Athletics and cannabis use can easily be seen, and often are, as incompatible. Today, however, smoking cannabis or consuming it as edibles or in other forms before training is becoming a more normal practice, and a number of athletes say they have noticed an improvement in their sport when trying the combination. “Marijuana relaxes me and allows me to get into a controlled, meditative place,” elite triathlete Clifford Drusinsky told Men’s Journal. 
Because cannabis is still classified as a Schedule I substance by the Drug Enforcement Administration in the United States, there has been little room for research into the possible benefits of cannabis when doing sport. However, the growing evidence available today gives an idea of the possibilities cannabis may offer.
Combining exercise and cannabis can increase the plant’s effects.
The effects of physical activity and cannabis can be quite similar. When we exercise, our body naturally produces a molecule almost identical to THC, known as anandamide, which is also fat-soluble. When we exercise, our fat is metabolised and anandamide is released, triggering feelings of euphoria and pleasure. Similarly, if we consume cannabis, THC is released into the bloodstream and creates many of the same effects and feelings. Combined, the two molecules produce a faster and greater pleasurable effect from exercise, since THC is naturally slower acting than anandamide. To test this, the University of Sydney gave cannabis to regular cannabis users and asked them to complete 35 minutes of exercise on a stationary bike. Looking at the test subjects’ blood levels, the researchers found that THC levels in their system rose by up to 15%, extending and enhancing the effects for users.
Combining cannabis and exercise may result in a leaner body.
Research published in 2013 in the American Journal of Medicine indicates that cannabis users who exercised had, on average, a 7% lower Body Mass Index (BMI) and a 4% smaller waist circumference than their counterparts who did not use the plant; in addition, their insulin levels were 16% lower and their insulin resistance improved by 17%. The researchers speculate that marijuana improves insulin control and therefore helps to regulate body weight. “Ganja Yoga” and “marijuana-friendly gyms” are two businesses making their way into the world of exercise combined with cannabis. As attitudes towards marijuana and wellbeing have changed, athletes and yogis have decided to create spaces where people can fully embrace both passions at once. At Twisted Sister Yoga, a yoga studio in Denver, Colorado, they say that “through dedicated practice you can cultivate clarity”. The Times of India also says that “cannabis floods the brain with dopamine, lowers inhibitions and increases the sense of spiritual connection.” Historians date the use of cannabis to induce meditation back centuries. It now reappears in a new form with “Ganja Yoga”, yoga classes enhanced with cannabis smoked or vaporised before and/or during practice.
Other cannabis-enhanced exercise experiences include Power Plant Gym, the first gym of its kind, which former NFL player Ricky Williams and 420 Games founder Jim McAlpine planned to open. McAlpine said: “I think sport will become one of the biggest pieces of the marijuana industry. Marijuana, used responsibly, accentuates the part of the sport you love and helps you do it better.”
Cannabis distracts from pain in the short term
A study by the University of Oxford showed that participants under the influence of cannabis had a higher pain threshold than those who were not. However, it was their mental response to pain that changed, rather than the physical pain itself. Lead researcher Dr Michael Lee said: “Cannabis seems to mainly affect the emotional reaction to pain in a highly variable way.” The main explanation for this is the endocannabinoid system: the set of neurotransmitters and receptors in our bodies that regulate functions such as pain, sleep, appetite, stress and memory. Phytocannabinoids, the cannabinoids in cannabis, combined with those (endocannabinoids) released through exercise, provide additional defences against pain.
Is cannabis considered doping?
Yes, in competition. The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) includes cannabinoids on its list of substances prohibited in competition. In the case of THC, a test is considered positive when the concentration of carboxy-THC in urine exceeds 150 ng/ml.
CBD is the exception: WADA removed it from the prohibited list in 2018. Even so, many CBD oils and products contain traces of THC that can produce a positive result, so it is worth checking their composition before a competition. We explain the differences in THC vs CBD: what they are and what is legal.
Outside competition, cannabis is not banned by anti-doping rules, but using it is subject to the same rules as for anyone else: fines for use in public places or penalties for drug driving if you drive. If you have already been fined, we can help you appeal the fine.
Do you need legal advice?
At S&F Abogados we specialise in cannabis law. Find out about our medical cannabis licence service, send us an online enquiry or call us on +34 919 532 802.
