Consuming cannabis before a workout can lead to greater pleasure and enhance the euphoric state associated with exercise, but it is also associated with a greater sense of exertion and feelings of fatigue, according to the study.
Effects of smoking dried cannabis before training
Z research work published in December 2023 by Colorado researchers found that using cannabis before exercise can lead to an increase in both positive and negative aspects of the experience. The results were similar for CBD- and THC-dominant dried cannabis, but the frequency of cannabis consumption is important to the type of experience - regular cannabinoid users experience post-exercise differently than occasional users.
Regular users of dried cannabis before training are more likely to report feeling pleasure and motivation. In contrast, occasional users tend to use cannabis for reasons other than performance enhancement (e.g. relaxation, pleasure, pain management) and agree that cannabis does not improve their physical performance.
The study failed to show a positive effect of dried cannabis on performance. The researchers write bluntly, "A little cannabis before a workout can increase motivation and make exercise more enjoyable. However, if the goal is to improve performance, it may be better to skip the joint."
This is the first study to examine how legal, commercially available marijuana in the US shapes the experience of exercise.
A study on the use of cannabis before training
Forty-two running participants took part in the study. In Colorado, recreational use of marijuana has been legal for 10 years, and the popularity of using THC-laced dried cannabis during athletic activity is high, so the researchers had no trouble recruiting runners who smoke before training.
After a baseline session, during which the researchers measured fitness and collected survey data, they instructed participants to pick up a specific flower strain containing mainly cannabidiol (CBD) or the Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) dominant strain from a hemp store.
During the first session, the subjects did not take cannabinoids of cannabis. They ran on a treadmill for 30 minutes at moderate speed, meanwhile answering questions about motivation, enjoyment, difficulty of exercise, sense of elapsed time and pain level. In subsequent sessions, they repeated the same exercise after using cannabis.
Interestingly, federal law prohibits the possession or distribution of marijuana on university campuses, so the runners smoked the drought at home, after which they were picked up by a mobile lab called "CannaVan" and driven back to campus.
Findings from study on cannabis use before training
The main conclusion of the researchers is that hemp seed before exercise seems to increase positive mood and enjoyment during exercise, regardless of whether it is a THC or CBD dominant strain. However, THC products can make exercise more challenging.
On an overall scale, subjects reported greater pleasure and more intense euphoria when they exercised after using dried hemp. The elevated mood was even greater in the CBD group than in the THC group. This suggests that athletes may be able to get some of the mood benefits without the impairment during exercise that can occur with THC.
Participants in the THC group reported that the same intensity of running during exercise after taking cannabinoids was significantly more strenuous and exerting than during exercise without the substance. According to the researchers, this may be related to THC's increase in heart rate.
Hemp seed as a cure for the "sedentary lifestyle epidemic"?
The findings seem to contradict established stereotypes that link cannabis with "lazing around on the couch," and prompt researchers to ask the question: can cannabis play a role in motivating people to be physically active?
"There is an epidemic of sedentary lifestyles in the US, and we need new tools to motivate people to move in an enjoyable way. If cannabis is one of those tools, we need to study it with both harms and benefits in mind," said one of the researchers, psychology and neuroscience professor and co-director of CU Change, Angela Bryan.
The researcher is most interested in the possibility of engaging in physical activity for people who don't do it, don't like it or have difficulty with it.
Why do people reach for dried hemp before working out?
According to the data collected by the researchers in the survey, the motivations for smoking dried cannabis before working out are as follows:
- 90.5% - increases pleasure
- 69% - reduces pain
- 59.5% - increases focus
- 57.1% - increases motivation
- 45.2% - makes time pass faster
- 28.6% - improves performance
Endorphins during running are a myth?
The pain-relieving endorphins have long been attributed to the famous "euphoric run". Newer research suggests this is a myth: it's not endorphins, but endocannabinoids that activate during prolonged exercise, causing euphoria, increasing concentration and alertness.
According to the researchers, athletes may be able to benefit from this condition during a shorter workout or intensify it during a long one by using CBD or THC. Hemp cannabinoids bind to the same receptors as the endocannabinoids produced naturally by our brains (this is the mechanism behind marijuana's effects on the body, including its medical use).
However, the researchers warn that people considering using marijuana should be aware that it may come with risks, such as dizziness and loss of balance, and is not for everyone.
For someone aiming for a good time over a short distance, using cannabis before training is unlikely to make sense. But for an ultra runner who just wants to get through a long training session, it may make sense.
Is it worth using dried hemp before training?
The World Anti-Doping Agency in 2018 allowed the use of CBD by athletes, but THC is still on the list of banned substances. There are many indications that this will soon change. Growing knowledge of the positive effects of dried hemp and the increasing popularity of medical marijuana therapy, including for recovery, will likely lead to the removal of THC from the list of banned substances in sports.
However, it is worth noting that the body's response to the consumption of cannabinoids before training can be varied and individual. These effects can depend on a number of factors, such as the dose consumed, the type of product used, individual predisposition and the body's tolerance. In addition, the effects of cannabis on the body's performance may vary depending on the type of physical activity.
Authors research review on the effects of using dried hemp before training emphasize that there is still a lack of methodologically strong research on the short- and long-term effects of using hemp cannabinoids before training.
The currently available results do not take into account many variables that may be crucial to understanding the effects of cannabinoids on athletic performance. Based on the current state of knowledge, it is difficult to determine safe dosages, the optimal chemical composition of dried cannabinoids for athletes, the method of administration, and how long before training cannabinoids should be administered.
Those interested in using cannabis in the context of training should be aware of these variables and monitor their own reactions. It is advisable to consult a doctor before introducing a psychoactive substance before exercising.
