Study Reveals Cannabis Use Before Exercise Increases Enjoyment and ‘Runner’s High’ but May Lead to Greater Effort

The recent study on cannabis consumption before exercising has shed light on its complex effects, revealing both enhanced enjoyment and an increased sensation of physical exertion. This intriguing research, published in the prominent journal Sports Medicine, was conducted by a team of experts at the University of Colorado. Their investigation delved into the nuanced impacts of cannabis use on exercise experiences, offering insights that extend beyond common assumptions.

According to the study’s findings, which remained consistent regardless of whether THC- or CBD-dominant cannabis products were used, participants generally reported heightened levels of enjoyment during exercise. Interestingly, those who used CBD-dominant products specifically noted a more pronounced sense of enjoyment, coupled with a less significant rise in perceived exertion levels.

The authors of the study highlighted its novelty, pointing out that it represents the first scholarly attempt to explore the acute effects of commercially available cannabis on subjective exercise responses in a controlled laboratory setting. They emphasized the dual nature of cannabis’s impact, citing an increase in both positive aspects (such as affect and enjoyment) and negative aspects (notably exertion) among individuals who have prior experience combining cannabis use with exercise.

The study, which involved a team of five authors, is viewed as a groundbreaking contribution to a relatively undeveloped field of research. So far, the region has primarily been defined by cross-sectional surveys and studies that concentrate on the immediate impact of cannabis on physical activity and athletic performance.

However, the authors noted a distinct difference in the approach of recreational cannabis users compared to the focus of their study. They observed that recreational users typically consume cannabis for reasons unrelated to enhancing performance, such as for personal enjoyment or pain management. Furthermore, these users generally concur that cannabis does not boost their exercise performance. This distinction underlines the complexity of cannabis’s role in physical activity and fitness, illustrating a multifaceted relationship that warrants further exploration and understanding in both scientific and recreational contexts.

The University of Colorado Study Explores Cannabis Use in Exercise

To execute this groundbreaking study, the research team from the University of Colorado meticulously selected participants from the Boulder area. These individuals were not only required to meet specific health standards but also needed to have a history of cannabis use during running or jogging without experiencing any adverse effects. Furthermore, they were required to demonstrate the ability to engage in 30 minutes of continuous physical activity.

The study was structured over three distinct sessions. The first session involved a baseline assessment to establish the fitness and health parameters of the participants. The subsequent two visits were dedicated to exercise activities – one session with cannabis use and another without. For the cannabis-related session, participants were assigned either a THC-dominant product, containing 24% THC and 1% CBD, or a CBD-dominant product with 1% THC and 20% CBD. Due to regulations set by the institutional review board, participants were given the liberty to either adhere to the assigned product or switch to the alternative formulation, should they prefer.

On the scheduled day for the cannabis-influenced exercise, the researchers employed a unique approach. They utilized a “federally compliant, university-approved mobile pharmacological laboratory” that was transported to each participant’s residence. In this controlled environment, participants were instructed to consume the cannabis product according to their habits. The method of consumption and the amount used were carefully recorded by weighing the cannabis before and after usage to approximate consumption levels.

Following cannabis consumption, participants were transported to the exercise facility. Here, they began with a warm-up session on a treadmill, which was followed by a 30-minute exercise routine on the same machine. Throughout the exercise period, various physical metrics, including heart rate, were monitored and recorded. After completing the exercise, participants filled out a post-exercise questionnaire and were then driven back to their homes.

The study included a total of 42 participants in its final analysis. The majority of these participants had previously combined cannabis use with activities such as running or jogging (32 individuals), hiking (24 individuals), and cycling (17 individuals).

The baseline data revealed some compelling insights. A significant majority of the participants (90.5%) indicated that cannabis use increased their enjoyment of exercise. Additionally, 69.0% reported a reduction in pain and discomfort levels during exercise due to cannabis, 59.5% experienced improved focus, and 57.1% felt an increase in motivation to exercise. However, only 45.2% of participants felt that cannabis use made time pass more quickly during their workouts, and a mere 28.6% believed that it enhanced their overall exercise performance.

The study’s findings demonstrated that during the cannabis exercise activity, participants experienced heightened enjoyment regardless of whether they used THC- or CBD-dominant products. Notably, those who used CBD reported a more significant difference in enjoyment levels compared to their experiences in the non-cannabis exercise session. This research offers new insights into the complex interplay between cannabis use and physical exercise, suggesting that while cannabis may enhance certain subjective aspects of exercise, its impact on objective performance metrics remains less clear.

“Participants reported significantly more enjoyment during their cannabis (vs non-cannabis) exercise appointment.”

Study Explores the Effects of CBD and THC on Exercise and Runner’s High

The study further elucidated the nuanced effects of CBD in comparison to THC. Participants who utilized CBD exhibited a notably greater improvement in their overall effect during exercise, a finding that was also reported, albeit to a lesser extent, by those who used THC-dominant products. Interestingly, the research also highlighted a correlation between cannabis use and the experience of more pronounced ‘runner’s high’ symptoms during physical activity. This effect appeared to be more significant among participants in the THC group compared to those who opted for the CBD-dominant product.

However, alongside these perceived benefits, there was a notable increase in the level of exertion reported by participants after using cannabis before exercise. This increase in perceived exertion was particularly prominent among those who used THC-dominant products, as they reported a more marked contrast in exertion levels between their cannabis and non-cannabis exercise sessions.

The study also examined other factors such as pain perception and affective arousal but found no statistically significant differences in these measures.

The research team acknowledged certain limitations imposed by ongoing federal restrictions on cannabis. These regulations prevented the implementation of a standardized administration procedure, thereby limiting the researchers’ ability to establish direct causal effects. Additionally, due to federal regulations prohibiting the consumption of state-regulated, commercially available cannabis products in laboratory settings, participants had to consume their assigned cannabis products at their homes. They were then transported to the exercise facility in a mobile pharmacology laboratory, leading to an average delay of 32 minutes between cannabis consumption and the exercise session.

The home-based consumption also meant that blinding participants to the cannabinoid levels in the products was not feasible. State legislation mandates that THC and CBD content be clearly labeled on all commercially available products, resulting in participants being fully aware of the cannabinoid content of their assigned products.

The authors pointed out that the majority of their participants (90.5 percent) already had a positive disposition towards combining cannabis with exercise at the outset of the study, and most were regular exercisers. The participant pool consisted of healthy, habitual exercisers, averaging 383 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous intensity exercise per week, significantly surpassing the minimum exercise guidelines.

The inclusion criteria for the study meant excluding men over 40 and women over 50, mainly due to concerns about cardiovascular health. As a result, a considerable portion of the sample comprised non-Hispanic White men aged 21 to 40 years. The researchers suggested that future studies should strive to include more diverse participant samples.

This study adds to the growing body of research concerning cannabis and its diverse effects. According to a recent report from NORML, a cannabis advocacy organization, more than 32,000 scientific papers on cannabis have been published in just the past decade.

In related research, a separate study published in July surveyed 49 runners. It found that during runs under the influence of cannabis, participants experienced less negative affect, greater feelings of positive affect, tranquility, enjoyment, and dissociation, as well as more symptoms associated with ‘runner’s high.’ Although these runners were on average 31 seconds slower per mile when using cannabis, the researchers deemed this difference not to be statistically significant. This body of research continues to shed light on the complex and varied effects of cannabis use on physical exercise and performance.

Cannabis and Physical Activity: Challenging Stereotypes and Shaping Policy in Sports

The reported positive effects of cannabis on runners align with the results of a 2019 study. This study discovered that individuals using cannabis to enhance their workouts typically engaged in a healthier amount of physical activity. This finding suggests that cannabis use could potentially motivate an increase in exercise frequency or intensity among certain populations.

In a similar vein, a 2020 study shed light on the exercise habits of older cannabis consumers. The study’s findings suggested that older individuals who use cannabis are more likely to engage in physical activities. This discovery contradicts the common stereotype that associates cannabis users with lower levels of physical activity and underscores the potential of cannabis in encouraging physical activity among older adults.

Further breaking stereotypes, a 2021 study found a surprising correlation between frequent cannabis consumption and physical activity levels. Contrary to common assumptions, regular cannabis users in this study were observed to be more physically active than those who did not use cannabis. This study contributes to the increasing body of evidence that questions conventional perceptions regarding the lifestyle behaviors of cannabis users.

Recent research published last month has also delved into the perceptions of sports medicine providers regarding CBD and cannabis. The findings indicated that these medical professionals generally hold positive views toward both CBD and cannabis, with many advocating for the legalization of cannabis for both recreational and medical purposes. A significant number of these professionals also expressed the opinion that cannabis should no longer be included in the World Anti-Doping Agency’s (WADA) list of prohibited substances.

In a notable move, WADA removed CBD from its list of prohibited substances in 2018. However, cannabis continues to be banned in competition by WADA and several other professional and international sports organizations.

Meanwhile, an NCAA panel recommended in September that the association’s divisional governing bodies should consider removing cannabis from their list of banned substances for college athletes. This recommendation reflects a growing acknowledgment within sports organizations of the need to reevaluate cannabis’s status as a banned substance.

The call for reform gained momentum following the suspension of U.S. runner Sha’Carri Richardson from Olympic events in 2021 due to a positive THC test. This incident sparked widespread discussion and advocacy for change. Following Richardson’s suspension, the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) publicly acknowledged that international rules on cannabis usage in sports must be revised. Additionally, President Joe Biden and the White House indicated support for new policies, a sentiment echoed by congressional lawmakers.

USADA, which initially expressed sympathy towards Richardson, later issued a statement explicitly advocating for a policy change. The organization echoed President Biden’s viewpoint that although rules must be adhered to, there is a requirement to reevaluate the prohibition of cannabis in sports.

In another intriguing finding, a study published last month revealed that states with legalized cannabis experienced improved recruitment for college basketball teams. However, the same study noted a decline in performance outcomes for football teams in these states. This research adds another dimension to the ongoing debate about the implications of cannabis legalization, particularly in the realm of sports and athletics.