Cannabis Makes Exercise More Enjoyable According To Study

When it comes to cannabis, some people tend to think of it as a substance that promotes relaxation and laziness. On the other hand, exercise is often associated with energy and activity. These two activities seem like complete opposites, but could they actually work together?

According to a recent study from researchers at the University of Colorado published in Sports Medicine, cannabis may actually make exercise more enjoyable.

“We have an epidemic of sedentary lifestyle in this country, and we need new tools to try to get people to move their bodies in ways that are enjoyable,” said senior author Angela Bryan, a professor of psychology and neuroscience and co-director of CU Change. “If cannabis is one of those tools, we need to explore it, keeping in mind both the harms and the benefits.”

The study involved 42 volunteer runners from the Boulder area who were regular cannabis users. These participants were asked to complete baseline tests and then use strains of cannabis that were either high in THC or CBD before running on a treadmill for 30 minutes. Two days later, the same tests were repeated without using cannabis. Surveys were given to the participants before and after the runs to measure their mood, pain levels, and perceived difficulty of the workout.

Result From Study

After analyzing the results, the researchers found that nearly every test subject reported that cannabis made their exercise more enjoyable, reduced pain when running, and boosted their motivation. This suggests that cannabis may have a significant impact on how people perceive and experience physical activity.

One possible explanation for this is the role of endocannabinoids in producing what is commonly known as a “runner’s high.” These are chemicals produced by the body during exercise that can induce feelings of euphoria and reduce pain levels. Cannabis, which contains compounds similar to those found in endocannabinoids, may enhance this experience and make exercise more pleasurable.

Interestingly, the study also found that participants who used strains dominant in CBD reported higher levels of enjoyment compared to those who used THC-dominant strains.

The study also looked at the impact of cannabis on perceived exertion during exercise. They found that overall, participants reported feeling more exertion when using cannabis, particularly those who used THC-dominant strains. This suggests that cannabis is not a performance-enhancing drug in the traditional sense.

“It is pretty clear from our research that cannabis is not a performance enhancing drug,” Angela Bryan, co-senior study author and a professor of psychology and neuroscience at the University of Colorado Boulder, said in a statement.

These findings have significant implications for major sports organizations and their stance on cannabis use. In recent years, we have seen some organizations relax their rules or even remove cannabis from their banned substance lists entirely. For example, the UFC officially removed cannabis from its prohibited list. This study adds to the growing body of evidence that suggests cannabis may not have a negative impact on athletic performance.

Overall, the study conducted by researchers from the University of Colorado suggests that cannabis may actually make exercise more enjoyable. The results showed that participants who used cannabis before exercising reported higher levels of enjoyment and motivation, as well as reduced pain levels. However, it is worth noting that this was a small-scale study with only 42 participants, so more research is needed to fully understand the effects of cannabis on exercise.

So, while this study provides some promising findings, there are still many questions to be answered. How does cannabis actually affect physical performance? What are the long-term effects of using cannabis before exercise?

These are just some of the questions that future research can explore. But for now, it seems that the stereotype of “lazy stoners” may not apply to those who use cannabis and exercise. Who knows, maybe one day we’ll see cannabis as a regular part of athletes’ training routines.

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