Forget coffee and energy drinks – cannabis is the best energy booster, according to a new study

This article originally appeared on Cannabis.net and has been republished with permission.

Adults are extremely prone to fatigue. With so many things causing it in our daily lives, from lack of sleep to parenting, lack of exercise, stress and more, it’s not uncommon for people to constantly look for more ways we can get more energized in our daily lives. In fact, one study shows that up to 45% of the general population struggles with fatigue.

Because of this, it’s no surprise that coffee has become our number one drug. Coffee is the substance most of us are looking for when we open our eyes to give us that much needed boost of alertness both physically and mentally. There is also a growth of energy boosting products on the market ranging from drinks to pills and everything in between.

However, the answer to fatigue may have been right before our eyes: cannabis.

A new study conducted by researchers at the University of New Mexico involved using a mobile software application to measure the real-time effects of various common marijuana buds on fatigue levels. The study, titled “The Effects of Consuming Cannabis Flower for Treatment of Fatigue,” was the first large-scale experiment and showed that people have a good chance of seeing an improvement in fatigue after smoking cannabis flower.

For the study, the researchers examined data from 3,922 self-administered cannabis sessions from 1,224 participants. The app, dubbed Releaf, is a renowned mobile application designed to help individuals take note of the effects of the different strains of cannabis they purchase while also recording real-time changes in their symptoms. It’s a common problem for cannabis users to figure out which strains help them feel their best, or which ones may have unwanted side effects for them, due to changing chemistries and the availability of strains and batches, which the app aims to solve.

“Despite the conventional belief that frequent cannabis use can lead to decreased behavioral activity, goal pursuit and competitiveness, or what academics refer to as ‘amotivation syndrome,’ people tend to actually experience an immediate surge in their energy levels immediately after using cannabis. “, explains Dr. Jacob Miguel Vigil, co-author of the study, who works on the University of New Mexico Department of Psychology.

“One of the most surprising findings of this study is that cannabis resulted in an improvement in symptoms of fatigue in general, and not just in a subset of products such as Dr. Sarah Stith, co-author of the study and professor at the UNM School of Economics.

RELATED: Can Cannabis Help With Chronic Fatigue Syndrome?

“At the same time, our observation that the major cannabinoids tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD) were largely uncorrelated with changes in feelings of fatigue suggests that other smaller cannabinoids and phytochemicals such as terpenes may have a greater impact on the effects of cannabis use than previously assumed. I anticipate that in the near future, patients will have the opportunity to access more individualized cannabis products with different and known combinations of chemical profiles to address their specific health needs and lifestyle,” added Vigil.

Photo by Mert Kahveci via Unsplash

“This obviously has implications for patients who experience fatigue as a symptom of their health condition, but we also believe it may lead to healthier options for individuals coping with general everyday fatigue,” said Tyler Dautrich, chief operating officer at MoreBetter. who helped develop the Releaf App.

Cannabis doesn’t make you lazy

Prohibitionists and anti-cannabis movements have always blamed cannabis for stoners’ “laziness.” This is not scientifically justified; this is all pure nonsense.

For decades, especially because of the War on Drugs, individuals loved to uphold the crazy idea that cannabis makes you lazy. The cliché of the couch potato, surrounded by snacks and in front of the TV all day has even been humorized and used in comedy. Sure, it’s funny, but it’s not true (unless you’ve eaten too many edibles).

RELATED: New study confirms cannabis users aren’t lazy stoners after all

In fact, when taken in the right dose, cannabis can actually help relieve fatigue and even motivate people to exercise more. Cannabis is known to have biphasic effects, meaning that lower (or micro-doses) of THC can be uplifting and energizing, while smoking too much can be sedating and relaxing.

A 2021 study also provided some insight into cannabis as a motivational substance. “To date, there have been no human studies on the effects of legally marketed cannabis on the exercise experience,” said Laurel Gibson, a graduate student in the Department of Psychology and Neuroscience and lead author of the study. “Cannabis is often associated with a lack of motivation — that cliché of couchlock and laziness,” she adds. “But at the same time, we’re seeing more and more anecdotal accounts of people using it in combination with everything from golf and yoga to snowboarding and running.”

Photo by Andrea Piacquadio from Pexels

RELATED: 10 Simple, Effective Ways to Combat Marijuana-Induced Fatigue

In fact, there was a CU Boulder study that revealed that 80% of marijuana users combine it with exercise; 52% of them said cannabis helps motivate them, while 70% say it makes exercise more enjoyable.

Using the right cannabis products and strains

However, there is a wide variety of cannabis products that you can experiment with to find one that motivates you.

For those who become unproductive on even small doses of THC, you can also try CBD products, which studies have shown to combat daytime sleepiness. CBD does not intoxicate and can be used in the morning to boost your energy. There’s no one-size-fits-all solution for marijuana doses and fighting fatigue, but with all the excellent products out there, a little trial and error will surely help you find the one that works best for you.

This article originally appeared on Cannabis.net and has been republished with permission.