Athletic Recovery and Cannabis
Changing the narrative around cannabis and sports recovery for athletes
For cannabis lovers, consuming the plant or plant-based products before or after athletic activities is nothing new. Now, as more people are discovering the benefits cannabis can bring to their routines, we're stoking the conversation around weed and working out.
A growing number of people choose to consume cannabis before or after their workout. Why? Many users who live active lifestyles find it helps them focus on the present during a session or bounce back to center when it's time for recovery.
Motivation to work and assistance with recovery are the two most common reasons people consume cannabis prior to or after working out.
A study from 2019 followed over 600 people during their workouts. 80% of participants consumed cannabis before or after working out, citing that “doing so enhances their enjoyment of and recovery from exercise, and approximately half reported that it increases their motivation to exercise.”
One reason for the extra enthusiasm may be the combination of the plant's effects with endorphins naturally produced by exercising. There’s no doubt that the endocannabinoid system (ECS) is actively involved in the process. In fact, scientists now attribute the infamous “runner’s high” to the anandamide, a neurotransmitter that's stimulated by cannabis.
Those good feelings can go a long way when dealing with tough recoveries – something Champ Bailey, pro football Hall of Famer and Trulieve Georgia's Chief Diversity Officer, knows all about.
“Football is tough, and you have to be tough to play mentally and physically," says Bailey. "I talk to a lot of my teammates – guys are in chronic pain – knee, ankles, shoulders, just banged up after they stop playing. If we want to keep athletes on the field, it must become a super positive thing rather than a negative.”
But cannabis use in athletics is still far from accepted. High-profile incidents highlight the rift between restrictions and public sentiment towards the plant. In 2021, a fan-favorite sprinter was controversially dropped from the U.S. Olympic team after testing positive for THC. Another star called attention to the plant after being detained in Russia in 2022 for possession of cannabis oil. Even the most decorated Olympian of all time was disciplined and dropped from sponsorships for cannabis use.
One reason many organizations give for banning the plant is performance enhancement. But upon closer look at cannabis' actual effects on the body, this reputation may be greatly exaggerated. “I always thought these restrictions were funny, because cannabis isn’t performance-enhancing,” said Bailey. In fact, a review of research examined 15 studies and found that none showed THC leads to any “improvement in aerobic enhancement.”
Still, pro athletes from the NFL and beyond are using their platforms to change the narrative around sports and cannabis. “I think it's important for the sports community to be open-minded about what the plant can do,” said Bailey. "Games wind you up physically and mentally, and cannabis can help you calm down after play."
Attitudes do appear to be shifting. According to a 2023 survey of 333 doctors published in the journal Translational Sports Medicine, sports medicine providers “generally have favorable views toward CBD and cannabis,” and most believe it should be removed from the World Anti-Doping Agency’s (WADA) list of prohibited substances.
In major league sports, the NFL players loosened its rules on the plant in 2020, allowing players who test positive to no longer be suspended, and limiting testing to once a year at the start of training. In 2021, the NBA announced it would no longer randomly test players for cannabis. MLB removed cannabis from its list of prohibited substances in 2019, permitting players to use it on personal time. And since 2016, the NHL has not categorized cannabis as a banned substance or imposed consequences for positive tests.
As the tides turn and the industry grows, an abundance of product options on the cannabis market today means that even the most active athletes can find an option that works for them. Tinctures, topical balms, and edibles are all smoke-free options.
Bailey prefers smoking cannabis for the rapid effects but acknowledges the importance of options for athletes.
“There are so many different products. I want all athletes to understand this can be an option if you feel like you must take pain management.” Bailey said. “I think it's one of those things you have to educate them on what might work for them, to give them the opportunity to try this and start finding something better than what we've been given in the past.”
No matter the preference, you can visit your local Trulieve to find the right cannabis product for your active lifestyle.
