Cannabis users mixing grass and exercise tend to exercise more



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These cannabis users are more likely to use the gym than to sit on the couch.

Eight in 10 marijuana users living in states where cannabis is legal, informed researchers at the University of Colorado at Boulder that they had ingested it shortly before or after the event. ;exercise. In fact, two-thirds (67%) reported using it before and after their workouts, according to the new document published in Frontiers in Public Health.

Researchers have investigated approximately 600 cannabis users aged 21 and over living in California, Colorado, Nevada, Oregon and Washington on their marijuana and exercise habits. And those who used drugs one hour before training and / or within four hours of sweating reported 43 minutes more physical activity per week than cannabis users who did not use it. not done.

"There is a stereotype that cannabis use causes people to be lazy, stuck in their couch and not physically active, but these data suggest that this is not the case," wrote lead author Angela Bryan. Department of Psychology and Neuroscience. the Institute of Cognitive Science, in a statement.

What's more, 52% of those who have incorporated cannabis into their exercise regimen said that it makes them more likely to work. And 70% said it increased their satisfaction, while 78% said it helped their recovery.

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Daniel Winer, 31, lives in British Columbia, where recreational marijuana is legal. He told MarketWatch that he had been vaping cannabis before his workouts and had recovered with an edible food afterwards, after hearing positive comments from friends who had do the same. "I thought it was motivating when I did not want to go (work). Looking up, it helps me focus on slowing down my reps, on form and really working my muscles. (And) Cannabis makes the race more tolerable – like the runner's best, but you start with that, "he said. "I also use it after training because I hope it will help reduce inflammatory reactions in the body, which means less pain the next day."

Tyler Browne, 34, lives in the San Francisco Bay area (where the grass is legal), often inspiring the pot through a Volcano vaporizer after lifting weights to relax and get anti-cancer benefits. -inflammatory. "The body is a little worse" in 2019 than when he was in the Marines, he said. And this prevents his endurance exercises from becoming monotonous. "Cardio is more like a fun activity from childhood, your mind wanders from the hard part," he said.

And a Bronx runner who asked to remain anonymous told MarketWatch that she had managed a personal best at the Brooklyn Half Marathon a few years ago, having missed a brownie at the pot before the race. "I felt no pain and I felt good," she said, acknowledging that many other factors had allowed her to finish faster, such as being well-trained, knowing the course and enjoying the good weather. "I do not know if it was just a coincidence … or if it was that special brownie," she said. "I felt good."

So, considering that less than half of American adults do not follow the 150 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity recommended by the American College of Sports Medicine, the report says it is "possible that cannabis actually serves to demonstrate greater commitment. After all, the researchers noted that not going to the gym or running is not motivated, that he is not motivated, that he does not appreciate the exercise and that he does not not suffer from pain and injury because he does not recover properly. Cannabis use has answered all these excuses.

Dr. Dayna McCarthy, a specialist in sports medicine and regenerative medicine at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City, told MarketWatch that there is scientific evidence that the chemical compounds contained in Cannabis (cannabinoids, such as THC and CBD) can reduce pain. and inflammation, as well as activation of receptors in the brain that mimic endorphins and dopamine receptors well-being. In other words, a high THC content could mimic that of a natural runner. "Cannabinoids have the propensity to increase what is already happening in the body; Exercise releases endorphins and patients may feel even better or more positive after using cannabis, "she said.

See: These colleges now offer cannabis classes

"It's counterintuitive, but some studies have shown that [cannabis] can help motivate you, "she added. "And some studies have shown that cannabinoids can be beneficial to reduce anxiety," which can improve sports performance. And in terms of recovery, "CBD (cannabidiol) has properties that can reduce inflammation and some studies have shown that it can reduce muscle pain from delayed onset," she added. , "Which can relieve pain, stiffness and inflammation."

Marijuana use for recreational purposes is now legal in 10 states and drug use is permitted in 21 others. And cannabis use has become more acceptable in society: Barclays estimates that the cannabis market in the United States will reach $ 28 billion if it were legalized today, or $ 41 billion by 2028, while the soft drink market is expected to reach $ 2.1 billion in consumer sales next year. But medical experts note that more studies are needed to fill the research gap on the effects of marijuana on sports and exercise. indeed, most of the studies focus on animals, not humans.

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And this new report did not analyze exactly how much cannabis users were taking or how they had taken it (ie, smoking it, spraying it, or eating food). Cannabis users were not compared to non-users. Thus, while marijuana may have encouraged them to do more physical activity, it was unclear whether they were doing better or training more often than athletes who did not use the drug. Only 38% of those who used cannabis shortly before the training sessions in this study said that it improved their performance, after all. Nevertheless, the World Anti-Doping Agency has banned athletes from using this substance because of its potential for improving performance.

In addition, the new study did not ask about the drawbacks of working on weeds, such as getting hurt while exercising under the influence. That's one reason it's illegal to drive under the influence of marijuana, even in states where it's legal: the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration points out that "the harder and more unpredictable the job, the more marijuana will be apt [mental and motor] performance."

So Bryan and Dr. McCarthy both stopped advising people to start completing their exercise program with cannabis products. "I do not recommend using this method for people who are exercising as part of their diet, unless of course they are examined by a doctor," said the Dr. McCarthy. "It's a substance that changes the mind, and everybody's brain is different … so [different doses of different strains on different people] can affect each person very differently. And we do not know if it can interact with other drugs. "

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