A daily diary study of 98 cannabis users found that on days they used cannabis, they engaged in 3.3 more minutes of physical activity, drank 0.45 more alcoholic drinks, and smoked 0.63 more cigarettes compared to non-use days.
Behavioral health researchers, clinicians assessing cannabis users, and public health professionals studying polysubstance use patterns.
+3.3 minutes physical activity on cannabis use days
What the researchers found
Daily cannabis use was positively associated with same-day physical activity (+3.31 minutes MVPA, p=0.04), alcohol consumption (+0.45 drinks, p=0.01), and cigarettes smoked (+0.63 cigarettes, p=0.01). All associations were within-person, comparing use vs. non-use days for the same individual.
Why it matters
This is among the first EMA studies to capture real-time daily associations between cannabis use and other behaviors. The physical activity finding challenges stereotypes about cannabis and lethargy, while the substance co-use findings have implications for harm reduction.
The numbers in context
98 participants; 28-day study; +3.31 minutes MVPA (p=0.04); +0.45 drinks (p=0.01); +0.63 cigarettes (p=0.01) on cannabis use days.
How the study worked
Ecological momentary assessment (EMA) over 28 days in a nationwide sample. 98 participants who used cannabis at least once during the study. Generalized linear mixed models adjusted for race, sex, and age.
What this study cannot tell us
Observational within-person design cannot determine causation. Small sample (n=98). Effect sizes are modest. Cannabis use timing relative to activity/substance use not captured. Self-reported measures.
How to read the evidence
EMA design captures real-time within-person associations, but modest sample and observational nature limit conclusions.
When this study was published
2025 study using ecological momentary assessment methodology.
The bigger picture
The simultaneous increase in physical activity and substance co-use on cannabis days suggests cannabis does not simply promote sedentary behavior. The co-use patterns highlight that cannabis days are "more of everything" days, which has implications for understanding polysubstance behavior.
Questions still open
- Does cannabis use cause these behavior changes, or do certain days predispose both cannabis use and other behaviors?
- Is the physical activity increase meaningful for health given the concurrent substance co-use?
Common questions
Does cannabis make you lazy?
Do cannabis users drink and smoke more on the same days?
Read the original research
Associations between cannabis use and same-day health and substance use behaviors.
Addictive behaviors, 163, 108239
Citation
La Torre, Irene De; Hébert, Emily T; Kezbers, Krista M; Walters, Danielle; Pope, Zachary C; Mao, Bingjing; Benson, Lizbeth; Shi, Dingjing; Stanley, Nadia; Businelle, Michael S. (2025). Associations between cannabis use and same-day health and substance use behaviors.. Addictive behaviors, 163, 108239. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.addbeh.2024.108239