Cannabis Exercise Research

Exploring the link between recreational substances and physical activity in children and adolescents: insights from the Health Behavior in School-Aged Children study (2013-2019).

Miño, Camila · 2025

Among 358,391 children and adolescents across 45 countries, cannabis users did not differ significantly from non-users in physical activity levels.

The Acute Effects of Cannabidiol on Physiological and Subjective Responses to Endurance Exercise: A Dose-Ranging Randomised Controlled Crossover Trial.

Sahinovic, Ayshe · 2025

In 25 trained runners, neither 50 mg nor 300 mg CBD taken 90 minutes before exercise altered affective valence, enjoyment, perceived exertion, pain, heart rate, VO2, VO2peak, or time to exhaustion compared to placebo.

Association between cannabis use and physical activity in the United States based on legalization and health status.

Merrill, Ray M · 2024

After adjusting for demographics, smoking, BMI, and legalization status, cannabis users had 24% higher odds of physical activity (OR 1.24).

Association of Physical Activity, Sedentary Behavior, and Cannabis Use: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Dai, Jinming · 2026

After adjusting for covariates, sedentary behavior was positively associated with cannabis use (OR=1.365), as were work physical activity (OR=1.135) and commuting activity (OR=1.209).

Daily Use of a Broad-Spectrum Cannabidiol Supplement Produces Detectable Concentrations of Cannabinoids in Urine Prohibited by the World Anti-Doping Agency: An Effect Amplified by Exercise.

Gillham, Scott H · 2026

Daily use of a broad-spectrum CBD product (150 mg/day) led to detectable urinary concentrations of CBG in 42% and CBDV in 68% of pre-exercise samples, rising to 74% and 84% post-exercise, despite no THC detection at any timepoint..

Short-term repeated oral intake of low dose cannabidiol: effects on liver enzyme activity and creatinine concentration during intense exercise.

Isenmann, Eduard · 2025

In a three-arm crossover RCT, exercise significantly increased liver enzymes GOT and GPT in placebo groups.

The impact of physical activity on substance use experimentation and initiation among adolescents: Results from the ABCD Study® cohort.

Kaiver, Christine M · 2025

Among 2,541 ABCD study participants with Fitbit-measured physical activity, total PA was associated with 24% decreased odds of substance use initiation (OR=0.82, 95% CI: 0.69-0.99).

Associations between cannabis use and same-day health and substance use behaviors.

La Torre, Irene De · 2025

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).

Smoking initiation as a mediator: investigating the causal relationship between sedentary lifestyles and cannabis use disorder through Mendelian randomization.

Meng, Deyu · 2025

Using Mendelian randomization, leisure screen time was causally linked to a 43% increased risk of cannabis use disorder (OR=1.43).

High-Intensity Exercise and Hippocampal Integrity in Adults With Cannabis Use Disorder: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

Richardson, Karyn E · 2025

Hippocampal integrity (a composite of brain volume, structural connectivity, and neurochemistry) did not improve after 12 weeks of HIIT compared to strength training in adults with moderate to severe CUD.

Cannabis containing THC impairs 20-min cycling time trial performance irrespective of the method of inhalation.

Cheung, Christian P · 2024

Both smoked THC and vaporized THC significantly reduced mean power output during a 20-minute cycling time trial compared to control and CBD conditions.

The Effect of Cannabidiol on Subjective Responses to Endurance Exercise: A Randomised Controlled Trial.

McCartney, Danielle · 2024

In 51 participants, 150mg oral CBD 90 minutes before a self-paced 10km run had no significant effects on any outcome compared to placebo.

Cannabis Is Not Doping.

Aguiar, Aderbal Silva · 2023

Cannabis is neither ergogenic (performance-enhancing) nor proven dangerous enough to warrant classification as doping after 20 years of research.

A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis on the Effects of Exercise on the Endocannabinoid System.

Desai, Shreya · 2022

The meta-analysis of 10 studies showed consistent increases in both anandamide (AEA) and 2-AG following acute exercise across different exercise types (running, cycling), species (humans, mice), and health conditions.

Acute effects of cannabis consumption on exercise performance: a systematic and umbrella review.

Charron, Jérémie · 2021

Cannabis before exercise produces decrements in performance (reduced ability to maintain effort, lower physical/maximal work capacity), undesired physiological responses (increased heart rate, breathing rate, and myocardial oxygen demand), and neurological effects including impaired balance (increased sway)..

Attitudes about cannabis mediate the relationship between cannabis knowledge and use in active adult athletes.

Zeiger, Joanna S · 2020

Three attitude clusters emerged: Conservative (32.2%), Unsure (45.9%), and Liberal (21.9%).

Aerobic Fitness Level Moderates the Association Between Cannabis Use and Executive Functioning and Psychomotor Speed Following Abstinence in Adolescents and Young Adults.

Wade, Natasha E · 2019

Increased cannabis use was associated with poorer working memory and psychomotor speed after 3 weeks of abstinence.

Cannabis: Exercise performance and sport. A systematic review.

Kennedy, Michael C · 2017

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.

Care and feeding of the endocannabinoid system: a systematic review of potential clinical interventions that upregulate the endocannabinoid system.

McPartland, John M · 2014

The review identified multiple categories of clinical interventions that enhance the endocannabinoid system.

The effects of caffeine, nicotine, ethanol, and tetrahydrocannabinol on exercise performance.

Pesta, Dominik H · 2013

The review compared four commonly used drugs' effects on exercise performance.

Aerobic training and cannabidiol activate the PI3K/AKT/PDX1 axis to ameliorate beta-cell dysfunction in a rat model of diet-induced obesity.

Akbarzadeh Zarei, Hamid Reza · 2026

CBD (10 mg/kg) and combined CBD+aerobic training significantly improved beta-cell function (HOMA-Beta) and upregulated PI3K/AKT/PDX1 gene expression in obese rats, while exercise alone activated the pathway without improving functional beta-cell mass..

Substance Use in Sports: A Cross-Sectional Study Among Professional Footballers in Accra, Ghana.

Odei, Isaac · 2026

Among 139 professional footballers in Ghana, overall substance use prevalence was 44.6%.

The Effects of an Acute Dose of Cannabidiol on Health and Two-Mile Time Trial Performance-A Pilot Study.

Bell, Elyssa R · 2025

CBD has become popular among athletes for recovery and anxiety, but does it actually affect performance? This small crossover study gave 12 runners either 300 mg of CBD or placebo capsules two hours before a 2-mile treadmill time trial and measured everything from mood to physiology. The mood findings were clear: CBD significantly increased feelings of calm (21% more than placebo) and relaxation (22% more).

Endocannabinoid system and mood responses to acute aerobic exercise in adult cancer patients versus healthy controls: a pilot study.

Cheema, Birinder S · 2025

The 'runner's high' was long attributed to endorphins, but recent research has shifted the credit to the endocannabinoid system — specifically anandamide, the body's own cannabis-like molecule.

Investigation of endocannabinoids in plasma and their correlation with physical fitness and resting state functional connectivity of the periaqueductal grey in women with fibromyalgia: An exploratory secondary study.

Ghafouri, Bijar · 2025

Significantly higher anandamide (AEA) concentrations were found in fibromyalgia patients compared to controls.

Considering the Effects of Cannabinoids and Exercise on the Brain: A Narrative Review.

Rajaei, Amir Yahya · 2025

The review identified mechanistic overlaps between cannabinoid and exercise effects on brain function through three key pathways: inflammation (both can be anti-inflammatory), vascular function (both affect cerebral blood flow), and neuroplasticity (both modulate brain-derived neurotrophic factor and synaptic plasticity).

Associations of cardiorespiratory fitness and muscular fitness with plasma levels of endocannabinoids and their analogues in adults with diagnosed depression: SONRIE study.

Ruiz-Muñoz, Manuel · 2025

Among 80 adults with mild-to-moderate depression, better cardiorespiratory fitness and jump performance were inversely associated with plasma levels of both main endocannabinoids: anandamide and 2-AG.

High-intensity interval training exercise decreases brain CB1 receptor levels in male and female adult rats.

Tyler, John · 2025

HIIT reduced CB1R in striatum, thalamus, and cortex in both sexes.

Cannabidiol and multi-modal exercise for chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy in cancer survivors.

Vigano, MariaLuisa · 2025

After 2 months of CBD alone (up to 300 mg/day), medium effect sizes were observed for neuropathy symptoms (d=0.62), perceived physical function (d=0.62), and hand grip strength (r=0.401).

The cannabinoid receptor 1 mediates exercise-induced improvements of motor skill learning and performance in parkinsonian mouse.

Zikereya, Talifu · 2025

Exercise training improved motor performance and learning in Parkinson's model mice.

Acute Effects of Ad Libitum Use of Commercially Available Cannabis Products on the Subjective Experience of Aerobic Exercise: A Crossover Study

Gibson, Laurel P · 2024

90.5% reported more enjoyment with cannabis.

Cannabis, cannabidiol and tetrahydrocannabinol in sport: an overview.

Kennedy, Michael · 2022

CBD and THC do not enhance performance.

Effects of Cannabidiol on Exercise Physiology and Bioenergetics: A Randomised Controlled Pilot Trial.

Sahinovic, Ayshe · 2022

CBD appeared to increase VO2 during steady-state running, ratings of pleasure, and blood lactate.

Cannabis and Athletic Performance.

Burr, Jamie F · 2021

Whole cannabis and THC generally show null or detrimental effects on exercise performance.

Cannabis and exercise: Effects of Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol on preference and motivation for wheel-running in mice.

Hurel, Imane · 2021

While blocking or deleting CB1 receptors decreased running preference and performance, adding THC (which activates CB1 receptors) did not increase either.

The effect of daily aerobic cycling exercise on sleep quality during inpatient cannabis withdrawal: A randomised controlled trial.

McCartney, Danielle · 2021

The cycling group showed improved sleep duration (P = 0.008) and sleep efficiency (P = 0.023) from baseline to treatment, while the stretching control group saw increased sleep onset latency.

Cannabis Use and Brain Volume in Adolescent and Young Adult Cannabis Users: Effects Moderated by Sex and Aerobic Fitness.

Sullivan, Ryan M · 2021

No overall brain volume differences were found between cannabis users and controls, but sex-by-cannabis interactions revealed that female users had greater frontal and temporal volumes while male users had less volume compared to same-sex controls.

Chronic cannabis consumption and physical exercise performance in healthy adults: a systematic review.

Kramer, Andrew · 2020

Across four included studies, the strongest predictors of athletic performance (VO2max and physical work capacity) did not significantly differ between chronic cannabis users and non-users.

Cannabidiol and Sports Performance: a Narrative Review of Relevant Evidence and Recommendations for Future Research.

McCartney, Danielle · 2020

Preclinical studies show CBD has anti-inflammatory, neuroprotective, and analgesic properties potentially beneficial for athletes.

Treadmill exercise improves LPS-induced memory impairments via endocannabinoid receptors and cyclooxygenase enzymes.

Moosavi Sohroforouzani, Azam · 2020

Rats with LPS-induced neuroinflammation showed cognitive impairment in the water maze.

Circulating endocannabinoids: from whence do they come and where are they going?

Hillard, Cecilia J. · 2018

Endocannabinoids aren't just in the brain.

Marijuana and Its Effects on Athletic Performance: A Systematic Review.

Trinh, Kien V · 2018

Only three trials met inclusion criteria.

Cannabis and the Health and Performance of the Elite Athlete.

Ware, Mark A · 2018

There is no direct evidence of cannabis as a performance-enhancing drug.

Cannabis and Exercise Science: A Commentary on Existing Studies and Suggestions for Future Directions.

Gillman, Arielle S · 2015

This commentary highlighted a major gap in the scientific literature: the relationship between recreational cannabis use and exercise is essentially unexamined.

Physical activity and cannabis cessation.

Irons, Jessica G · 2014

In a study of 84 cannabis-dependent military veterans attempting self-guided cessation, those who reported low physical activity levels were significantly more likely to use cannabis during the first week after quitting compared to those with moderate or high activity levels.

Wired to run: exercise-induced endocannabinoid signaling in humans and cursorial mammals with implications for the 'runner's high'

Raichlen, David A. · 2012

Circulating endocannabinoid levels rose after high-intensity endurance running in humans and in dogs.

Cannabidiol use among elite-level Canadian athletes: the pursuit of improved sleep, pain relief, and enhanced recovery.

Karam, Dimitri · 2025

Among 80 elite Canadian athletes, 38% had used CBD.