The stereotypical image of a cannabis user is someone who doesn’t move from the couch for hours on end, surrounded by bongs and an arrangement of different snacks. Thanks to the stigma surrounding cannabis, users are often seen as lazy and unmotivated. Despite these common perceptions surrounding cannabis users, recent studies have shown that there is a positive correlation between smoking and exercising.
Angela Bryan, a social psychologist at the University of Colorado Boulder, was concerned by the increased levels of appetite and aided relaxation caused by cannabis, thinking it would lead to heightened levels of obesity. In saying this, Bryan’s team surveyed more than 600 cannabis users living in the United states about their exercise habits.
Bryan was shocked by the survey results, with four out of five respondents saying they use cannabis right before or after exercising. Additionally, these users spent more minutes per week exercising than users who didn’t use the two together. 70% of overall respondents who use cannabis before working out claimed doing so made exercising more enjoyable. Now the question is…why?
When considering the possibilities regarding how exactly cannabis has this effect on physical exercise, it’s important to consider the specific chemical interactions at play. A study from 2003 conducted by NeuroReport found heightened levels of the endocannabinoid molecule anandamide within the blood of volunteers after exercising. Since cannabis targets these same endocannabinoid receptors, the drug might let users “jumpstart” those pleasurable emotions.
Another possibility is that when users connect cannabis with an enjoyable exercise experience, it ultimately creates a positive feedback loop that increases motivation. What exactly does this mean? If something feels good to your body, you’re going to want to continue doing that thing, in this case we are referring to using cannabis while exercising.
Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), has a big role in the positive relation between cannabis and exercise, with it stimulating both pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines. This means that cannabis can both prevent and trigger the discomfort that occurs within muscles while exercising.
As we can see, there are a lot of chemical explanations of the positive correlation between cannabis and exercise, but a lot has to do with the mental effects as well. For people struggling with body image issues or anxiety disorders, there can be a lot of negative and obsessive thoughts that surround the concept of exercise. Cannabis has been proven to reduce those racing thoughts and allows users to enjoy the simple act of moving your body.
While we know mixing cannabis and exercise is not for everyone, there can be a plethora of benefits that are definitely worth trying out. If this does spark your interest, our advice is to start with something simple, such as a walk in nature. This allows you to ease into the world of cannabis and exercise, and see how it affects your own body.
