Another way in which cannabis could encourage exercise is by aiding recovery, Bryan says. What researchers do know is that intense physical activity puts stress on the body. It triggers a flood of chemicals known as cytokines, some of which inflame muscles, that manifests as soreness the next day.
Cannabis might modulate this inflammation — but potentially in multiple conflicting ways. Bryan explains that although cannabidiol CBD , a non-psychoactive component of cannabis, has been shown to suppress pro-inflammatory cytokines, the psychoactive part, tetrahydrocannabinol THC , stimulates both pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines.
In other words, CBD could limit the feeling of sore muscles, whereas THC could help to both prevent and trigger the discomfort. Some studies suggest that THC can also help to manage pain 5 , which might also boost recovery, she says.
Meanwhile, a survey, the results of which are unpublished, conducted on social media by Humboldt State University in Arcata, California, which targeted people who use cannabis with exercise, had roughly an equal number of male and female participants. Olympic snowboarder Ross Rebagliati tested positive for the cannabinoid tetrahydrocannabinol in Led by Whitney Ogle, a physical therapist and cannabis researcher at Humboldt, the survey of people uncovered cannabis use before all sorts of physical activity — 55 activities in total, ranging from archery to waterskiing.
Aside from sheer enjoyment, people in the Humboldt survey reported numerous other benefits of combining cannabis with exercise.
They thought that cannabis increased their focus, concentration and mind—body awareness — something that elite athletes have also reported 6 , although scientists have yet to come up with possible mechanisms for these effects. Soon, researchers could have access to populations with a wider range of activity levels.
Eleven US states and the District of Columbia have approved recreational marijuana use, and 33 states allow medical marijuana. Although survey data are valuable for designing experiments, they will not provide the evidence that researchers such as Bryan crave. Only three small studies made the cut 7. Conducted between and in people under the age of 35, two of the studies in the review 7 had participants exercise before and after smoking cannabis.
The third study was purely observational. In areas such as workout times, heart rate and blood pressure, the studies mostly recorded either no difference from the control groups, or negative effects.
The sole positive finding, from a study with 24 participants, was an increase in forced exhalation, or the amount of air participants could exhale after taking a deep breath. Despite the lack of evidence that cannabis enhances performance, the concern led the World Anti-Doping Agency WADA to ban cannabis use during competitions when it assumed responsibility for the list of prohibited substances in As well as having potential to enhance performance, it poses health risks to athletes, and is illegal in many parts of the world.
For example, goalkeepers in football say that cannabis increases their focus, helping them drown out the many distractions in the stadium. Athletes in other sports, such as skateboarding and skiing, say that cannabis reduces competition anxiety that can hinder performance.
Cannabis might not enhance performance at all doses and in all situations, he says, but its use could be advantageous in some circumstances. More from Nature Outlooks. In , before WADA officially took on its anti-doping duties, Canadian snowboarder Ross Rebagliati was stripped of his Olympic gold medal after officials detected In , WADA raised the level of cannabis allowed in urine samples from 15 nanograms per millilitre to nanograms per millilitre.
Federal policy requires that scientists submit to an application process that can take six months to one year. On approval, researchers are only allowed to use government-provided cannabis with levels of THC that are often lower than those of cannabis available to the public. Researchers are coming up with creative ways to get around these rules. With these kinds of creative approach, Bryan says, scientists could start investigating the effects of cannabis on specific aspects of exercise such as inflammation.
This article is part of Nature Outlook: Cannabis , an editorially independent supplement produced with the financial support of third parties. Apply market research to generate audience insights.
Measure content performance. Develop and improve products. List of Partners vendors. There are a number of different things that can happen to you when you smoke weed. In addition to the immediate short-term impact of the substance, smoking pot can also have long-term effects on both your mind and body. These effects can vary from person to person. Different ways of taking the substance can also play a role in how it impacts your body. Smoking marijuana is one of the fastest routes of administration that produces rapid changes in your brain and body.
In order to understand the possible risks of marijuana, it is important to first understand what happens to your body when you smoke weed. The reaction you may have when trying marijuana can vary dramatically based on many factors. In other cases, people report feeling relaxed or "high. The effects of using marijuana can be unpredictable, especially when it is mixed with other drugs, research shows.
You may feel relaxed on the drug, but other things you might not be expecting with pot use can include rapid heart rate and other unpleasant symptoms.
As with any drug or substance that can alter perception, logic, and usual behavior, there are several short-term hazards of using marijuana from impaired driving abilities to memory loss. Some people who use marijuana report having sudden feelings of anxiety and paranoid thoughts, and this might be caused by trying higher-potency marijuana, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse.
Research also shows that regular use of marijuana is linked to an increased risk of depression, anxiety, and a loss of motivation or drive. You may feel "dopey" on the drug, which is when you begin to lose interest in activities that you might have previously enjoyed or you may lose the ability to grasp concepts easily.
Any drug that is taken over a prolonged period of time can have an effect on your health. Several of the physical barriers that can occur range from infertility problems to overall brain function. Some studies suggest that the impact that marijuana has can depend on the age at which a person began smoking marijuana and for how long they used the substance.
In addition to smoking and being consumed in edibles, marijuana can also be inhaled by vaping heated oil smoked through an e-cigarette. There is little known about the negative health effects of vaping THC products , but a number of serious lung injuries have been attributed to vaping. Part of experimenting with intoxicating substances is learning limits, however uncomfortable that might get at times. Be prepared for remedies to not work.
If it was a good experience, why? Did it unlock unexpected feelings or sensations? Did you find a new perspective? Did you feel physically sick? Did uncomfortable emotions come up?
Jackie Bryant is a freelance writer who focuses on cannabis, food, travel, and other culture topics. Originally from New York, she now calls San Diego home. She also writes a newsletter and hosts a podcast , both about cannabis culture. More of her work can be found here. Sativa and indica are the two main types of cannabis plants.
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