The use of cannabis, specifically weed, before exercising might make workouts more enjoyable, but it might not be the best choice for those aiming for peak performance.
This insight comes from a recent study, the first to explore how legal, commercially available cannabis influences the exercise experience.
Researchers from CU’s Center for Health and Addiction: Neuroscience, Genes, and Environment (CU Change) studied 42 runners.
Their findings, published on December 26 in the journal Sports Medicine, arrived a decade after Colorado initiated legal recreational marijuana sales. Notably, many people report using cannabis in combination with exercise.
Laurel Gibson, the study’s lead researcher, and her team found that using cannabis before exercise seems to boost mood and enjoyment during workouts, regardless of whether the product contained THC or CBD.
However, THC, a more intoxicating component of cannabis, might make exercise feel tougher.
This research challenges the old belief that cannabis use leads to laziness, suggesting instead that it might help get people moving. Angela Bryan, a senior researcher, notes the importance of finding new methods to combat sedentary lifestyles.
If cannabis can be a tool to encourage physical activity, it should be explored, weighing both its benefits and risks.
The study’s participants, who were already accustomed to running while using cannabis, were asked to choose either a CBD-dominant or THC-dominant strain from a dispensary.
They then ran on a treadmill at a moderate pace, both sober and after using cannabis, while researchers measured various factors like motivation, enjoyment, perceived effort, time perception, and pain levels.
Due to federal laws, participants used cannabis at home and were transported to the lab in a mobile unit dubbed the “CannaVan.” Safety precautions, like wearing a safety belt on the treadmill, were taken.
Overall, the participants experienced greater enjoyment and a more intense sense of euphoria, or “runner’s high,” when exercising after using cannabis.
This effect was surprisingly stronger in the CBD group than the THC group, suggesting possible mood benefits without the impairment associated with THC.
However, THC users reported that exercise felt harder when under its influence, possibly due to THC’s effect on increasing heart rate. In a previous remote study, Bryan and Gibson found that while cannabis use increased enjoyment, it also slowed runners’ pace.
Bryan emphasizes that cannabis is not a performance-enhancing drug. This is notable in light of several elite athletes being barred from competitions due to cannabis use.
The NCAA has even considered removing cannabis from its list of banned substances.
The study also explores why cannabis might make exercise feel better. Contrary to the belief that endorphins create the “runner’s high,” recent research points to endogenous cannabinoids, natural brain chemicals, as the source of this euphoria and alertness after extended exercise. Using CBD or THC might help athletes achieve or enhance this high.
Still, athletes should be aware of the risks, like dizziness and loss of balance. While it might not be suitable for those aiming for top performance in short races, it could be beneficial for long-distance runners or those struggling to find motivation for exercise.
Bryan is particularly interested in how low-dose cannabis could help those who find exercise challenging or unenjoyable. While it’s too soon for broad recommendations, the potential for cannabis to aid in increasing physical activity is worth investigating.
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The research findings can be found in Sports Medicine.
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