A Marijuana User's Guide to Supplements

[Biotest]

by Chris Shugart

Does cannabis tank testosterone? If so, how, and what natural supplements counter the effects? Info here.

My first and last drug deal happened in a grocery store parking lot. My friend was a marijuana "enthusiast," and she arranged the buy with her regular dealer. I was sweating bullets. The guy got in my car, money and weed exchanged hands, and it was over.

An hour later she went puff-puff, but I declined the pass. I'd tried marijuana before and didn't love the effect. Also, I'd heard that cannabis tanked testosterone levels. I didn't want that.

Today, in most places, all you have to do is walk into a retail store, present an ID, and buy your weed. It's as easy as buying beer, no shady parking lot deals required. That means more upright citizens are giving it a shot. They use it for fun, stress and anxiety relief, and as an alternative to harsh prescription drugs.

But the question remains: does marijuana reduce testosterone levels?

Weed and T: What We Know

For an informal meta-study, I dug up all the relevant research spanning the last five decades. The studies yielded mixed results.

One 1974 study observed that chronic marijuana users had significantly lower plasma testosterone levels compared to non-users. The decrease was dose-related – higher consumption correlated with greater reductions in testosterone.

However, in a 2021 prospective analysis, researchers found no significant differences in T levels between marijuana users and non-users. The study concluded that pot use didn't have a substantial impact on male reproductive hormones.

Likewise, other studies suggest that acute use of THC (the psychoactive compound in marijuana) may lead to a temporary decrease in testosterone. However, these effects are usually mild and transient – T levels return to normal after the effects of THC wear off.

Some studies also suggest that long-term heavy use may be associated with slightly lower testosterone levels, while others find no significant long-term impact. Any changes tend to be modest and unlikely to cause clinical hypogonadism in most men.

Then there are all the confounding factors. Does a chronic weed smoker have other habits that affect his hormones? Is he a drinker, too? Does he work out?

Testosterone aside, there's stronger evidence that weed can negatively affect sperm count, motility, and morphology, potentially impairing fertility. A 2015 study found that smoking ganga more than once per week was associated with low sperm count. But weirdly, the same study showed that their testosterone levels were fine, even on the higher side.

So, does weed lower T? Maybe. It seems to reduce levels while you're high, but then they pop back up. A heavy daily user, referred to as a "total pothead" in the literature, might have slightly lower T levels, but mainly because he's stoned all damn day.

How Could Marijuana Lower T?

If weed lowers testosterone, even just temporarily, how does it do it? Well, THC seems to influence the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axis in men, suppressing the production of luteinizing hormone (LH), which stimulates testosterone production. (A related hormonal effect may occur in women via the hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian or HPO axis.)

How to Fight Any T-Dropping Effects

If you're going to partake, you mainly want to thwart the effects on LH production, along with staying topped off in certain vitamins and minerals that support LH. Here's how to do it:

1. Take Longjack

Longjack (Tongkat Ali or Eurycoma longifolia) enhances the HPG axis by stimulating the gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH), which signals the pituitary to produce more LH. It also reduces cortisol which indirectly supports testosterone and LH production.

Usage: Take 300 mg using standardized LJ100 formulated with Labrasol (an agent used by the pharmaceutical industry to increase bioavailability). That's one softgel daily using Omega-Man High Absorption Longjack (Buy at Amazon).

2. Try Resveratrol

Resveratrol acts as an aromatase inhibitor, reducing estrogen conversion and signaling the hypothalamus to increase GnRH and LH production. It also improves the sensitivity of LH receptors in Leydig cells.

Usage: Take 600 mg daily: two softgels of Rez-V High Absorption Resveratrol (Buy at Amazon). Rez-V uses active trans-resveratrol and a specialized delivery system to increase absorption.

3. Top Off Your Vitamin D and Zinc

The idea here is to make sure you're not already lacking in these two nutrients. You don't want to add a vitamin or mineral deficiency to marijuana usage.

Adequate vitamin D levels are strongly linked to improved testosterone and LH production. It optimizes testosterone and LH by enhancing GnRH secretion and pituitary response. Make sure your blood levels of vitamin D are in the high-normal range by taking the microencapsulated form. D Fix High Absorption Vitamin D (Buy at Amazon) contains 5000 IU.

Zinc deficiency is also linked to suppressed testosterone and LH levels. Supplementation restores LH by supporting overall reproductive hormone balance. Take 30 mg daily using the chelated form. That dosage is part of the Elitepro Vital Minerals (Buy at Amazon) formula.

[Brant_Drake]

Out of curiosity, and since you live in Colorado - do you ingest marijuana in any form?

[Chris_Shugart]

Here’s the full story: I tried it twice, one time in my late 20s and one time in my 30s (once smoked, once in a homemade edible) and didn’t like the effects at all. Could not figure out why people were so obsessed with it and made it a lifestyle.

But, as I learned later, I ingested way too much both times. I kinda blame my friends: no one explained how long it takes for most edibles to kick in, so I kept having more. Not a good time when it all hit.

After moving to Colorado and having it available legally, I tried edibles again and learned that I like the occasional microdose, like 2.5 to 5 mg to chill out and sleep, usually a blend of sativa and indica with high CBD content. Typically, the normal “serving” is considered 10 mg, but people go WAY over that of course. I’m not sure if they build a tolerance or just enjoy being obliterated.

But I don’t like the feeling of being stoned. Same with alcohol. I hate the feeling of being drunk, but a little relaxed and tipsey is fun sometimes at a dinner party. Same with cannabis: the occasional baby dose to squash a stressful day instead of a drink.

[Brant_Drake]

@Chris_Shugart

ingested way too much both times

I have a chef friend who decided to do a tasting menu in Colorado when weed was legalized. He invited a food critic who was into that, but he way over shot the mark. 40 minutes in the critic was drooling into his own armpit.

This is my favorite microdose, and it’s maybe a once a week thing, if that.

Mods, feel free to take this down if it’s against the rules.

[Chris_Shugart]

2.5 mg is a great dose! I usually just cut a 5 mg edible in half, and I can tell if my cut wasn’t perfect.

Back when legal weed first hit Colorado, the retail stores could sell anything. The edible section looked like a bakery, and people did NOT read the labels or ask questions to their “budtender.” So they’d eat a 100 mg brownie and have an unwanted “experience.” Lots of tourists got into trouble.

It’s much better now. Even with chocolate bars each scored nib has to be labeled with milligrams. No more baked goods that I’ve seen. Very strict packaging rules today, which was needed.

[RicoD]

I use weed, pretty much, everyday. Have been doing so since I was 18. 50 now. I quit drinking alcohol when I was 28. Don’t do anything other than the marijuana.

I work out 6 days a week. Would be 7 if someone hadn’t convinced me I should take a day off. I have never once felt like marijuana does any of the things that people say that it does. It doesn’t make me lazy. It doesn’t give me issues with erections. Doesn’t mess with my sperm count although I don’t test that, I guess, regularly… No complaints though from those who do. I am highly successful in a demanding career that is paid based on performance. Have no issues with memory.

It does however bring me a tremendous amount of pain relief. Which I tend to be in every single day. Reference the workout schedule. It also chills me out. I tend to be a little bit of a hyper twit when I have had to go without some bud for a while.

For years now when trying to help peers who look at me and want to be like me I always start by asking about their current habits. Specifically their consumption habits. I want to know what they’re eating and I want to know what their abusing. Pretty much all of them abuse alcohol. When I tell them that’s the first step they should take. Remove alcohol from your life. They tend to respond with “I need something to wind me down.” That’s when I suggest marijuana. The looks I get are interesting because they act as if I just told them they should be eating a handful of cocaine every morning. They all failed to understand that alcohol is worse for their body than marijuana. They think marijuana is this terrible illicit drug that’s going to make them rob their local convenience store.

[antiquity]

@Chris_Shugart

But, as I learned later, I ingested way too much both times.

This is so true and reminds of Wendler always telling people to start lighter than you think. But, true to form, I ate the whole cookie the first time I tried an edible and started my first cycle of 531 with too high of a training max. Some things you just need to experience yourself and no amount of wisdom from others will make a difference.

[alex_uk]

@Chris_Shugart

no one explained how long it takes for most edibles to kick in, so I kept having more.

Sounds like the experience I had with the wife in Amsterdam, only with mushrooms… Long, crazy night.

[freshyfresh]

@alex_uk

Long, crazy night.

Meanwhile the first time I tried mushrooms I was in an all you can eat sushi restaurant. I started freezing and getting nauseous. Then I got home, laid outside, and read “Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep”. It was fun time

[Chris_Shugart]

@freshyfresh

Then I got home, laid outside, and read “Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep”.

Good choice for a 'shroom trip! Well, I assume so. Never tried psychedelics, but it’s a great book.

[Cottender]

I can imagine how nerve-wracking it must’ve been, especially with that whole “first-time” vibe. Dealing with weed doesn’t have to be all sketchy like that anymore. A lot of places like Toronto Cannabis Shop have made the process way easier and safer. You just pop in, grab what you need, and you’re out the door, no hassle. No more parking lot deals or shady exchanges, just straightforward shopping. If you’re thinking about getting into supplements with your marijuana use, you might want to consider stuff like CBD or other complementary products that can help balance things out.