Runner's High Has an Endocannabinoid Signature in Humans. Dogs Show It Too. ↗
High-intensity running raised blood endocannabinoids in humans and dogs, not in ferrets and not during walking.
Exercise research
Explore published research on exercise, including study methods and limitations.
THC Generally Hurts Sports Performance Despite Being on the Anti-Doping Prohibited List ↗
Review found THC is generally performance-impairing despite WADA prohibition, with impaired reaction time, coordination, and strength, contrasting with caffeine's clear ergogenic effects.
Physically active veterans were less likely to relapse during cannabis quit attempts ↗
Cannabis-dependent veterans with moderate/high physical activity were less likely to relapse during the first week of quitting, especially in the first four days.
Many Everyday Activities and Medications May Boost the Body's Own Cannabinoid System ↗
Systematic review found that exercise, massage, acupuncture, several medication classes, and lifestyle factors all upregulate the endocannabinoid system, relevant to conditions like migraine and fibromyalgia.
The relationship between cannabis use and exercise is almost entirely unstudied ↗
Commentary found almost no research on the cannabis-exercise relationship, despite widespread beliefs about both motivational impairment and performance enhancement.
Does Cannabis Improve Athletic or Exercise Performance? The Evidence Says No ↗
Systematic review of 15 studies finding THC does not improve aerobic performance or strength, inhibits exercise-induced asthma, and triggered angina at lower workloads in all cardiac-vulnerable subjects.
Your Blood Carries Endocannabinoids That Track Exercise, Stress, Sleep, and Inflammation ↗
Review mapping how blood endocannabinoid levels shift with exercise, sleep, stress, pain, and metabolism — showing why cannabis affects so many different systems.
Too Little Research to Know How Cannabis Affects Athletic Performance ↗
Systematic review found only three trials on marijuana and athletic performance, with low-quality evidence for both potential benefits (bronchodilation) and harms (decreased work capacity).
No Evidence Cannabis Enhances Athletic Performance, but Pain and Recovery Benefits Deserve Study ↗
Review found no evidence cannabis enhances athletic performance, limited evidence of serious harms in athletes, and promising but unconfirmed potential for pain management and concussion symptom relief.
Higher aerobic fitness may protect against cognitive effects of cannabis use ↗
Study of 79 young adults found aerobic fitness moderated cognitive deficits associated with cannabis use, with fitter users performing better after 3 weeks of abstinence.
Does regular cannabis use affect athletic performance? A systematic review says no clear effect ↗
Systematic review found only four relevant studies and no evidence that chronic cannabis use significantly affects VO2max or physical work capacity.
What could CBD do for athletes? A review of the evidence ↗
Review found preclinical evidence for CBD benefits relevant to athletes (pain, inflammation, anxiety), but no studies have directly tested CBD in athletic populations.
Treadmill exercise improved memory through the endocannabinoid system in rats with brain inflammation ↗
Treadmill exercise reversed memory deficits from brain inflammation in rats by modulating CB1/CB2 receptors and inflammatory enzymes in the hippocampus.
Athletes' attitudes about cannabis shaped whether their knowledge translated into use ↗
A survey of 1,161 athletes found that attitudes about cannabis mediated the relationship between knowledge and use, with liberal-attitude athletes showing more knowledge and higher current use.
Cannabis generally does not enhance athletic performance, but CBD may help with recovery, sleep, and pain ↗
Cannabis and THC show no benefits for athletic performance and may impair cardiovascular function during exercise. CBD shows more promise for recovery, potentially aiding sleep, pain management, and mild traumatic brain injury recovery.
Cannabis before exercise hurts performance: reduced endurance, increased heart rate, and impaired balance ↗
A systematic review of 18 publications found cannabis before exercise reduces endurance, increases heart rate and oxygen demand, and impairs balance. Cannabis is ergolytic (performance-reducing), not performance-enhancing.
THC did not increase running motivation in mice despite popular beliefs about cannabis and exercise ↗
Mouse study found that acute THC did not affect running preference, performance, or motivation, even though CB1 receptors were necessary for running drive, contradicting popular beliefs about cannabis enhancing exercise.
Daily cycling exercise improved sleep during inpatient cannabis withdrawal ↗
A randomized trial found daily moderate-intensity cycling during inpatient cannabis withdrawal improved objective sleep duration and efficiency compared to stretching, though participants did not perceive the difference.
Cannabis Affects Brain Volume Differently in Males and Females, and Fitness May Help ↗
Study of 74 young people found cannabis affected brain volume differently by sex (females had more, males had less), while higher aerobic fitness was linked to greater brain volume overall.
Exercise consistently raises endocannabinoid levels in the body ↗
Meta-analysis confirmed that acute exercise consistently increases endocannabinoid levels, potentially explaining mood and pain benefits of physical activity.
Neither CBD nor THC enhance athletic performance, but CBD's anti-inflammatory potential is untested in sport ↗
CBD and THC do not boost athletic performance. CBD's anti-inflammatory potential remains untested in sport. Some CBD products may trigger positive drug tests due to THC contamination.
CBD Altered Exercise Physiology Without Hurting Performance in Trained Runners ↗
Pilot RCT of 9 trained runners found 300 mg CBD appeared to increase oxygen consumption, exercise pleasure, and VO2max without affecting endurance performance or heart rate.
Perspective Argues Cannabis Should Be Removed From the World Anti-Doping List ↗
Perspective argues cannabis should be removed from the WADA prohibited list because it does not enhance performance, its health risks are overestimated, and the ban relies on subjective moral criteria.
THC cannabis impaired cycling performance regardless of whether it was smoked or vaped ↗
Controlled crossover study found THC-containing cannabis impaired 20-minute cycling time trial performance whether smoked or vaped, while CBD-dominant cannabis had no effect on exercise output.
CBD Did Not Enhance the Exercise Experience in a Running Trial ↗
A placebo-controlled trial found 150mg CBD had no effect on mood, enjoyment, pain, or performance during a 10km run.
Cannabis users are more physically active than non-users, especially in states with legal recreational cannabis ↗
Large national survey finds cannabis users are 24% more likely to be physically active, with the strongest association in states with legal recreational cannabis.
CBD Made Runners Feel Calmer but Didn't Change Their Running Performance ↗
300 mg CBD increased feelings of calm and relaxation before a 2-mile run but had no effect on running speed, heart rate, or other performance measures in 12 runners.
Cancer Patients Have Lower Endocannabinoid Levels — and Exercise Boosts Them in Both Cancer Patients and Healthy Adults ↗
Cancer patients had lower baseline endocannabinoid levels, but 30 minutes of moderate exercise boosted endocannabinoids in both cancer patients and healthy controls — along with increased happiness.
Women with fibromyalgia have elevated endocannabinoid levels linked to pain and poor fitness ↗
Women with fibromyalgia had elevated plasma anandamide that correlated with higher pain and lower fitness, while PAG-thalamus brain connectivity was linked to physical activity.
Low-Dose CBD Reduced Exercise-Induced Liver Enzyme Spikes in Athletes ↗
Crossover RCT found 60 mg/day CBD for 7 days blunted exercise-induced liver enzyme elevations in athletes without hepatotoxicity, with medium-to-large effect sizes.
Light Physical Activity Reduced Odds of Adolescent Substance Use Initiation by 26% ↗
ABCD study found light physical activity (measured by Fitbit) reduced odds of substance use initiation by 26% in adolescents, while moderate and vigorous activity had no significant effect.
Survey Finds 38% of Elite Canadian Athletes Have Used CBD, Mostly for Sleep and Pain ↗
A survey of 80 elite Canadian athletes found 38% had used CBD, with most reporting benefits for sleep (93%) and relaxation (90%). Anti-doping violation concerns were the top barrier to use.
Cannabis Use Days Are Associated With More Physical Activity, More Drinking, and More Smoking ↗
A 28-day daily diary study found cannabis use days were associated with slightly more physical activity, more drinking, and more cigarette smoking.
Sedentary Screen Time Linked to Cannabis Use Disorder, Largely Through Smoking ↗
Genetic study finds leisure screen time increases cannabis use disorder risk by 43%, with smoking initiation mediating over half the effect. Sedentary desk work was protective.
Cannabis Use Doesn't Reduce Physical Activity in Teens, Unlike Tobacco ↗
Study of 358,391 young people across 45 countries finds cannabis use has no significant link to reduced physical activity, while tobacco use consistently does.
Cannabis and Exercise May Have Overlapping Effects on Brain Health Through Shared Pathways ↗
Review found cannabis and exercise share overlapping effects on brain health through inflammation, blood flow, and neuroplasticity pathways, with potential for both beneficial and harmful interactions.
High-Intensity Exercise Did Not Repair Brain Changes From Cannabis Use Disorder ↗
Rigorous RCT found 12 weeks of high-intensity exercise did not improve brain structure or mental health in cannabis use disorder, though 80% of participants completed the program and exercise reduced cravings.
Fitter Adults With Depression Have Lower Endocannabinoid Levels in Their Blood ↗
Study of 80 adults with depression found higher physical fitness associated with lower resting plasma endocannabinoid levels, suggesting a more regulated system.
CBD at 50mg or 300mg Did Not Improve or Impair Running Performance in Trained Athletes ↗
Rigorous crossover trial found CBD at 50 mg and 300 mg did not improve or impair running performance, mood, or perceived exertion in trained athletes.
High-Intensity Interval Training Reduces Brain Cannabinoid Receptors in Rats, With Sex Differences ↗
Six weeks of HIIT reduced CB1 receptors across brain regions in rats, with sex differences in baseline and cerebellar response.
CBD Plus Exercise Showed Promise for Chemotherapy-Induced Nerve Damage in Cancer Survivors ↗
A study of 27 cancer survivors found CBD (up to 300 mg/day) improved nerve damage symptoms, and adding exercise further enhanced pain relief, mobility, and quality of life over 4 months.
Exercise Benefits in Parkinson's May Work Through the Endocannabinoid System ↗
Preclinical study showing exercise improves Parkinson's motor function through CB1 receptor modulation in the striatum, linking endocannabinoid signaling to exercise's therapeutic effects.
CBD Plus Exercise May Protect Insulin-Producing Cells in Obesity ↗
Rat study shows CBD and aerobic exercise synergistically protect insulin-producing beta cells in obesity through the PI3K/AKT/PDX1 pathway, with CBD driving functional improvement.
Recreational Exercise Linked to Less Cannabis Use, While Sedentary Time Links to More ↗
NHANES analysis of 4,400+ adults found recreational exercise linked to less cannabis use, while sedentary behavior and work-related activity linked to more — suggesting the type of physical activity matters.
Daily CBD Supplement Use Can Trigger Positive Drug Tests for Athletes ↗
A 10-week trial found that daily broad-spectrum CBD use produced WADA-prohibited cannabinoids (CBG, CBDV) in urine, with exercise significantly increasing concentrations — posing real anti-doping risks for athletes.
How Common Is Substance Use Among Pro Soccer Players in Ghana? ↗
Survey of 139 Ghanaian pro footballers found 44.6% used substances, with caffeine dominant and cannabis use under 3%.
Cannabis Makes Exercise Feel Better Without Making You Perform Better ↗
Cannabis made running more enjoyable (90.5%), less painful (69%), and more motivating (57%) — without improving performance. CBD worked better than THC for exercise enjoyment.