Cannabis generally does not enhance athletic performance, but CBD may help with recovery, sleep, and pain
Studies of whole cannabis and THC show no performance benefits for strength or aerobic exercise, but CBD shows potential for aiding recovery through effects on sleep, pain, and mild traumatic brain injury.
Quick Facts
What This Study Found
Whole cannabis and THC generally show null or detrimental effects on exercise performance. THC can disrupt cardiovascular homeostasis, which may affect performance. CBD has been studied for recovery benefits, with promising findings for sleep quality, pain management, and mild traumatic brain injury.
Key Numbers
THC and CBD are the two most abundant cannabis constituents; cardiovascular perturbation from THC may affect performance across exercise modalities
How They Did This
Critical review of literature on whole cannabis, THC, and CBD effects on athletic performance and recovery, covering strength, aerobic, and recovery-related outcomes.
Why This Research Matters
With widespread athlete interest in cannabis products, especially CBD for recovery, this review provides an evidence-based framework for understanding what cannabinoids can and cannot do for athletic performance.
The Bigger Picture
The distinction between THC (potentially detrimental to performance) and CBD (potentially helpful for recovery) is important for athletes and sports organizations navigating policies around cannabinoid use.
What This Study Doesn't Tell Us
Very few studies have examined cannabinoids specifically in athletic populations. Most performance data comes from non-athlete studies. CBD recovery research is in early stages. Optimal dosing for athletes is unknown.
Questions This Raises
- ?Does CBD actually accelerate recovery or just improve perceived recovery?
- ?Could THC impair next-day athletic performance?
- ?Should sports anti-doping policies differentiate between THC and CBD?
Trust & Context
- Key Stat:
- No evidence that cannabis enhances athletic performance
- Evidence Grade:
- Critical review limited by very few studies conducted specifically in athletic populations
- Study Age:
- Published in 2021. Research on cannabinoids in sports medicine is rapidly expanding.
- Original Title:
- Cannabis and Athletic Performance.
- Published In:
- Sports medicine (Auckland, N.Z.), 51(Suppl 1), 75-87 (2021)
- Authors:
- Burr, Jamie F(3), Cheung, Christian P(4), Kasper, Andreas M, Gillham, Scott H, Close, Graeme L
- Database ID:
- RTHC-03034
Evidence Hierarchy
Summarizes existing research on a topic.
What do these levels mean? →Frequently Asked Questions
Does cannabis help or hurt athletic performance?
Studies show whole cannabis and THC have no performance benefits and may impair cardiovascular function during exercise. CBD has shown no performance-enhancing effects but may aid recovery.
Can CBD help athletes recover?
Preliminary research suggests CBD may benefit athletes through improved sleep quality, pain reduction, and potential neuroprotective effects for mild traumatic brain injury. However, rigorous studies in athletic populations are still needed.
Read More on RethinkTHC
Cite This Study
https://rethinkthc.com/research/RTHC-03034APA
Burr, Jamie F; Cheung, Christian P; Kasper, Andreas M; Gillham, Scott H; Close, Graeme L. (2021). Cannabis and Athletic Performance.. Sports medicine (Auckland, N.Z.), 51(Suppl 1), 75-87. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40279-021-01505-x
MLA
Burr, Jamie F, et al. "Cannabis and Athletic Performance.." Sports medicine (Auckland, 2021. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40279-021-01505-x
RethinkTHC
RethinkTHC Research Database. "Cannabis and Athletic Performance." RTHC-03034. Retrieved from https://rethinkthc.com/research/burr-2021-cannabis-and-athletic-performance
Access the Original Study
Study data sourced from PubMed, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health.
This study breakdown was produced by the RethinkTHC research team. We analyze and report published research findings without making health recommendations. All interpretations are based solely on the published abstract and study data.