Early morning laps and rigorous gym sessions can be much more fun if you added a puff of cannabis to it, according to a new study. Researchers from the University of Colorado Boulder have revealed that many cannabis users say that the drug motivates them to work out, and makes exercise more enjoyable.
In the study, the researchers surveyed 600 cannabis users in California, Colorado, Nevada, Oregon and Washington about whether they had used cannabis within one hour before, or four hours after exercise. The research revealed 82 percent said yes, 70 percent said cannabis increased their enjoyment of exercise, 78% said it boosted recovery, and 52 percent said it increased their motivation to workout,m while 38 percent said cannabis boosted their performance.
According to the researchers, cannabis takes away the pain, triggering brain cells naturally activate themselves.
“There is evidence to suggest that certain cannabinoids dampen pain perception, and we also know that the receptors cannabis binds to in the brain are very similar to the receptors that are activated naturally during the runners high. Theoretically, you could imagine that if it could dampen pain and induce an artificial ‘runner’s high,’ it could keep people motivated,” noted Dr Arielle Gillman a contributor to the study.
For the older generation struggling with catching a breath while exercising, or refraining from it due to a prevailing medical condition, cannabis could be an easy and fun way out.
“There is a stereotype that cannabis use leads people to be lazy and couch-locked and not physically active, but these data suggest that this is not the case. As we get older, exercise starts to hurt, and that is one reason older adults don’t exercise as much. If cannabis could ease pain and inflammation, helping older adults to be more active that could be another benefit,” Professor Angela Bryan, a senior author of the study, said.
