There have been a number of conversations surrounding cannabis and exercise, leading us to collectively question how cannabis can affect physical activity. Sha’Carri Richardson was unable to run in the Olympics after testing positive for cannabis, raising a number of questions around whether cannabis is even performance enhancing to begin with. Other studies have noted that mixing cannabis and exercise can boost enjoyment, recovery, and motivation.
Now, a recent study adds to the conversation, though it might also raise more questions. The study, published in the Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, has found that young women who use cannabis regularly, even if they are already active and fit, don’t produce as much anaerobic power as non-cannabis users.
According to HealthLine, anaerobic activity is a “higher-intensity, higher-power version of exercise. The study explains that, during these short bursts of intense effort, the body is unable to process oxygen fast enough to use it as fuel. This type of exercise increased muscle mass, strength and cardiovascular fitness.
Investigators from the University of Northern Colorado were looking to determine if chronic cannabis use in physically active, women athletes alters health performance. The study compared the performance of 12 healthy, regular cannabis users—who had been consumers for an average of six years and consumed an average of 15 days a month—to 12 non-users, participants who hadn’t consumed any cannabis products for at least 12 months.
All participants were aged 19 to 34 and regularly engaged in resistance and aerobic training, a press release notes.
Anaerobic performance was measured on a stationary bike, where the women pedaled as fast as they could against resistance for 30 seconds. Cannabis users showed 18% less power output during the first five seconds of pedaling and 20% less during the second, five-second period, than non-users. The study authors said that this difference in power production “is important for both coaches and athletes to consider whether the athlete’s performance relies heavily on short-term power production.”
Investigators also noted that, once age was accounted for, cannabis users showed significantly higher concentrations of C-reactive protein (CRP), an indicator of inflammation, compared to non-users. The study also noted that the younger the participant was at the time of starting their cannabis use, the higher the CRP concentration.
Based on CRP concentrations, cannabis users were at a moderate risk of cardiovascular disease and non-users were at low risk.
“Athletes and coaches who rely heavily on anaerobic performance should consider these findings because they indicate that regular cannabis use may affect early power production and CVD risk,” the authors wrote.
As far as aerobic performance, lung function, cardiorespiratory fitness and muscle strength, the two groups were similar. The authors wrote, “This may be related to the overall good health and regular physical activity status of many of the study subjects. It is possible that it may take longer for the effects of regularly using cannabis to appear.”
Looking toward adjacent conversations, one Canadian/U.K. study published in 2021 found that “CBD appears to alter some key physiological and psychological responses to aerobic exercise without impairing performance,” when looking at nine endurance-trained men. According to the study, CBD could have potentially beneficial effects on sleep quality, pain and mild traumatic brain injury and might be of “particular interest to certain athletes.”
Researchers suggested that it’s important to fully understand the effects of THC and CBD, given the widespread use of the products and their potential interactions with an athlete’s performance and recovery.
Another 2020 Australian study found no evidence of chronic cannabis consumption either enhancing athletic performance or impairing it. Authors noted that, in some sports, advantages could be conveyed through psychotropic enhancement or pain reduction.
We’ll surely continue to learn more about the relationship between cannabis and exercise as time goes on, but for now, more answers could very well raise even more questions we have yet to explore.
