people you’re with, the strain of weed you’re consuming, and whether or not you’ve eaten beforehand.

There is still much to learn about the specific differences in how cannabis affects men and women, and scientists are continuing to explore these mysteries. In the meantime, it’s worth paying attention to your own experiences and noting any patterns you observe. You might even find it interesting to discuss these observations with friends in a group setting.

Read more on Weed Vs. Booze: Which one is less harmful to your health?

 

Disclaimer: The information provided on this page is for educational purposes only and should not be considered medical advice. Always consult with a healthcare professional before using any THC product.