Female athletes who regularly use cannabis showed reduced early anaerobic power production compared to non-users, suggesting a performance impact in explosive activities.
Female athletes, sports medicine professionals, coaches, and anti-doping researchers.
Reduced power outputRegular cannabis use in female athletes was associated with lower early anaerobic power production
What the researchers found
Regular cannabis use in female athletes was associated with a reduction in early anaerobic power production, indicating potential performance impairment in activities requiring short-duration, high-intensity effort.
Why it matters
As cannabis policies liberalize in sports and society, understanding its actual effects on athletic performance is important for athletes, coaches, and sports medicine professionals making evidence-based decisions.
The numbers in context
The study compared early anaerobic power production between female athletes who regularly use cannabis and those who do not.
How the study worked
Cross-sectional comparison of anaerobic power output between regular cannabis-using and non-using female athletes.
Who was studied
Female athletes with and without regular cannabis use.
What this study cannot tell us
Cross-sectional design cannot determine causation; differences between groups may reflect factors beyond cannabis use; sample limited to female athletes.
How to read the evidence
Cross-sectional comparison provides associational evidence; cannot establish that cannabis causes the power reduction.
When this study was published
Recent study addressing the under-researched intersection of cannabis and female athletic performance.
The bigger picture
This study challenges both the assumption that cannabis has no effect on performance and the assumption that it is always detrimental, providing specific evidence about the type of performance affected.
Replication
Among the first studies on cannabis and anaerobic performance in female athletes; replication needed across sports and performance domains.
Funding
Not specified
Conflicts of interest
Not specified
Questions still open
- Does THC directly impair muscle power output?
- Is the effect acute or chronic?
- Do male athletes show the same pattern?
Read the original research
Regular Use of Cannabis in Female Athletes Is Associated With a Reduction in Early Anaerobic Power Production.
Journal of strength and conditioning research, 37(3), 616-622
Citation
Lisano, Jonathon K; Flores, Victoria A; Kisiolek, Jacob N; Stewart, Laura K. (2023). Regular Use of Cannabis in Female Athletes Is Associated With a Reduction in Early Anaerobic Power Production.. Journal of strength and conditioning research, 37(3), 616-622. https://doi.org/10.1519/JSC.0000000000004297