marijuana exercise and life

Why Cannabis makes exercise more rewarding

Ah, the "lazy stoner" stereotype - a relic of prohibition that's aged about as well as "Reefer Madness." As someone who's been writing about cannabis for years, I've watched this tired cliché fade into obscurity, replaced by a much more nuanced understanding of who actually uses cannabis.

These days, you're just as likely to find a joint in the gym bag of a professional athlete as you are in the purse of a suburban mom heading to yoga class. Cannabis consumers no longer fit neatly into the box that prohibitionists tried to stuff us in for decades. The plant has found its way into every corner of society, from high-powered executives to creative professionals, from extreme sports enthusiasts to retirees looking to stay active.

What's particularly fascinating, and what many people might not realize, is that cannabis users tend to be more physically active than non-users. Yeah, you read that right - contrary to the old stereotype of the couch-locked stoner surrounded by empty chip bags, research shows that cannabis consumers generally move more than their non-consuming counterparts.

In fact, a new federally funded study has just confirmed what many of us in the cannabis community have known for years: people are significantly more physically active on days they use marijuana. This isn't just anecdotal evidence anymore - we're talking about hard data that directly challenges decades of anti-cannabis propaganda.

Today, we're going to dive deep into the science behind this phenomenon, and I'll throw in some personal insights from years of observing and writing about cannabis culture. Why does cannabis seem to enhance physical activity for so many users? Is it purely physiological, or is there something more complex at play?

Buckle up, fellow cannabis enthusiasts and curious minds - we're about to explore why getting high might actually help you get moving!

A Closer Look at the Data...

Let's dive into this fascinating federally funded study that's challenging everything we thought we knew about cannabis and physical activity. The research team, comprised of experts from prestigious institutions including the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences and the University of Colorado Boulder, tracked 98 adult cannabis users over a four-week period, monitoring their physical activity levels and substance use patterns through smartphone-based surveys.

What makes this study particularly interesting is its real-time tracking methodology, known as ecological momentary assessment (EMA). Instead of relying on participants to remember their activities weeks or months later, researchers collected data about cannabis use, physical activity, and other behaviors as they happened. This approach provides a more accurate picture of how cannabis use relates to daily activities.

The results? They're pretty eye-opening. The study found a clear positive association between cannabis use and moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA). In other words, people moved more on days they used cannabis. As the researchers noted, "Daily cannabis use was positively associated with daily physical activity."

But why does this happen? The research team proposed several intriguing mechanisms. According to their findings, cannabis might increase exercise enjoyment and motivation, enhance recovery from physical activity, and activate the endocannabinoid system, which in turn triggers the dopaminergic system. This leads to increased feelings of psychological reward associated with physical activity. In simpler terms, cannabis might make exercise feel more rewarding, both physically and mentally.

However, like any good research, this study has its limitations. The sample size was relatively small at 98 participants, and the study only included people who already used cannabis at least once during the month. We still need more research to understand how these findings might apply to a broader population or to people who are just starting to use cannabis.

Here's where things get really interesting though. Understanding the relationship between cannabis and exercise could have far-reaching implications for public health. As America grapples with an opioid epidemic and rising obesity rates, finding natural ways to make physical activity more appealing and rewarding could be game-changing. If cannabis can help people enjoy exercise more and recover better, it might offer a safer alternative to prescription painkillers for athletes and fitness enthusiasts.

This could tie perfectly into the growing "Make America Healthy Again" movement. Instead of viewing cannabis as a hindrance to health and wellness, we might start seeing it as a tool for promoting active lifestyles. Imagine if legal cannabis states started developing programs that combine cannabis education with fitness initiatives - we could be looking at a whole new approach to public health.

Of course, more research is needed. We need larger studies, longer-term follow-ups, and investigations into different populations and types of physical activity. But one thing's clear: the old stereotype of the lazy stoner is going up in smoke, replaced by a more nuanced understanding of how cannabis might actually help people lead more active lives.

Cannabis from a Fitness Perspective

As someone who's been both writing about cannabis and exercising regularly for years, I've noticed something fascinating about combining the two. Joe Rogan once described smoking weed before working out as enabling him to "feel every muscle" work individually, and I've got to say, he's onto something. When you're high during exercise, there's an enhanced mind-body connection that's hard to explain unless you've experienced it. It's as if cannabis amplifies your proprioception – your awareness of your body's position and movement in space.

But here's where it gets really interesting. Most of us don't work out in complete silence; we've got our carefully curated playlists pumping through our headphones. And this is where cannabis adds another layer to the experience. I recently wrote about what I call "Psychoactive Listening" – how cannabis seems to enhance our connection with music, making us more immersed in every beat and melody. When you combine this with exercise, something magical happens.

Think about it: cannabis, music, and movement create a perfect trinity for achieving what athletes call "the flow state." You know that sweet spot where you're not thinking about your workout anymore, you're just... doing it? Cannabis seems to help quiet that chattering "monkey mind" that usually won't shut up about how many reps you have left or whether you remembered to buy milk. Instead, you're fully present in the moment, moving with the music, feeling every muscle engagement, completely immersed in the experience.

Speaking from personal experience, there's definitely a difference between working out sober and working out with a little cannabis in your system. Don't get me wrong – I'm not suggesting you get completely blazed before hitting the gym. But a light buzz can transform a mundane workout into an almost meditative experience. The post-workout euphoria? That's on another level entirely. It's like the natural runner's high gets amplified, creating a sense of accomplishment and well-being that can last for hours.

Exercise already releases endorphins and activates our endocannabinoid system naturally – that's why we feel so good after a workout. When you add cannabis to the mix, you're essentially double-dipping into these feel-good mechanisms. The combination can make exercise feel less like a chore and more like an enjoyable activity you actually look forward to.

This trend of combining cannabis and fitness couldn't have come at a better time. With obesity-related illnesses on the rise and many people struggling to maintain regular exercise habits, anything that makes physical activity more appealing is a win. If cannabis can help people find more joy in movement and make exercise feel less like a punishment and more like a reward, we might be looking at a powerful tool for promoting public health.

Who knows? Maybe the future of fitness isn't just about counting reps and tracking macros – maybe it's about finding that sweet spot where wellness meets wellness, where getting healthy and getting high go hand in hand.

The Sticky Bottom Line

As we wrap up our deep dive into cannabis and exercise, I can't help but see a massive opportunity on the horizon. With fitness becoming an increasingly central focus in American culture and cannabis users proving to be more active than previously thought, we're looking at the perfect storm for a new kind of wellness revolution.

Think about it: How many people would be interested in a "Stoned Yoga" class where the instructor understands how to guide slightly elevated participants through mindful movements? Or what about organized "High Runs" where like-minded individuals can experience that legendary runner's high while actually being high? These aren't just pipe dreams – they're legitimate business opportunities waiting to be seized by enterprising cannabis enthusiasts.

The research backs up what many of us have known anecdotally: cannabis users like to move. We're not just sitting around playing video games (though there's nothing wrong with that either). We're out there hiking, lifting, running, and yoga-ing our way to better health. The stereotype of the lazy stoner is dead, and in its place, a new archetype is emerging – the active, health-conscious cannabis consumer.

For those of you who've been looking to carve out your niche in the cannabis industry, this could be your moment. The intersection of cannabis and fitness is still relatively unexplored territory, ripe with possibilities. Whether you're thinking about becoming a cannabis-friendly personal trainer, starting a stoner sports league, or launching a line of workout gear for the cannabis community, the time to act is now.

Remember, the future of wellness doesn't have to choose between being healthy and being high. As this research shows, maybe the best path forward is one that embraces both. So grab your gym bag, pack your favorite strain, and get ready to be part of the green fitness revolution. The world of active stoners awaits!

Inspiration: https://www.marijuanamoment.net/people-are-more-physically-

active-on-days-they-use-marijuana-new-federally-funded-study-shows-smashing-lazy-stoner-stereotype/