Cannabis is losing its negative connotation in society with an increasing number of U.S. states legalizing its recreational use. More studies emerge proving the medical benefits it offers consumers. Also, its application spreads beyond medicine and occupies more industries, including sports. Can weed be a miracle drug that enhances athletic performance, or do its side effects outweigh the benefits?
Cannabis contains more than 100 phytocannabinoids that influence human physiology. THC and CBD are the two most widely studied elements in weed and the most abundant compounds in cannabis-infused products due to consumer demand:
Other compounds naturally occurring in cannabis are numerous terpenes, essential oils, flavonoids, and more. They all work together and contribute to the entourage effect that has an amplified action.
Acceptance of cannabis in sports grows, and numerous fitness gurus and athletes praise its wellness benefits. However, the empirical case for or against marijuana use in sports is still unclear because of regulatory barriers that have limited its study. Recent research reveals the link between endocannabinoid serum concentrations and physical activity.
These are the ways how cannabis can affect the performance of athletes:
Professional athletes who have incorporated weed into their training and recovery routine use their voices to speak out in favor of cannabis use. Some of them have started partnering with marijuana brands or launching their own (just check dispensaries in Los Angeles and other big cities.)
Besides, the number of sports leagues that don’t test for cannabis is increasing.
What are the risks of using cannabis for improving your athletic performance? Discover its potential disadvantages below:
Aside from being helpful to older users in restoring their cognitive functions, marijuana is very harmful to the developing adolescent brain. It causes brain function and structure changes and leads to reduced cognitive performance.
Athletes who want to use cannabis to improve their athletic performance should avoid unhealthy ways of its consumption. Avoid smoking and inhalation methods that cause vapor or smoke in your lungs. The safest way is to use tinctures, edibles, and CBD-infused products, such as oils and topicals.
Different styles of training pair with cannabis use in different ways. If you work out in a flow-state activity, in which you’ve mastered certain movements like martial arts and yoga, you may benefit from training while high. Instead, it is better to remain sober when performing activities requiring complex motor functions like powerlifting.
Keep in mind the timing of cannabis consumption. For flow-state activities, you can consume weed before working out. Athletes looking for pain relief and recovery benefits can use it after workouts or as a part of a pre-bed ritual.
Cannabis has gained immense popularity in medical, wellness, and sports communities. This plant has the potential to deliver various psychoactive and medical effects depending on its cannabinoid content. It can be viewed as beneficial for athletes, but more research is needed to prove these benefits. You can use it with caution until science paints a clearer picture.
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