Study shows that marijuana users are more active than abstainers
Step aside, harmful images of a couch potato stoner flattened into a flapjack.
Cannabis use of any kind is correlated with increased light physical activity—such as hacky sack, disc golf, yoga, or pre-bedtime activities. Just follow the science.
A new, comprehensive study has found that cannabis use in adults is correlated with an increase in certain types of physical activity. And no amount of cannabis led to an increase in sedentary behavior compared to a control group.
This research builds on previous studies that refute cannabis's bad reputation as a source of couch potatoes.
Researchers found that wearing an everyday blazer increased the likelihood of light physical activity by 4%.
The actual influence of cannabis on activity
The current study (Xue, 2024), published in the journal Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research, offers the largest sample to date addressing this question, comprising 4,666 adults ages 18 to 59.
To learn more, researchers in this study analyzed data from FitBit-like devices – wrist-worn accelerometers – that record physical activity levels around the clock. They also included data on self-reported cannabis use over the past 30 days.
By comparing these two factors, they determined whether self-reported cannabis use correlated with an increase or decrease in sedentary behavior, light physical activity, or moderate to vigorous activity.
The researchers also took into account factors that could confound the results, such as concurrent use of other drugs such as alcohol, race and poverty, and medical factors.
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Cannabis leads to more activity – not less
The results (both before and after adjustments) showed that recent cannabis use did not lead to couch potato mentality.
Scientists found no link between cannabis use and an increase in daily sitting time. Instead, researchers found that people who smoke daily were 4% more likely to engage in light physical activity.
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The results also showed no differences in sleep duration or moderate to strenuous daily activity between cannabis users and non-users.
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Age changed the associations. When divided into two groups – 18-39 year olds and 40-59 year olds – some differences were noticeable.
Both groups of smokers moved more than average. But after taking age into account, only the young people – those aged 18 to 39 – moved. Nevertheless, ganja did not let the older group slack off. The 40 to 59 year old smokers showed no differences in terms of sedentary activities or physical activity compared to the control group of teetotalers of the same age.
These results suggest that cannabis use may increase light physical activity in young adults but does not have a significant impact on activity in midlife. Regardless, there is no evidence here that cannabis will keep you couch-locked.
Regular cannabis users moved more than lightweights
The researchers also examined whether the participants puffed lightly, moderately or heavily.
None of the smokers – whether light, moderate or heavy – sat around more than the non-smokers. And here's the thing: the frequent smokers went hiking more often than the occasional smokers.
Again, the cannabis-using groups were not less sedentary than the control groups. Occasional cannabis use was more likely to be associated with less sedentary time than frequent cannabis use.
The authors suggest that this may reflect different motives for cannabis use (such as frequent medical use vs. occasional recreational use). It may also be related to the fact that daily smokers tolerate and absorb cannabis better than occasional party smokers.
What is your motivation?
Although the study was encouraging, it had some limitations.
First, the study relied on reports of cannabis use, which can lead to bias. It also did not take into account factors such as motivation for use. This factor could distort the results, as cannabis is sometimes used to treat conditions that limit physical activity – or sometimes as an aid to exercise.
Reviewers on Leafly describe wanting to smoke a pipe, stretch, and get some yard work done. And that's fine with them.
Background: A decades-old, harmful myth of reefer laziness
The anti-drug movement believes that consuming too much weed leads to laziness and immobility.
You might even remember that classic DARE advert where a girl is pinned down on a sofa by grass. Even the family dog started talking nonsense in later commercials.
Fortunately, the 2024 Xue study begins to reflect reality.
We know that physical inactivity is linked to many negative health outcomes, including cancer, diabetes, and obesity. And in the United States, most adults need to be more active on a daily basis, so if cannabis use leads to physical inactivity, use would pose an additional health risk.
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There is some evidence (Vancampfort, 2019) suggesting an increase in sedentary behavior (Doggett, 2019) among adolescents aged 12 to 18 who use cannabis.
It suggests that adolescents who use cannabis spend more time on the internet, texting or playing games. While this is very different from melting into an unrecognizable lump on the couch (as DARE propaganda suggests), it is certainly cause for concern. However, this evidence does not take into account factors such as mental health, which could explain both early cannabis use and sedentary lifestyles.
The good news is that legalization is leading to a decline in consumption among young people; there are various reasons for this, including the fact that a valid ID is required to purchase it.
Studies in adults have produced more mixed results. For example, one study (Vidot, 2017) found that cannabis use in adults correlated with less physical activity. However, a longer, more recent study (Smith, 2021) found that cannabis use correlated with MORE physical activity.
Now, the largest study to date suggests that cannabis doesn't make you a lazy loser. If anything, it may help you squeeze a little more activity into your day.
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Ten fun, easy activities for high
- Take a walk or a hike
- Complete some tasks
- Out into the garden
- Playing kickball with the kids
- Play Four-Square
- Garbage disposal in the neighborhood
- Play Hacky Sack
- Conquer the disc golf course
- Yoga and stretching
- Complete our list – add your favorite light-related activity in the comments below.
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