Testosterone is a topic of major discussion and with good reason. It is the key male sex hormone that regulates fertility, muscle mass, fat distribution, and red blood cell production. When testosterone levels drop, which is very common as men age, sexual dysfunction and even infertility can occur. Women also have testosterone except it is called androgen which produces new blood cells, enhances libido and influences follicle-stimulating hormones which affect reproduction.

It's not that women cannot have low androgen levels, but it seems all the hype surrounding testosterone seems to center around men which shouldn't be so surprising cause men always want everything to center around them. That is why there is a veritable cornucopia of ads promoting all kinds of medications that will increase testosterone levels in men. Succumbing to the lure of increased virility men shell out over $1.5 billion dollars a year for all kinds of remedies most of which are bogus.

Now however there might be a remedy that actually works and surprise, surprise - it's cannabis.

Researchers from the University of Chicago, the University of Miami, and John Hopkins University evaluated the relationship between past-year cannabis use and testosterone levels in a crop of current male cannabis consumers.

Published in the World Journal of Urology, the study found that "Men who reported smoking THC in the last year on average had a higher T (testosterone level) compared to those who did not report using THC." Unless the men who reported no THC ingestion were liars, the study concluded there was a “small but statistically significant increase in T among regular THC users at any measured level of use, compared to non-regular THC users.”

What is of interest is the subjects who reported using cannabis at least two or three times per month possessed the greatest differences compared to non-users. To read the original study CLICK HERE.

It doesn’t take much of an increase in testosterone levels to make a difference when levels are low. Unfortunately, the report did not examine what the effect of the increased levels of testosterone had on the study’s participants.

Now I am not saying that if you are having any kind of sexual dysfunctions that consuming cannabis is going to solve them, but a reasonable ingestion of cannabis sure wouldn’t hurt. I authored a column for Culture magazine titled THC and the Amplification of Sexual Desire which explains how the cannabinoids in cannabis affect sexual desire, response and pleasure. To check it out CLICK HERE.

All the questions you have about cannabis, but were afraid to ask will be answered at Saturday, May 2 MAPP telemeeting at 1 p.m.

The coronavirus meeting restrictions are still in place and so the May MAPP meeting will once again be a teleconference and you are invited to participate wherever you are no matter what your testosterone and andorgen levels are.

I am pleased to announce that our special guest will be Dale Gieringer, the state coordinator of California NORML (National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws). A distinguished and eminently effective cannabis activists, he has been a preminent player in all of California's marijuana reform initiatives and continues to lead the way for implementing Propositions 215 and 64.

Dale will be providing us with information on current legislation being considered by our state legislators and how the coronavirus restrictions are affecting them. He will also provide information on the programs both CaNORML and national NORML are pursuing. A veritable encyclopedia of knowledge of all things cannabis. Dale really does have the answers to all (well almost all) of the questions you have about marijuana whether you were afraid to ask them or not. There will be plenty of time to have your questions answered so don't miss this opportunity to learn from one of the most knowledgeable people about cannabis in California, the United States and the world.

Joining the teleconference is exceptionally easy. This Saturday, May 2 at 1 p.m. call 605-475-3235 and when the voice prompts you, enter the access code 275905# and you will be whisked into the MAPP teleconference. Although not mandatory, smoking and the consumption of other forms of cannabis during the teleconference is not only allowed, it is encouraged.