Does Cannabis Improve Athletic Performance?

While Canada legalized cannabis in 2018, it did not automatically mean that professional athletes could use cannabis without violating drug use rules. Those who participate in professional sports must follow guidelines set by the sports association. When consuming drugs, they must adhere to certain doping rules set by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). So it’s important to determine if cannabis improves athletic performance?

Note: Not all cannabinoids remain on the Banned Substances List. Since 2018, CBD is no longer on the banned list.

What is doping?

Doping typically focuses on drugs that enhance athletes’ performance and give them an unfair advantage, such as: B. Steroids.

However, doping is not the only reason why a substance can end up on the Prohibited Substances List. According to the Canadian Center for Ethics in Sport (CCES), substances are included in the list because use of the substance:

• has the potential to improve performance;
• can harm the athlete’s health; and
• violates the spirit of sports.

In Canada, the Canadian Center for Ethics in Sport (CCES) ensures compliance with the code established by the World Anti-Doping Agency.

Although there is an established code, most North American professional sports leagues do not explicitly adhere to it. Rather, they tend to self-police, making it difficult to know how each league perceives cannabis.

Why is THC on the Banned Substances List?

The CCES does not consider cannabis to be performance enhancing in the same way as steroids; However, they believe that cannabis is used therapeutically with the intention of enhancing performance.

Additionally, the CCES states that regular use may cause harm to athletes, especially younger athletes. Impairments during competitions also represent a security liability.

Despite these rules, professional athletes who use cannabis for medicinal purposes can apply to the CCES for a Therapeutic Use Exemption.

Does Cannabis Improve Athletic Performance?

The simple answer is no. There is no direct evidence that cannabis is a performance-enhancing drug.

A new study at the University of Colorado aims to provide direct evidence that cannabis does not improve athletic performance. The study compares athletes’ experiences of running on a treadmill sober and after using cannabis.

80 percent of cannabis users mix cannabis and exercise.

If athletic performance isn’t enhanced, why do people, including professional athletes, mix cannabis and exercise? In the same study, participants state that this is the case for the following reasons

• 70% say it increases enjoyment
• 78% say it promotes recovery
• 52% say it motivates them

The euphoric experience associated with cannabis draws comparisons to a “runner’s high,” which could increase exercise motivation and fun.

One of the participants in the University of Colorado study believes that using cannabis before a workout helps trigger the experience of a runner’s high earlier in the workout than without cannabis.

Photo by Elsa Olofsson on Unsplash

Cannabis and exercise recovery

We know that cannabis can aid in post-workout recovery by managing pain and inflammation and aiding in sleep.

Learn more about using cannabis for post-workout recovery.

Final Thoughts on Cannabis and Athletic Performance

Cannabis does not appear to improve athletic performance and athletes worldwide continue to use it. Hopefully THC will be removed from the banned substance list when more scientific research proves that cannabis does not improve athletic performance. However, as mentioned earlier, safety must be considered.

For athletes not constrained by professional governing bodies, cannabis can help increase motivation and enjoyment of exercise while aiding recovery.