Marijuana, also known as cannabis or weed, is the most widely consumed illegal drug around the world. There are various reasons why it is so popular. Being easily available is just one of the reasons as it is widely available and grown in many regions around the world, including the Americas, Africa, and Asia. The attitudes towards marijuana use have become increasingly liberal in many countries.
Many jurisdictions have decriminalized the possession of small amounts of marijuana, and some have legalized it for medical or recreational use. Recently, speculation has started spreading that the testosterone level of males might get low because of cannabis consumption. In this post, you can learn more about the effects of cannabis on testosterone and the entire human body.
What Is Testosterone?
Testosterone is basically a hormone found in a male’s body, and the testicles produce it. The main work of testosterone is to maintain bone density, fat distribution, and muscle strength and mass of the body. Having low testosterone levels may cause reduced erectile function, less body hair and beard growth, loss of muscle mass and many more.
Although a male’s body produces enough amount of testosterones automatically, there’s no need to worry unless you are dealing with something that affects the growth and function of testicles and testosterone levels. You can easily raise your testosterone levels by having a healthy diet, maintaining an ideal body weight, and avoiding tobacco and alcohol products and medications too.
Effects of Marijuana On Testosterone
Consuming marijuana can have both positive and negative effects on testosterone levels. Many studies have found that marijuana use can increase testosterone levels in men, while others have found that it can decrease testosterone levels. It completely depends on an individual, the dose and frequency of use, and other factors such as age and overall health.
Remember that cannabis and testosterone levels are highly related as CBD interacts with the production and testosterone levels in the body. Below we have shared the effects of CBD on testosterone and how it affects the different mechanisms of the human body.
Hormone Production – When you consume CBD, the cannabinoid substances react with ECS (Endocannabinoid System) receptors. This means that cannabis can indirectly have control over hormone production, and it might alter the production capacity, resulting in an impact on the other body organs as well.
Delayed Response – Not only the production and levels, but CBD can also influence the response timing sent to the glands on producing the hormones. Since it impacts the sensitivity level of the receptors in the glands, it can “delay” the response timing as well. This is the only way by which cannabis can impact the production of hormones.
Also read: Why does weed make you lazy?
Hormones Breakdown – Whenever a hormone has completed its work, it is disposed of and consumed by enzymes. Well, you guessed it right, cannabis can affect the working of enzymes too; hence they might have issues in disposing of the hormones. The imbalance will definitely have a negative impact on the whole body.
How To Stay On The Safe Side & Consume Cannabis Without Any Issues?
Studies have suggested that the testosterone levels in a man who does not smoke at all are nearly double than of those who smoke regularly. Although consuming cannabis is not harmful, as many countries are already making it legal, consuming too much of it will definitely affect the overall mechanism of the body.
Having lower testosterone levels will affect your sexual life as well because testosterone is directly responsible for getting into the mood. You might start getting annoyed for no reason, the belly fat will increase, and it will ruin your mood too. Since cannabis is obtained naturally, there’s nothing wrong with consuming it though there are some things that you must remember, as consuming anything above the limit will have a negative impact on the body.
Below we have mentioned a few things that every cannabis user must remember to stay on the safe side and prevent it from affecting testosterone levels.
- Limiting your dosage will definitely help you in avoiding having testosterone because of cannabis consumption.
- Since cannabis can be consumed in different ways, make sure you are taking it in the right way.
- Different cannabis strains have different effects, so make sure to read more about the one you are consuming.
- Always take the help of someone professional while smoking or consuming cannabis in some other form.
- Make sure you are buying cannabis from a reputed and verified source to avoid consuming low-quality strains.
- NEVER ever consume synthetic cannabinoids, as they can severely affect testosterone levels.
NOTE: Experiments and studies have shown lower testosterone levels in both males and females after consuming cannabis, so it is advised not to consume it too much if you want to maintain your testosterone levels. Also, always exercise daily, set good eating habits, meditate a few hours a day, go for a jog, and drink plenty of water to minimize the negative effects of cannabis on the body.
FAQs Related To Cannabis and Testosterone Relation
How Long Does CBD Affect Sperm?
A few studies have shown that the sperm count or testosterone levels in males has increased after consuming cannabis. CBD compounds may stay in the human body for up to 4-7 days, but generally, the system can clean itself in 48 hours. The effects of cannabis on the body might remain for 12-24 hours, depending on the amount and type of product consumed.
What Lowers Testosterone?
Testosterone levels are influenced by everything you do and consume. Having bad eating habits, not exercising enough, consuming alcohol and smoking daily, etc. can also affect testosterone levels. So, it is always advised to maintain a proper diet and consume only high-quality products to have satisfactory testosterone levels.
Can You Smoke While On Testosterone?
Smoking not only affects your testosterone levels but affects other parts like the lungs, brain, and other hormones as well. If you are diagnosed with lower testosterone levels then you must stop smoking. Continuing smoking will only have a negative impact on the body, and you might face issues like erectile dysfunction.
Does Marijuana Lower Testosterone In Males?
Some studies have shown that testosterone serum levels were higher in men who had recently consumed cannabis. However, in another study, the sperm count in the males was 30% lower in the males that consume cannabis once a week. Not only marijuana but other bad habits can influence sperm count and testosterone levels.
Does Alcohol Lower Testosterone?
Males in their twenties will have the highest testosterone levels, which may start decreasing with alcohol consumption, obesity, exposure to toxins, and many other things. So, yes, alcohol does affect testosterone levels, and you must consume it in a limited quantity if you want to stay on the safe side.
Final Words
So, this is all about how cannabis and testosterone levels are directly connected to each other and why it is important to always stay within the limit to keep everything going smoothly. It is not bad to consume cannabis as it is widely used to treat many medical conditions as well, but make sure to consume it in a safe quantity.
Although we have mentioned everything related to cannabis affecting testosterone levels, if you think we might have missed something, then do share your views with us. Also, do connect with us if you have any questions related to cannabis and how it affects the production of testosterone levels in the human body.
