Cannabis is but one part of the wellness package—albeit an important one. In fact, combining cannabis and sport has become an underground trend in distance-running culture. Some athletes are dedicated to staying fit and educating others about cannabis, and promoting it as healthy living.
Generally speaking, performance-enhancing drugs fall into two categories: performance aids that increase an athlete’s ability during competition or training, and recovery aids that assist in the healing process after the fact. Marijuana sits squarely between the two ends of the spectrum. The effect largely depends upon the strain, or breed, of the plant.
Sativa strains act as mild stimulants, delivering an uplifting and energising high that’s well-suited as a pre-workout supplement. Indica strains do the opposite – the effect is more relaxing – sedating, even – making it ideal for recovery. Hybrid strains offer the best of both worlds, although one strain is often more dominant than the other.
Does Weed Affect an Athlete’s Performance?
A quick spliff before training increases sensory awareness, allowing them to tap into the mind-muscle connection, making their movements more efficient. Marijuana can have a focusing effect, too, making it easier to get through workouts without distractions. Those are the big benefits in terms of performance.
As a recovery aid, marijuana’s reputation speaks for itself. It can decrease stress, soothe minor aches and pains and, if you’re trying to gain weight, well, few substances stimulate the appetite better .
Some research says, different marijuana strains could actually be mental performance enhancers for the general population. Strain science right now is based solely on urban legends and what patients tell us.
Plenty of athletes have apparently come to that same conclusion. Britton estimates that a minimum of 50 percent of players use cannabis and says it’s fairly easy not to get caught despite what the omnipresent suspensions for violating the league’s substance-abuse policy would suggest. Anecdotally, cannabis sounds like a miracle drug. Athletes For Care has partnered with The Lambert Center for the Study of Medicinal Cannabis and Hemp at University to advocate for that kind of research.
Cannabis help an athlete stay on the field pain-free
The drug’s success as an unobtrusive pain reliever, though, might make players better able to play through injuries. In the sports business, if you get hurt, someone’s taking your job,” says Cote. While it’s not adding inches to players’ vertical leaps or shaving seconds off their 40-yard dash times. If cannabis can help an athlete stay on the field pain-free without the dangerous side effects of other drugs, it’s possible it has, in effect, made that person a better athlete. As the saying goes—the best ability is availability.
The theory that cannabis is a supplement that supports both physical and mental wellness hasn’t been studied much. People on different culture and community a particular opinion on weed. However, it’s something all the athletes at Athletes For Care are passionate about. Where painkillers cloud thinking, cannabis allowed to play with a clear mind. Preventative medicine is key, the psycho-activity of it all is just a bonus.
Athletes also agree that cannabis should be used as part of a healthy lifestyle and is not a cure-all. Cannabis is a huge part of daily regimen. Exercise, nutrition, meditation, fasting.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]