People who regularly smoke cannabis are just as likely to exercise as non-users, study finds

The stereotype of a cannabis smoker is that of a laid back, nonchalant, lazy individual who is trapped in a lethargic stupor, with exercise far from his mind.

But a new study by researchers at the University of Miami says this is an unfair portrayal of one in six people who use the class B drug.

Data from over 20,000 Americans shows that marijuana users have levels of exercise comparable to those of non-users.

The American researchers admit that their findings run counter to previous research on the subject, which almost universally shows that the stereotype of the sedentary stoner is true.

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The plant from which the drug is derived is increasingly recognized for its medicinal properties. It is now used to help treat many conditions, such as arthritis, PTSD, chronic pain, and multiple sclerosis.

“ While some health benefits of marijuana use are generally accepted by physicians and other healthcare providers, clinicians often balance these benefits with potential harmful effects, ” the researchers write in their study, published in the journal Preventive Medicine.

Some of the side effects of cannabis can include mental health issues such as depression, anxiety, and suicidality in some users.

Many countries around the world are starting to soften their stance on drugs, with some US states among those decriminalizing and legalizing drugs.

CBD products, which do not contain the psychoactive compound THC but come from the cannabis plant, are now also sold over the counter.

The researchers used data from two waves of a long-standing study in America that ran between 2008 and 2009, and 2018 and 2020.

Participants were between the ages of 24 and 42 during this time and were asked about a host of topics, including exercise levels and drug use.

The researchers looked at the amount of exercise they had done in the past seven days, including cycling, team sports, running, golf, and walking.

These numbers were then compared to self-reported levels of cannabis use over the past month. Participants were categorized as non-user, light user, moderate user, or heavy user based on their responses.

Statistical analysis found no significant association between marijuana and exercise levels, indicating that this habit does not affect a person’s activity levels.

The researchers say this “goes against conventional wisdom that marijuana users are less likely to be active.”

Researchers at the University of Miami have in fact found that cannabis users may be more active than non-smokers, even among heavy users who have admitted to smoking cannabis at least three times per week.

Although data suggests a weak link between cannabis use and being more active, scientists warn against reading too much, as this is likely due to “ strong associations than causal inferences per se. ”.

The researchers say their findings should inform discussions about legalizing cannabis because it discredits the stereotype that cannabis leads to laziness.

“ Behavioral health researchers, government officials, policy makers and public health advocates should take these rigorous and objective findings into account and support further research on the subject as they debate the merits of liberalizing laws. on marijuana at the national and federal levels, ” they write.

“ In particular, claims that legalizing marijuana will lead individuals to become more sedentary, less active and therefore less healthy are not supported by our empirical results.

“However, it is difficult to come up with clear policy implications until further research is carried out.”