For most people, the idea of combining marijuana with a fitness routine seems counterintuitive. But many athletes swear cannabis improves their ability to perform.
How could a substance known for its generation of a laid-back attitude and contribution to munchies create gains in athletic performance at the same time? Some of the research may surprise you.
Marijuana Users Less Likely to Develop Obesity
One study of adults 18 years and older found that the prevalence of obesity in non-marijuana users was 22 and 25% while those who had used marijuana in the past 12 months had rates of between 14 and 17%.
The study adjusted for factors like sex and age and determined that obesity rates were lower among those who used cannabis. While correlation certainly does not equal causation, this does suggest there may be something to the anecdotal claims of enhanced performance that deserve a closer look.
Marijuana May Increase Exercise Minutes
A 600 recreational cannabis users survey found that four out of five used cannabis as part of their workout routine. And when compared to people who did not use marijuana, those incorporating cannabis worked out longer each week.
Of course, putting in more minutes could contribute to enhanced performance.
Exercise May Be More Enjoyable
If you get bored blazing away on a treadmill for 60 minutes, you can relate. The survey of cannabis users cited increased enjoyment of exercise as a benefit of the weed workout.
We already know that working out increases the release of endorphins, creating what’s commonly referred to as a runner high. Marijuana in your system may make it easier for you to tap into this internal motivation.
Weed May Take the Guardrails Off Certain Hormones
Cannabis interacts with the endocannabinoid system in the human body. The ECS normally works to maintain homeostasis, keeping hormones in balance. It acts as guardrails to keep your brain on track.
But the THC in marijuana has been shown to bind with the ECS receptors in the brain and disrupt this homeostasis. This may allow for a faster occurring or more intense “Runner’s High” as hormones can move and interact with the body more freely.
It May Improve Recovery
Many tout the use of marijuana to promote faster recovery. Exercise works by putting controlled stress on the body. That stress produces the cytokines associated with inflammation. Inflammation can slow recovery.
Cannabis may help the body manage this inflammation. We know that THC is both pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory, while CBD (also found in cannabis at your local Chicago dispensary) is primarily anti-inflammatory. These two working together may reduce muscle discomfort and the inflammation that causes pain.
It May Provide a Burst of Energy
This may sound counterintuitive based on the perception that marijuana decreases your motivation. However, we can certainly make the case if you’re too tired to go to the gym, introducing a little marijuana to that equation can give you just enough energy to overcome the hump and get out the door.
Most of us who regularly work out know that exercise can overcome tiredness. But it takes discipline to start moving if you’ve had a long day. Cannabis may be giving people that little push they need before the exercise kicks in and boosts energy levels.
Cannabis May Increase Fat Metabolism
In addition to people who use cannabis being less likely to be obese, we have seen some studies that tried both quantify and explain this. They found that when participants began using cannabis, their BMI dropped, after accounting for other variables. The mechanism here is still unknown, but it may relate to marijuana’s ability to increase appetite temporarily.
It’s very possible that this temporary increase is creating an overall reduction and thus a calorie deficit that could lead to lower BMIs.
We, of course, need to be careful when using BMI as a standalone measure, since a lower BMI could also mean muscle loss. More studies are needed to confirm that the body composition result is a lower fat percentage.
Management of Usage Certainly Key to Any Benefits
As with just about anything, the dose makes the poison or the antidote. People can certainly overuse marijuana and then forget about hitting the gym. But they may also be able to use it to get up and out the door.
This appears to be the case with those claiming benefits from weed plus a workout.
Anecdotal Research But No Clear Evidence
At this time, more studies are needed to confirm the precise mechanics involved here. Thus far, most evidence for this has been based on personal experiences.
However, personal experiences are always the first step toward scientific discovery. Without scientists objectively observing experiences, they wouldn’t be able to create a hypothesis to study in the scientific method. We hope to see more research on this in the future.