A study conducted on different subjects says that marijuana use created opportunities for intimacy, ranging from the emotional to the physical.

Not a lot of studies have been conducted on personal marijuana use, much less about the effect that the plant can have on couples. Legalization and an evolving perspective on marijuana has opened up the industry to more studies, giving scientists and researchers the chance to examine the plant more thoroughly by looking into the effect it has on people and relationships.

A study published in the journal Cannabis claims that, unlike alcohol, cannabis has a positive effect on couples when consumed together, increasing the odds of intimacy and providing more opportunities for bonding.

The study was a small one, collecting data from just 183 married or co-habitating couples, all of them claiming to be active marijuana users. Authors of the study asked the couples to monitor their cannabis intake for a period of 30 days, with participants reporting their experiences through their smartphones before and after consuming cannabis.

RELATED: The Fascinating Role Marijuana Plays In Sex

Couples were asked to write a brief report each morning, indicating whether they’d consumed marijuana and if they’d had an “intimate experience” with their partner, specifying the time of this encounter. The study’s definition of an intimate experience was wide, ranging from sex and meaningful conversations, to interactions that expressed love, support and care.

After the 30 days passed and participants’ input on the study concluded, researchers analyzed the data and found that smoking cannabis increased the couples’ likelihood of having an intimate experience, especially within two hours of consuming the plant. This increased intimacy remained even if only one partner used marijuana, disproving other studies that claim that personal drug use adds stress to a relationship.

RELATED: Using Medical Marijuana To Treat Sexual Dysfunction

In order to comprehend the full extent of marijuana’s influence on relationships and intimacy, more studies need to be conducted, particularly ones that focus on larger samples of couples and monitor their progress over longer periods of time.

This isn’t the first time that marijuana has been associated positively with relationships; many call the plant an aphrodisiac and a 2019 study found that it improves sex and the likelihood of orgasms, particularly when it comes to women.