How Does Cannabis Affect a Workout?

Fact checked by Nick Blackmer

Key Takeaways

• Some people use cannabis to increase enjoyment and motivation for their workouts.

• One study shows that runners are slower while using cannabis, but they feel more of a “runner’s high.”

• Cannabis may reduce pain and inflammation for exercise recovery, but more research is needed to confirm the connection.

More than half of Americans now live in a state where recreational cannabis use is legal, and weed-positive workout groups and hiking clubs are cropping up in these states. According to one survey, some of the most common exercises people do while using cannabis include hiking, yoga, and weightlifting.

A survey study published in 2023 found that a majority of people who use either THC or CBD report feeling that cannabis helps them with exercise recovery.

Combining THC with physical activities means you may lose some of your ability to make split-second decisions, said J. Derek Kingsley, PhD, FACSM, a coauthor of the 2023 study and an associate professor of exercise science and exercise physiology at Kent State University.

However, most survey respondents said they took cannabis for low-impact exercises like yoga and swimming, which don’t require “a lot of [fine] control,” Kingsley said. “Maybe being in a euphoric state could just help you kind of get through the exercise,” he added.

Some people might like to use cannabis before a workout to make it more enjoyable, but does it help with improving performance or recovery?

Related: Are Edibles Safer Than Smoking? New Study Sheds Light on Cannabis and Heart Problems

Cannabis and Physical Performance

A study published last year reported that participants ran 31 seconds per mile slower when using cannabis compared to running sober. However, the same runners said they felt more enjoyment and a greater “runner’s high” during cannabis runs.

“If you’re enjoying an activity, you’re more likely to do it again,” Jonny Lisano, PhD, a postdoctoral research associate at the CUChange lab at the University of Colorado Boulder, told Verywell. “If we could potentially use cannabis as a way for people to motivate engaging in exercise in a safe manner, I think that could be a good thing.”

This doesn’t mean everyone should start taking an edible before exercising, and there are plenty of unanswered questions when it comes to the benefits and risks of working out while high.

“I don’t think we can say, ‘Take 10 milligrams of THC with this edible and go run 10 miles.’ They might have a bad experience or over-intoxicate themselves with that high of a dose,” Lisano said. “If someone is trying it for the first time, ensure that they’re doing it in a safe area, but also that they’re starting low and going slow with how much they’re taking.”

Related: CBD vs. THC for Anxiety

Cannabis and Exercise Recovery

Some people use cannabis to recover after a long run or tough workout. Kingsley said both THC and CBD have been linked to mitigating pain, reducing inflammation, and improving sleep—all of which are hallmarks of exercise recovery.

THC and CBD, the two major compounds in cannabis, bind with endocannabinoid receptors throughout the body. The endocannabinoid system regulates many important functions like memory, emotional processing, immune responses, inflammation, and pain. This system could help explain the physiological effects associated with cannabis and exercise, but it’s not well understood.

“The endocannabinoid system is present in many of our physiological organ systems, so there is potential for cannabis use during exercise to affect some of these systems. We know that THC acting on cannabinoid receptors in the heart may alter blood pressure and heart rate, for instance,” Leah Sera, PharmD, MA, BCPS, codirector of the medical cannabis science and therapeutics program at the University of Maryland School of Pharmacy, told Verywell in an email.

However, most studies on cannabis use and exercise are observational and only evaluate the participants’ perceptions of the effects of cannabis on performance and recovery, Sera explained.

“That’s not to say we should discount this information, but understand that there’s a lot we still don’t know about whether or not cannabis has an effect on physical performance or recovery,” Sera said.

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What This Means For You

Cannabis might make exercising more enjoyable, but researchers are still learning how cannabis affects physical activity performance and recovery. Before combining exercise and cannabis, consider your risks and tolerance levels.

Read the original article on Verywell Health.