Advocates are intensifying efforts to expand access to medical marijuana as a treatment for female orgasmic disorder (FOD) by filing petitions in six additional states: Oregon, Colorado, New Jersey, Maryland, Pennsylvania, and Arkansas. These moves build on previous petitions in Ohio, Connecticut, Illinois, and New Mexico, with Illinois and Connecticut having granted preliminary approval for adding FOD as a qualifying condition. Ohio rejected the petition, and New Mexico is set to discuss the issue in October.
Rebecca Andersson, a petitioner in Oregon, received formal acceptance of her request earlier this month. Oregon officials are expected to make a decision within 180 days. Andersson, who experienced a significant improvement in her sexual pleasure and connection with her partner after incorporating cannabis into her sex life, advocates for broader access to help others with similar challenges.
Supporters argue that cannabis can greatly enhance sexual sensitivity, intimacy, and orgasm achievement for those with FOD, a condition defined as a persistent or recurrent inability to achieve orgasm despite adequate sexual stimulation. Research supports these claims; a survey led by clinical sexologist Suzanne Mulvehill found that over 70% of women with orgasm difficulties reported increased ease and frequency of orgasm with cannabis use.
Mulvehill and other researchers, including Jordan Tishler of inhaleMD, suggest that cannabis may help by affecting the brain’s default mode network, which influences cognitive distraction and emotional responses during sexual activity. This could potentially enhance sexual pleasure and address the so-called “orgasm inequality gap” where women experience orgasms less frequently than men.
In Colorado, sexologist Amanda Moser, who submitted a petition in June, highlighted her research indicating that cannabis use improves orgasm quality, particularly for women. Moser’s work, combined with research from Mulvehill, underscores the need for official recognition of cannabis’s role in treating FOD.
Nan Wise, a sex therapist and researcher in New Jersey, also advocates for medical marijuana as a safe and effective treatment for FOD. She notes that cannabis may improve orgasm quality and reduce anxiety, contributing to a more fulfilling sexual experience.
Experts advise starting with low doses of cannabis and consulting healthcare providers before self-medicating. While there’s evidence supporting the benefits of cannabis for sexual function, it’s important to manage dosage carefully, as higher amounts of THC can have varying effects.
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