Cannabis and Sexology

Dr. Nick Karras is a practicing sexologist and author of The Passionate High: A Lovers Guide to Cannabis, the book for couples who seek to improve their relationship using one of humanity’s oldest herbal aphrodisiacs. “I was a hippy during the 60s,” Dr. Karras said. “I’ve lived a very sexual lifestyle. I was always fascinated by the body and sexuality.” Dr. Karras makes a living as a coach for men and women who want to connect (or re-connect) in new ways, but his book isn’t just about smoking cannabis and getting laid, it’s about overcoming inhibitions and establishing deeper relationships.

“Cannabis is great for enhancing your imagination and increasing your empathy.”

While attending a professional mixer for experts in the field of human sexual relationships, Dr. Karras encountered many scientists who believed drugs like Viagra were the final answer for couples experiencing emotional difficulties in regards to intimacy. When he surveyed countless medical charts about the supposed success rate of pharmaceuticals, the doctor reasoned that cannabis would produce superior results. “The real question was, why aren’t people having sex? Why don’t people get erections?” he asked.

The one element that Dr. Karras noticed that was missing from the sexual relationship many couples had was empathy stating, “After a while, sex for some couples is problematic. You tell them to drink a glass of red wine, or to have a date night, but what really needs to happen is that you have to reframe what sex is. Cannabis is great for enhancing your imagination and increasing your empathy.” Dr. Karras realized that applying the psychological effects of cannabis to heal the rifts in the relationships some couples had was far more useful than just prescribing a pill for a hard-on.

“Why are parties with cannabis smokers different than parties with alcohol? Why do people like accountants report that they function better when they’ve smoked a little weed?,” Dr. Karras asked. Questions like these prompted him to recoomended cannabis to the couples he worked with, with positive results. “Physically, cannabis is incredible for what it does to the body. All of your senses are elevated. Inhibitions are dropped. It opens up a whole new way of thinking,” he says. “I’ve even had couples tell me that even though they didn’t have sex, they still had a great, romantic evening.”

“Physically, cannabis is incredible for what it does to the body. All of your senses are elevated. Inhibitions are dropped. It opens up a whole new way of thinking.”

Dr. Karras points out that The Passionate High isn’t just for couples practicing sex with cannabis; it is a useful tool for anyone who wants to know more about themselves. “The book has an emphasis on sexuality, but the more I go into it and the deeper I write, it is about finding your passion in life. It is about finding your personal passion. I’m trying to get people to get back to their body. In Eastern medicine you listen to the body because it has the answers,” he said, “The body is a part of the soul. My book gives reference to that. How can anyone take cannabis and use it to become a better, nobler person.”

That is not to say every story Dr. Karras has to tell about couples on cannabis is perfect. “I’d tell couples to get their card and go to the dispensary, but now there are so many tinctures and edibles that it is easy to overdo it. One person is stripped naked, talking to God while their partner is curled up on the bed having a panic attack,” he says. “I remind them that while you cannot overdose from cannabis and die, you still have to be careful. But it brings out our emotions and vulnerability. That can be a good thing for a lot of relationships.”

Dr. Karras has noticed that both people don’t have to try cannabis to heal an ailing relationship. “There have been cases where one person smokes out and opens up, creating empathy” he says. “They are able to let go of their inhibitions, and if just one person can do that that it can be enough to help both partners.”

You can find out more about Dr. Nick Karras, his research and his books at www.passionatehigh.com and www.nickkarras.com