For years the cannabis industry has targeted products towards male cannabis users, but the recent increase in female cannabis users has opened up a whole new market for brands interested in catering to the needs of women. A new report from the Cannabis Consumers Coalition (CCC) that surveyed 530 people from across the United States found that 58% of their respondents that consume cannabis were women while 42% were men. On a larger scale, a 2016 Gallup poll found that 12% of men and 7% of women in the United States consume cannabis. The findings of the CCC highlight what many dispensaries are reporting anecdotally—more women seem to be consuming cannabis. (Or at the very least more women are feeling comfortable to purchase their own cannabis at dispensaries instead of sending in a male significant other or friend to buy for them.) With all the new female-centric products flooding the market, we decided to hone in on some standout favorites to help you narrow down your options!
1. Humboldt Harvest PMS & Cramps Tincture
Women have used cannabis to alleviate the symptoms of PMS for ages—from cramps to mood swings, the right combination of CBD and THC can be extremely beneficial. Humboldt Harvest’s 13:1 (CBD:THC) tincture designed specifically for PMS and menstruation contains 250mg of total cannabinoids and is chock full of Delta 3, Beta Caryophyllene, Linalool and Myrcene. The Beta Caryophyllene increases absorption of other terpenes and cannabinoids, so the calming benefits of the Linalool, the anti-inflammatory properties of the Delta 3 and the analgesic effects of the Myrcene will all be heightened. Tinctures are also a great way to be consistent with your dosing and allow you to feel relief more immediately than when you eat an edible because the cannabinoids are entering your system through the soft tissue in your mouth instead of needing to be processed through your liver. Bonus: Taking a tincture during the day is a lot more subtle than smoking or eating an edible, which makes this product perfect for when you need to take another dose towards the end of the day when your cramps begin to flare up.
2. FORIA Relief
Another extremely effective method of using cannabis for menstrual cramps and PMS symptoms is FORIA Relief, a vaginal suppository that contains 60mg of THC and 10mg of CBD. You can expect to wait about 15-30 minutes before you begin to feel the effects and your relief may last upwards of 20 hours. (Keep in mind that everyone’s body is different, so your experience may vary slightly.) The combination of THC which acts as an analgesic and CBD which is anti-spasmodic has helped many women who suffer from unbearable cramps find relief that they didn’t think was possible. This has a great deal to do with the fact that the delivery system of the suppository allows for the medicine to go right to the source of the pain with relative ease, unlike ibuprofen or aspirin which has to be broken down and processed by your liver before you can even begin to feel relief. In addition to PMS and cramping, many women who suffer from endometriosis have reported experiencing relief from symptoms with the use of FORIA Relief.
3. FORIA Pleasure
According to a BDS Analytics survey, 27% of female users say they consume cannabis to enhance their sexual experiences. FORIA Pleasure was the first cannabis lubricant designed specifically for female sensual enhancement and consumers can’t stop raving about it. Historically cannabis has been used as a natural aphrodisiac, which is what inspired FORIA to combine lab-tested cannabis oil with liquid coconut oil to create FORIA Pleasure. The amazing thing about this product is how versatile it is—consumers of all ages have reported success with using it. In addition to the obvious benefits of heightening your overall sexual experience, FORIA Pleasure has proven particularly effective for women going through menopause who are dealing with increased dryness. Pro Tip: Don’t use FORIA Pleasure with latex condoms—the oil will cause the condom to break. Non-latex condoms will work fine though!
4. Whoopi & Maya
Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you’ve probably already heard about the Whoopi & Maya line of products designed for menstrual discomfort—but they’re worth mentioning again for sure! Whoopi & Maya offers a variety of delivery methods for their products so that you can choose the combination that works best for your body. They offer a topical Rub that contains white willow bark (the main ingredient in aspirin), ginger (which increases blood flow and circulation to the abdominal area) and St. John’s Wort (a mood enhancer)—all these elements combined are great at calming cramps! The Whoopi & Maya Soak is another topical product that you can use in the bath to relieve aches, pains and cramping. For those that crave chocolate during their menstrual cycle, the Savor raw cacao is an absolute must try! Available in both THC and CBD versions, Savor contains high concentrations of magnesium and iron—when you’re menstruating your magnesium and iron levels tend to drop, which is why you may crave chocolate in the first place. Savor can be enjoyed as is on a spoon, on your favorite snack or mixed with warm water or milk. If a tincture is more up your alley, Whoopi & Maya Relax is an excellent choice—the combination of THC, cramp bark, red raspberry, motherwort and passionflower promotes calm nerves and decreases spasms in the uterus. The Relax tincture is probably the most subtle of all the delivery methods, followed closely by the Savor. (Although we definitely recommend avoiding using the Savor in front of other people if you don’t want to share—that stuff is beyond delicious!)
5. Beboe Rose Gold Vape Pen
This last product isn’t necessarily designed only for women, but we’d be remiss if we didn’t talk about the beauty that is the Beboe Rose Gold Disposable Vaporizer. Created by renowned tattoo artist Scott Campbell, Beboe is inspired by Scott’s late grandmother Boe who made cannabis brownies for his mother who was sick with cancer. The Beboe Rose Gold Vaporizer is the perfect mixture of fashion and function—it’s sleek, easy to use design makes it an obvious choice for bringing to parties or anywhere that you want to be able to inhale without making the place smell like a dispensary. Beboe offers both Indica and Sativa formulas for their vapes, so whether you need energy to get through the day or relaxation and pain relief at the end of the day, they’ve got you covered. The Beboe Rose Gold Vaporizer also makes a great gift for someone who is new to cannabis and trying to avoid the whole “stoner” aesthetic that many brands cater to. All in all, this vaporizer is beyond classy and if you’re into the rose gold trend, we have a feeling it won’t be long before you add it to your rotation.
And there you have it—five of our favorite cannabis products designed for women! Keep in mind, there are so many wonderful female-centric cannabis brands and products out there and these are just the tip of the iceberg. You can find these and other cannabis products for women by visiting your local dispensary. Not sure which dispensary to go to? That’s why we’re here! Simply use the Hopegrown search bar at the top of any page to find a licensed dispensary in your area.
SOURCES
(1) New Survey Says More Women Consuming Cannabis Than Before
(2) A new snapshot of California cannabis lovers
(3) One in Eight U.S. Adults Say They Smoke Marijuana
(4) ARE MORE WOMEN THAN MEN NOW CONSUMING CANNABIS?
(5) Marijuana not Midol: Cannabis-infused suppositories ease menstrual cramps
(6) Humboldt Harvest
(7) FORIA
(8) Whoopi & Maya
(9) Beboe