Faster, Stronger, Higher? Workouts and Weed - 2024 Update

In an inspiring turn of events, U.S. sprinter Sha'Carri Richardson won a silver medal at the Paris 2024 Olympics. It's a stark contrast to the 2021 Tokyo Olympics, when she was banned from competition due to testing positive for cannabis.

This victory not only marks a big achievement for Sha’Carri, but also underscores the ongoing conversation about cannabis use in sports. Can weed really make you a better athlete? Does it help the average person with their fitness goals?

New studies suggest working out while you're high may help you exercise more effectively, more often, and even more enjoyably.

Cannabis as a Workout Buddy

In a 2019 survey, Angela Bryan, a professor of psychology and neuroscience at the University of Colorado Boulder, and her colleagues recruited about 600 regular cannabis users and quizzed them on their use of the drug.

Dr. Bryan thought the stereotype of the lazy stoner would hold true. But to her surprise, roughly half of the people in the study said that cannabis motivated them to exercise.

What's more:

• 52 percent said cannabis made them more motivated to work out
• 70 percent said it boosted how much they enjoyed the activity
• 78 percent claimed it helped their recovery.

Newer research confirms some of these findings. A 2022 study published in the Journal of Cannabis Research explores how cannabis affects exercise recovery, finding that certain cannabinoids may reduce inflammation and muscle soreness post-exercise. This adds to the growing scientific evidence that CBD creams, alone or with THC, may reduce pain and inflammation.

Weed and the Runner’s High

Cannabis may enhance the "runner's high" that makes exercise enjoyable. A 2003 study found elevated levels of the endocannabinoid molecule anandamide in the blood of volunteers after they ran or cycled in a lab. Because cannabis targets these same endocannabinoid receptors, Dr. Bryan told Nature.com, she thinks the drug might "jumpstart" those pleasurable feelings.

She stresses there is no direct evidence yet connecting cannabis to a runner’s high. But nevertheless, she notes, people say they enjoy exercise with cannabis, which could create a positive feedback loop that motivates them to go back to the gym. "If something feels good,” she says, “you’re going to want to do it again."

Weed & Working out: Start Slow

A study from 2023, featured in Frontiers in Physiology, examined the impact of cannabis on exercise performance, noting that while some users reported improved focus and endurance, others experienced no significant changes or even adverse effects.

Similarly, a study published in Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise in 2023 pointed out that cannabis demonstrates clear potential to alter cardiovascular, respiratory, and cognitive function.

If you're interested in adding weed to your workout routine, it's a good idea to start with a small dosage, suited to both your fitness and tolerance levels. And as always when exercising, be sure to listen to your body - it will seldom steer you wrong.

Do you work out with weed? Thinking of joining an elevated yoga class? Let us know in the comments below.