Women and Cannabis: From Ancient Remedies to Today's Growers

Women have used cannabis for thousands of years, mostly to ease period pain, childbirth and the aches of nursing, and plenty simply because they enjoy it. The modern weed world was long run by men, but women have always been part of the plant's story, and today they're growers, activists, researchers and consumers in their own right.

Cannabis and periods in the ancient world

Historically, women turned to cannabis for pain tied to menstruation and motherhood. In 19th-century Germany and Austria, a cannabis-based cream was used to bring down swelling and soothe sore breasts in nursing mothers, so the plant and breastfeeding go back a long way together.

In ancient Egypt, women reportedly used a salve made from cannabis and honey to bring on contractions and help with childbirth. Periods and cannabis have an equally long history: the plant has been used for menstrual cramps then and now, first in ointments and brews, and today there are even tampon-style products infused with cannabis extracts marketed for cramp relief.

The plant was also used in Russia, according to old accounts, to make a woman's first time less painful, and it's shown up around the world as an aphrodisiac.

Women and weed today: what's changed?

The relationship between women and cannabis has shifted. Therapeutic use is still a big part of it, but recreational use is out in the open too, and it makes one thing clear: weed was never a boys' club.

Many of the groups fighting hardest to legalize home growing are led by women, often mothers who want to make cannabis medicine for their kids, their families or themselves. Women growers are pulling monster harvests and proving that cultivation, long a male-dominated scene, isn't anymore.

The bond between women and cannabis is as strong as ever, and women keep pushing for equality in this industry like any other. Step by step they're carving out their own place in the cannabis world as growers, activists, academics and more.

It's also worth saying plainly that recreational cannabis is now a regular habit for many women. What used to be framed as purely palliative use is now a lifestyle they've made their own.

How women use cannabis: the main reasons

Cannabis for period pain: easing menstrual cramps

A survey published in the Journal of Pain Research with more than 400 women found that about 84% of respondents had menstrual pain, and 43% of them had pain with every period.

Some findings suggest 5–10% of women have cramps severe enough to disrupt daily life. So what does science say about cannabis oil for period pain? No controlled study has yet tested cannabis for menstrual cramps.

That said, a survey published in 2014 asked 192 women whether they'd used cannabis to relieve period pain. A striking 85% said yes, and 90% of those said it helped. That's why researchers argue cannabis and the menstrual cycle deserve far more study.

Cannabis for PMS

Many women deal with symptoms in the week or two before their period: mood swings, tender breasts, fatigue and irritability. Taken together, that's known as premenstrual syndrome (PMS).

There hasn't been much human research on cannabis and PMS. Still, researchers are looking at whether cannabis affects PMS symptoms like insomnia, irritability, low mood and joint pain.

Cannabis and endometriosis

Endometriosis can affect women of any age. It happens when tissue similar to the uterine lining starts growing in other places, including the ovaries. That abnormal growth can cause pelvic pain, pain during sex, infertility and heavy bleeding.

In one study, 252 women reported that inhaled or oral cannabis changed their endometriosis symptoms, particularly pain, gut problems and mood. Findings like these could help drive the controlled studies needed to confirm them.

Women, weed and sex

Sex is supposed to be about pleasure, but it doesn't always feel that way for everyone, or at least not every time. Anxiety, vaginal dryness and low desire can all make women avoid sex with a partner.

So can cannabis improve the experience, for women and men alike? Research is underway. A 2019 study in the journal Sexual Medicine, for example, looked at the link between using cannabis before sex, women's sexual function and orgasm satisfaction.

Even with the research still in progress, some companies already sell cannabis products for women designed to make sex better, such as lubes.

Menopause

You can't talk about women and cannabis without talking about menopause, the stage when periods stop because hormone levels drop, usually between 45 and 55. Falling estrogen brings on a whole set of symptoms: hot flashes, trouble sleeping, heart palpitations, muscle and joint pain, weight gain, lower sex drive and migraines.

Can cannabis help with menopause symptoms? Conclusive clinical trials are still pending, but a published survey found most of the women polled supported using medical cannabis for menopause-related symptoms, including sleep problems, mood and anxiety.

Can you smoke weed while breastfeeding?

A lot of new moms ask: "If I smoke weed, can I still breastfeed?" Nursing is another big area of interest when it comes to women and cannabis.

Breastfeeding hurts for a lot of women, some more than others, so some might reach for cannabis as natural relief. But using cannabis after giving birth can have effects on the baby.

Here's why smoking and breastfeeding don't mix: cannabinoids like THC are fat-soluble and get stored in the body's fat, so they can pass into breast milk and may cause sedation and weakness in nursing babies. Based on this, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) advises avoiding all forms of cannabis while breastfeeding.

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