Cannabis and Exercise: Is Working Out High Safe?

Cannabis and exercise may seem like an oxymoron. After all, inhaling something into your lungs and exercising may seem a little counterintuitive. Here at Elyon Cannabis, we have carefully researched this topic and have come to some conclusions we’d like to share with you. 

Sure, there are potential lung health concerns involved with chronic smoking of any sort. But, cannabis has been shown to be a positive factor in effective exercise. We’ll cover some studies we’ve encountered, but first, let’s bust the myth that cannabis use can be detrimental to your health.

Cannabis Consumption Method Affects Your Exercise Regimen

It’s important to remember that cannabis doesn’t necessarily have to be smoked. There are many ways that you can consume cannabis without potentially putting your lungs at risk. 

For example, many people will consume cannabis in the form of edibles or tinctures before exercise. There are also capsules, topicals, and vaporizers which are known to have very minimal risks (if any) towards the user’s health. 

Therefore, it is possible to consume cannabis without jeopardizing personal health in the short or long-term. Because of this, it would be safe to assume that it might also be safely used for exercise. The bigger question, then, becomes whether or not cannabis improves workouts. 

Why Do People Use Cannabis when they Exercise?

There are many reasons people use cannabis when they exercise. The exact reason depends on the individual. To explore this, let’s take a look at some of the most well-known and established benefits of marijuana:

• Euphoria.
• Elevated mood.
• Relaxation.
• Reduction of stress.
• Boring tasks can turn more interesting. 
• Change in perception. 

Imagine this scenario. You just finished a hard day’s work and you come home. You think about working out, but simply do not have the motivation or energy. But, consuming cannabis can alter your perception and make a sometimes mundane task like working out seem much more appealing. For those who don’t love exercising, cannabis can be the catalyst to get them off the couch.

Are There Any Studies Supporting Working Out High?

Since we now live in a time where there are legal cannabis markets sprawling up throughout the world, it has been a lot easier for us to study the implications of working out while high. One study from the University of Colorado in Boulder illustrated that there are, in fact, benefits to working out high. 

The study states that a large number of people are actively using cannabis while exercising. Out of the people studied, 81.7% believed that it was beneficial for an effective workout. A large chunk of the individuals studied consumed marijuana in the form of edibles prior to working out. 

The majority of the participants stated that it helps them with motivation and recovery periods involved in working out. However, the data did not indicate that cannabis use helped increase the overall efficiency and effectiveness of the workout. If anything, cannabis is a positive motivator. 

Another study from the Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport agreed with this consensus. Although it can definitely have a positive effect on one’s willingness to exercise and also help the individual nurse sore muscles, it is not a substance that actively improves one’s ability to exercise or the results that you can experience from exercise.

Are there Safety Concerns for Using Cannabis While Exercising?

Cannabis is normally very safe to use. This is true for those who use it at home, or for exercising. The biggest safety concern that can come about is actually from the individual itself. Not something that we can attribute to marijuana.

Clearly, cannabis is something that can affect people in different ways. People who are accustomed to marijuana will have very few potential safety concerns. Chronic smoking, for example, can potentially bring about safety concerns in the long-term for your lungs. But, as we mentioned earlier, there are an abundance of consumption methods which do not compromise lung health.

But, those who are not accustomed to the substance may not be able to function properly at the level that is necessary for effective exercise. They might not find themselves oriented and sharp as they normally are when exercising. If you are looking to try cannabis and exercise, you should read up on microdosing first.

Start with a little, and see how it affects you. Don’t go into the gym with a low level of functioning. And, on that note, don’t be the person that hotboxes their car before the gym and reeks up the entire facility. Have some manners!

However, cannabis is very safe to use while exercising. Especially for people who are used to using cannabis medicinally and recreationally. 

Looking for Cannabis Products to Help You Exercise?

As we just explored, cannabis is currently a very popular product to use before a nice exercise. People enjoy using it for exercise because it helps them motivate themselves and to recover from things like sore muscles afterward. 

Here at Elyon Cannabis, we are expert producers of cannabis products. We produce many items that are both safe for your personal health and to use while exercising. If you want to try out cannabis during your next workout, find a local retailer near you!