Survey results show athletes use cannabis for recovery

A newly released survey by researchers at Kent State University sought to determine whether “the use of cannabidiol (CBD) and/or delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC)…holds promise for improving recovery from exercise.”

The researchers said the study “aimed to determine whether individuals use CBD and/or THC as a means of recovery from aerobic and/or resistance exercise, as well as additional modalities that could be used to support recovery.”

The anonymous survey included 111 participants who “used cannabis (CBD and/or THC) regularly and currently exercised,” and the questions “involved levels of cannabis use, methods of cannabis use, exercise habits, and recovery from exercise .” Strategies and Demographics.”

“85 percent of participants reported taking part in aerobic exercise. Additionally, 85% of participants reported participating in resistance exercise regularly. 72 percent of participants participated in both aerobic and resistance exercise. “93% of participants felt that taking CBD helped them recover after exercise, while 87% of participants felt the same about taking THC,” the researchers said.

“People who regularly consume cannabis, CBD or THC and exercise regularly find that cannabis helps them with physical recovery. Further data are needed to understand the role of cannabis in physical recovery as well as the perceived ergogenic benefits of cannabis by individuals who both exercise regularly and consume cannabis regularly,” they wrote in their conclusion.

Even world-class athletes have long dabbled with cannabis, often preferring it to alcohol because it doesn’t cause a hangover. And as recreational marijuana laws have changed across the United States, professional sports leagues have also adjusted their own drug policies.

NBA legend Kevin Durant said this summer that he personally lobbied league commissioner Adam Silver to repeal the marijuana ban.

“I actually called him and advocated for him to remove marijuana from the banned substance list,” Durant, a star for the Phoenix Suns, said at a conference hosted by CNBC. “I just felt like it was becoming a thing across the country and around the world… the stigma behind it wasn’t as negative as it was before. It won’t have any negative impact on you.”

The NBA and its players union negotiated a new collective bargaining agreement earlier this year that eliminates drug testing for cannabis.

“Marijuana will be removed from the Prohibited Substances List (‘PSL’),” the contract states. “A team that has reason to believe that one of its players is under the influence of marijuana or alcohol or has a dependency problem related to marijuana or alcohol during NBA or team-related activities may refer the player to a required evaluation treatment program. “ .”

Durant, one of the greatest scorers of all time, has been open about his own marijuana use. At the CNBC conference, Durant said that Silver likely had a hunch that he took note of before their meeting.

“Well, he smelled it when I came in, so I don’t really have to say much,” Durant said. “He kind of understood where this was going. And I mean, it’s the NBA, man. To be honest, everyone does it. At this point it’s like wine.”

The Kent State University researchers said changing policies and mores around marijuana in the United States prompted them to conduct their survey.

“Over the past decade, cannabis use has become increasingly widespread in the United States, both for medicinal and recreational purposes. In 2021, 52.5 million people in the United States reported using cannabis in the past year, representing 18.7% of the country’s population (Key Indicators of Substance Use and Mental Health in the United States: 2021 National Survey Results on drug use and health 2021),” they wrote. “Cannabis plants are composed of a variety of cannabinoid compounds, particularly cannabidiol (CBD) and delta-9-tetrahydrocannabidiol (THC), both of which bind endocannabinoid receptors, cannabinoid type 1 (CB1) and cannabinoid type 2 (CB2) (Pagotto). et al. 2006). While CBD has a low binding affinity to CB1 and CB2 receptors, both receptors bind THC. Unlike THC, CBD does not cause any psychotropic effects. However, it has been shown to acutely stimulate activation of the parasympathetic nervous system, resulting in decreased heart rate, decreased systolic blood pressure, and increased vasodilatation. Conversely, THC has been shown to impair cognitive function and upregulate sympathetic nervous system activity, leading to acute increases in heart rate, systolic blood pressure, and vasoconstriction.”

The researchers noted that both “CBD and THC have the potential to improve recovery after aerobic and resistance training due to their analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects as well as the ability to improve sleep quality.”

“Both compounds have also been shown to acutely reduce the subjective feeling of pain intensity in patients with chronic pain, while acute CBD ingestion has been shown to reduce muscle damage following resistance exercise in men and women with resistance training.” Survey data have among both recreational activists and athletes “We have shown that individuals use cannabis to support physical recovery, relieve pain from muscle soreness, reduce inflammation and improve sleep,” they said.