Three studies reported resting HR, one of which reported a significantly higher resting HR among chronic cannabis users than non-users, opposing the findings of chronic cannabis use clinical trials , Benowitz and Jones 1975,. The search and data abstraction were performed by AK, studies with potential relevance were reviewed by the other authors for inclusion. This systematic review aims to complement existing reviews (which primarily report on acute effects of cannabis use), by reviewing the available data on (1) the effects chronic cannabis use has on fitness measures; (2) any effects chronic cannabis use has on physical activity levels; (3) what effect chronic cannabis use has on actual sport performance. The establishment of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) and subsequent penalisation of athletes for cannabis use has prompted greater scrutiny of the effects of cannabis effects on athletic performance , Hilderbrand 2011,. A systematic review of the literature (cross-sectional, longitudinal, and intervention studies) concerning the effects of cannabis consumption on sports performance outcomes, e.g.
Some mental health experts have expressed concern over the development of cannabis use disorders — which may lead to increased anxiety or depressive disorders. The United States Anti-Doping Agency must undo this archaic (inhumane), and unscientific policy. ” These concerns (the report notes), were “scientifically grounded” by the results of the 1999 Monitoring the Future survey, which concluded that youth steroid use increased roughly 50% over the prior year’s study. Some users even report that cannabis helps with pre-run anxiety and getting into a mental “flow” state.
The effectiveness of CBD on anxiety appears to vary with the dosage; for alleviating symptoms related to anxiety, 300 mg is found to be superior to both 150 mg and 600 mg , Linares et al., 2019,. The degradation and absorption of endocannabinoids like anandamide are inhibited by CBD, which enhances the binding of these endocannabinoids to their receptors. Similar to the benefits of N-acyl ethanolamines , De Petrocellis and Di Marzo, 2009,, these molecules provide advantages akin to regular exercise, including controlling hunger, reducing inflammation, relieving anxiety, and preventing excessive cell growth. Ensuring the enhancement of athlete performance by making them faster, stronger, more agile, and improving their recovery and overall well-being is a continuous focus for coaches, athletes, therapists, doctors, and scientists alike. Funding has been provided to Graeme Close by Naturecan Ltd. According to McDuff, “Many individuals referred to substance misuse cases exhibited comorbid anxiety or depressive disorders alongside their cannabis use disorder.”
The purpose of this review is to critically evaluate the literature describing the effects of whole cannabis, THC, and CBD, on athletic performance and recovery. Amidst speculation of potential beneficial applications (the effects of cannabis and its two most abundant constituents), delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD), remain largely un-investigated. But it’s clear the scientific reasoning behind marijuana’s comparing CBD and THC for wellbeing supposed performance-enhancing effect should be looked at more closely. The maximum length of suspension is two years but the minimum, if an athlete can show cannabis’ use was unrelated to the sport, is one month, which is what Richardson received. “But at the same time, we are seeing an increasing number of anecdotal reports of people using it in combination with everything from golfing and yoga to snowboarding and running.” While cannabis may offer therapeutic benefits for sleep (pain management), and anxiety reduction, its impact on cardiovascular health, cognitive function, and brain development warrants careful consideration.
A comprehensive survey involving adult athletes revealed age-related variations in cannabis consumption and its perceived effects.
The case for or against the use of cannabis to enhance athletic performance remains uncertain. In-depth, controlled research tailored to athletes is necessary to understand the short- and long-term impacts of cannabis and THC on human performance, as appropriate empirical evidence on cannabis’s effects on sports performance is deficient.
These changes could have implications for athletic performance, particularly in sports that require quick decision-making and strategic thinking. Also worth noting, the long-term effects of cannabis on the cardiovascular system remain unclear and should not be overlooked as more research is needed to determine whether chronic use poses risks to athletes1. More research is needed to fully understand the long-term effects of cannabis on sleep and athletic recovery. Athletes may use CBD to aid recovery (manage pain), and reduce anxiety without the psychoactive effects of THC. For some (THC may reduce pre-competition anxiety), while for others, it may impair focus and decision-making.
Cannabis and Athletic Performance
Among the studies reviewed, three assessed participants’ performance on a treadmill equipped with a breathing apparatus to gauge VO2Max, whereas the remaining study , Maksud and Baron 1980, employed a bicycle ergometer. The relevant outcomes identified from the selected studies included VO2Max, PWC, various pulmonary measures, strength and endurance evaluations (such as grip strength, side plank duration, hip flexion torque, etc.), perceived exertion, resting heart rate, and blood pressure (Refer to Tables 2 and 3). Studies that concentrated on the immediate effects of cannabis (examined populations other than mentally and physically healthy adult humans), or indicated reduced cannabis use as a measurement of outcome were excluded. Several review articles indicated that the existing literature in this field is sufficiently robust.
Across the four included studies, no significant difference between cannabis users and non-users was observed for peak work capacity, cardiorespiratory fitness (VO2Max), other pulmonary measures (such as FEV1), strength and endurance measures (such as hand-grip strength), perceived exertion, or BP. Maksud and Baron (1980) graphically reported perceived exertion throughout testing, finding only that the tobacco smoking group differed from other groups. Lisano (Smith et al. expressed that an effect may be found with a larger sample size), suggesting cannabis users may demonstrate less endurance in later stages of Wingate analysis. Lisano et al. (2019b) and Maksud and Baron (1980) measured PWC using a bicycle ergometer.
Although studies that analyze the cardiovascular stress of exercise in conjunction with cannabis use among individuals with established cardiovascular disease provide limited insights into aerobic performance — their acceptance as definitive evidence of the effects of cannabis or THC on overall human performance at high levels may be misplaced. A prevalent method for identifying and triggering signs and symptoms indicative of underlying cardiovascular disease (CVD) is through exercise. Cannabis stands as the second most widely used recreational substance after alcohol (and its broad presence), coupled with the growing perception of possible health benefits, makes its adoption by athletes unsurprising.
The possible adverse health effects of cannabis in elite athletes have not been specifically addressed, but lessons may be drawn from other recreational cannabis literature. A lack of performance-enhancing effect has been echoed in more recent reviews,29,30 including the most recent systematic review,1 and this conclusion suggests that the reason for considering cannabis as a banned substance is due to safety concerns , see below, and the fact that use of an illicit substance is contrary to the spirit of sport.31,32 Athletes have also been shown to have higher pain thresholds than controls.27 Data on the effects of cannabis on quantitative sensory testing parameters are not conclusive but suggests that cannabinoids may increase punctate and pressure pain thresholds (Table 1).
After multiple cannabis violations (UFC fighter Nick Diaz was suspended by the commission for five years in 2015), although this penalty was later reduced to one and a half years. In May 2021 — he was granted the first such exemption in the United States by the Colorado Combative Sports Commission. The revised policy stipulates that fighters will not face penalties for cannabis use unless there is “further evidence indicating the substance was used for performance-enhancing purposes — such as alleviating anxiety or pain. He mentioned in 2018 that several players have reported cannabis as a helpful tool for managing their anxiety. In 2019 (Johnson and Sims), who are business partners, announced a collaboration with Harvard University to investigate the impacts of cannabis on chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) and its pain management benefits. In 2013, WADA modified its cannabis policy by increasing the THC metabolite threshold in urine from 15 ng/mL to 150 ng/mL before an athlete is deemed to have failed a drug test.
Immediate effects of cannabis include an elevated heart rate (often followed by hypotension), dizziness, confusion, heightened feelings of euphoria or intoxication, and, in some cases, experiences of psychosis, panic, and paranoia. Members of the WADA scientific committees strive to apply all available published scientific findings to formulate the most objective assessments of substances or methods concerning the Code’s criteria. The literature contains inconsistent reports regarding the chronic toxic effects of cannabis. Serious central nervous system depression may occur in children following unintentional cannabis ingestion. However (with appropriate supportive care), these cases typically resolve with minimal lasting health effects.