The relationship between cannabis use and exercise is almost entirely unstudied
Despite common beliefs that cannabis reduces motivation to exercise and competing claims that athletes use it to enhance performance, almost no scientific research has examined the cannabis-exercise relationship.
Quick Facts
What This Study Found
This commentary highlighted a major gap in the scientific literature: the relationship between recreational cannabis use and exercise is essentially unexamined. Two opposing popular narratives exist: one claims cannabis decreases motivation, including motivation to exercise, while the other holds that cannabis enhances athletic activity (cannabis is even banned by the World Anti-Doping Agency).
The authors found limited scientific evidence to support either perspective. Given that cannabis policies are changing rapidly and recreational use is becoming more accepted, they argued that understanding how cannabis affects exercise performance, motivation, and recovery is increasingly important.
The commentary outlined research directions including the effects of cannabis on exercise motivation, acute performance, pain perception during exercise, and recovery processes.
Key Numbers
Cannabis is banned by the World Anti-Doping Agency. Limited scientific evidence found for either motivational impairment or performance enhancement claims.
How They Did This
Commentary reviewing existing literature on cannabis and exercise science, identifying gaps, and proposing future research directions.
Why This Research Matters
Exercise is one of the most important health behaviors, and cannabis use is increasing. If cannabis significantly affects exercise motivation, performance, or recovery, this has public health implications that current evidence cannot address.
The Bigger Picture
The cannabis-exercise relationship is one of many areas where public opinion and anecdotal reports have far outpaced scientific evidence. As cannabis becomes legal in more places, basic questions about its effects on physical activity need answers.
What This Study Doesn't Tell Us
This is a commentary, not a systematic review. The authors identified a gap rather than providing new data. The lack of existing research means even the research directions proposed are speculative.
Questions This Raises
- ?Does cannabis reduce exercise motivation or do some users find it enhances their workouts?
- ?Could cannabis aid recovery through anti-inflammatory or pain-modulating effects?
- ?Would different cannabinoids (THC vs. CBD) have different effects on exercise?
Trust & Context
- Key Stat:
- Almost no scientific evidence on cannabis and exercise
- Evidence Grade:
- Commentary identifying research gaps rather than presenting new evidence.
- Study Age:
- Published in 2015. Some cannabis-exercise research has emerged since.
- Original Title:
- Cannabis and Exercise Science: A Commentary on Existing Studies and Suggestions for Future Directions.
- Published In:
- Sports medicine (Auckland, N.Z.), 45(10), 1357-63 (2015)
- Authors:
- Gillman, Arielle S, Hutchison, Kent E(16), Bryan, Angela D(19)
- Database ID:
- RTHC-00967
Evidence Hierarchy
Summarizes existing research on a topic.
What do these levels mean? →Frequently Asked Questions
Does cannabis affect exercise performance?
As of this 2015 commentary, there was almost no scientific research to answer this question. Anecdotal reports are contradictory, with some claiming cannabis reduces motivation and others claiming it enhances athletic experiences.
Why is cannabis banned in sports?
The World Anti-Doping Agency bans cannabis partly because it is believed to potentially enhance performance, though the scientific evidence for this is limited. Other reasons include safety concerns and the spirit of sport.
Read More on RethinkTHC
Cite This Study
https://rethinkthc.com/research/RTHC-00967APA
Gillman, Arielle S; Hutchison, Kent E; Bryan, Angela D. (2015). Cannabis and Exercise Science: A Commentary on Existing Studies and Suggestions for Future Directions.. Sports medicine (Auckland, N.Z.), 45(10), 1357-63. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40279-015-0362-3
MLA
Gillman, Arielle S, et al. "Cannabis and Exercise Science: A Commentary on Existing Studies and Suggestions for Future Directions.." Sports medicine (Auckland, 2015. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40279-015-0362-3
RethinkTHC
RethinkTHC Research Database. "Cannabis and Exercise Science: A Commentary on Existing Stud..." RTHC-00967. Retrieved from https://rethinkthc.com/research/gillman-2015-cannabis-and-exercise-science
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.