A brief list of things you shouldn’t do while high: drive, online shop, watch any Pixar film, Venmo a friend, give advice—but what about running or lifting weights?
While everyone’s reactions to cannabis’s intoxicating qualities differ (some of us handle edibles better than others) and research into the subject is still new, there are a few things you should know before working out while high.
You might be able to focus better
You might have heard of cannabis’s magical benefits, which include improved focus, endurance, performance, and reduced soreness. According to Dr. June Chin, an integrated cannabis physician at MedLeaf RX, a lot of these benefits may be indirect—CBD products, in particular, may simply reduce inflammation and therefore increase your ability to focus or work harder by soothing any nagging pain you have.
But this inflammatory power doesn’t have strong scientific evidence just yet. A 2016 study studying rats found that CBD might be useful in the relief of arthritis pain and inflammation (again, for rats—not people), though a number of pro athletes stand by their CBD products and improved performance on the field and court.
Different cannabis strains may produce different effects, but that hasn’t been proven
According to Chin, not all cannabis strains are created equal, either. “Strains are a widely used marketing term, but in the medical field, we refer to them as chemical-variants or chemovars,” she said. “Most chemovars of the cannabis plant are a combination of strains [called] sativa and indica. A pure sativa or indica plant doesn’t exist, though there might be a sativa-dominant or indica-dominant strain. These plants have different cannabinoid makeups, and strains [like indica-dominant] can produce a more sedating effect or what we call ‘couch-lock.’ Sometimes, people will use a more stimulating strain, and in marketing terms, sativa tends to be a little more energizing.”
So you might find that a sativa-based strain is better suited to an hour at the gym; keep that in mind when you’re shopping at a dispensary. The truth is, however, that there’s very little research into this as well; some researchers argue there isn’t scientific validity to the differentiation. (One study even found that among over 80 cannabis varieties that were tested, mislabeling of indica and sativa content was a problem—in other words, you can’t even trust the product you’re buying every time.)
CBD might be better for a tough workout
THC, one primary chemical compound in cannabis and responsible for that familiar high, might not provide the benefits you need for a weight-lifting session, Chin said—because of its sedative qualities, you might feel a little too relaxed to focus. CBD products, on the other hand, have only trace amounts of THC, if any.
“My athletes prefer CBD when working out, but it depends on the workout,” she said. “I have patients who are yogis; they find that a little bit of THC actually helps them deepen their poses, relax a little bit, quiets their mind, and relaxes their overall nervous system, so they can focus better that way. Obviously, if you’re going to do a Soulcycle or Crossfit class, you’re not going to use THC because you don’t want to lose balance or coordination.”
So if you find yourself having to choose between a THC or CBD product before a HIIT workout, you might want to choose CBD so you can remain alert (and upright). As for CBD’s supposed anxiety-relieving properties, you can check out our deeper dive into some studies on the subject.
Go easy during your first workout
If you’ve decided to experiment with cannabis to improve your focus during a workout, Chin recommends shopping for sublingual tinctures (drops that go under your tongue), which are fast-acting and have a quick onset period of around 10 minutes. On the flip side, and because this needs to be said, don’t decide on edibles before a workout as a beginner, which may take up to two hours to kick in.
If you’re using something like CBD for anti-inflammatory purposes, you’d have to experiment with it in order to find the timing that works best for you. “If you’re training in the morning, maybe you’ll take it at night before you go to bed,” she said. “Some patients want to take it after their training to offset that soreness the next day.”
And no matter what, make sure the workout you’ve chosen is a light one to start with, Chin said—unless you want to risk greening out. “If you’re trying it for the first time, I wouldn’t go for that long run or that Crossfit class right away,” she said. “Some patients get nauseous on CBD. Some patients feel light-headed and you don’t want to be stuck mountain biking thinking, ‘I’m so sick.’”
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