Does Cannabis Improve Athletic or Exercise Performance? The Evidence Says No
Across 15 published studies, THC showed no improvement in aerobic performance, probably reduced strength, and triggered angina at lower workloads in 100% of cardiac-vulnerable subjects.
Quick Facts
What This Study Found
This systematic review searched for all published studies investigating THC's effects during formal exercise protocols, finding only 15 studies in the entire literature.
None of the 15 studies showed any improvement in aerobic exercise performance from THC. One positive finding was that cannabis inhibited exercise-induced asthma, suggesting possible bronchodilatory effects during physical activity.
The detrimental effects were more notable. Two studies found that marijuana triggered angina (chest pain) at lower workloads than normal in 100% of subjects tested, a significant cardiovascular safety concern. Strength was probably reduced. Some participants could not complete exercise protocols due to adverse reactions caused by cannabis.
A finding relevant to drug testing: aerobic exercise caused only very small rises in blood THC concentrations (less than 1 ng/mL), suggesting that exercise-induced fat mobilization does not meaningfully release stored THC.
Key Numbers
Only 15 published studies exist on THC and exercise. Zero showed aerobic improvement. 100% of cardiac-vulnerable subjects experienced angina at lower workloads. Exercise caused THC blood rises of less than 1 ng/mL.
How They Did This
Systematic review searching PubMed, Medline, and Embase for cannabis/THC in sport and exercise. Included studies with formal exercise protocols or rehabilitation/health screening programs. Excluded review articles, opinion pieces, and policy statements.
Why This Research Matters
Despite cannabis being one of the most commonly detected substances in athlete drug testing, this review reveals remarkably little evidence that it enhances performance. The cardiovascular risks (angina at lower workloads) are particularly concerning for recreational exercisers who use cannabis.
The Bigger Picture
The lack of performance enhancement raises questions about why cannabis remains on some sport banned substance lists. If the primary concern is athlete health rather than performance advantage, the evidence for cardiovascular risk during exercise may be the more relevant policy consideration.
What This Study Doesn't Tell Us
Only 15 studies were found, reflecting the extremely limited research base. Many studies were older and used varying cannabis preparations, doses, and exercise protocols. The small number of studies prevents strong conclusions about specific exercise types or populations.
Questions This Raises
- ?Could cannabis offer recovery benefits (pain, sleep, inflammation) that indirectly support athletic performance even if it does not directly enhance it?
- ?Should cannabis be treated differently from performance-enhancing drugs in sport?
- ?Does CBD have different exercise effects than THC?
Trust & Context
- Key Stat:
- Zero out of 15 studies showed aerobic performance improvement from THC
- Evidence Grade:
- Systematic review with clear methodology. Moderate because the underlying evidence base is limited to only 15 studies with varied protocols.
- Study Age:
- Published in 2017, searching literature through early 2017.
- Original Title:
- Cannabis: Exercise performance and sport. A systematic review.
- Published In:
- Journal of science and medicine in sport, 20(9), 825-829 (2017)
- Authors:
- Kennedy, Michael C
- Database ID:
- RTHC-01417
Evidence Hierarchy
Analyzes all available research on a topic using a structured method.
What do these levels mean? →Frequently Asked Questions
Does cannabis improve athletic performance?
No. This systematic review found zero studies showing aerobic improvement from THC, and strength was probably reduced. Some subjects could not even complete exercise protocols after using cannabis.
Is it dangerous to exercise after using cannabis?
There are concerns. Two studies found cannabis triggered angina (chest pain) at lower workloads in all subjects tested who were vulnerable to cardiac symptoms. For people with heart conditions, exercising after cannabis use may carry real risks.
Read More on RethinkTHC
Cite This Study
https://rethinkthc.com/research/RTHC-01417APA
Kennedy, Michael C. (2017). Cannabis: Exercise performance and sport. A systematic review.. Journal of science and medicine in sport, 20(9), 825-829. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsams.2017.03.012
MLA
Kennedy, Michael C. "Cannabis: Exercise performance and sport. A systematic review.." Journal of science and medicine in sport, 2017. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsams.2017.03.012
RethinkTHC
RethinkTHC Research Database. "Cannabis: Exercise performance and sport. A systematic revie..." RTHC-01417. Retrieved from https://rethinkthc.com/research/kennedy-2017-cannabis-exercise-performance-and
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.