Over 80 percent of people who use cannabis before or after working out say that it not only assists with physical recovery, but it improves the overall experience of exercising.
Researchers at the University of Colorado surveyed over 600 cannabis users in multiple states to find out how they feel about working out. The results, which were published earlier this month in the Frontiers in Public Health journal, determined that most of the participants support the use of cannabis before or after a workout. Approximately 500 people reported using cannabis from one hour before up to four hours after working out to elevate their experience and to get a healthier amount of exercise.
According to data from the survey, those who used cannabis beforehand worked out for longer than those who didn’t use any. To be specific, those who used cannabis exercised of for an average of 43 minutes longer when doing aerobic exercise and 30 minutes longer for anaerobic exercise.
What’s the Reason Behind This?
Researchers discovered there a few common elements that hinder exercise: difficult recovery, low enjoyment of working out, and lack of motivation. According to the previous study, 70 percent of respondents said they believe “cannabis increases enjoyment of exercise,” and a total of 78 percent said that it “enhances recovery”. Just over 50 percent said it increases their motivation to work out.
“To our knowledge, this is the first study to survey attitudes and behavior regarding the use of cannabis before and after exercise, and to examine differences between cannabis users who engage in co-use, compared to those who do not,” the study authors wrote. “Given both the spreading legalization of cannabis and the low rates of physical activity in the US, it behooves public health officials to understand the potential effects—both beneficial and harmful—of cannabis use on exercise behaviors.”
Final Thoughts
Considering how cannabis users have been portrayed in the media – like lazy “stoners” that do nothing but eat all day – these study results might be difficult for some to believe. But numbers don’t lie, and a growing body of research is proving that many cannabis users live very healthy lifestyles which includes working out, eating natural food, and meditating.
