HEALTH
Athletes Swear by Marijuana and Defend Its Active Benefits
AD
Could marijuana really be the answer to improving athletic ability?
Published on August 31, 2015

Would you believe it if you heard that cannabis could actually be the secret weapon behind improved athletic performance?

Triathlete Cliff Drusinsky does. The multi-talented athlete attributes his improved work out focus on his daily THC energy bar he consumes before his work out each morning. Far from the stereotypical lazy, disoriented image of a stoner, more and more athletes are coming green and admitting that cannabis is the magic ingredient that helps them zero in and become the best, focused athlete they can be. Drusinsky has gone on to place at nine major triathlons in 2013 and won in Miami's South Beach Triathlon. However, he was never high during the actual competition, upholding the illegality of transporting marijuana past state borders.

It should be noted that athletes that ingest cannabis are totally avoiding the traditional smoking method. Protecting the health of their lungs is vital to a variety -- if not all -- sports and sports training. However, many athletes have reported positive effects from a dosage in edible or other forms including pain relief and a decrease in inflammation.

Though the effects of a pre-workout marijuana dose won't have the same effect on every one, many are beginning to report that cannabis allows them to focus deeper and longer on their fitness. Though scientists have yet to figure out if this connection in improvement can be scientifically proven, some are projecting that the "high" might reflect the neurological natural high that many sports can create. Take the "runner's high," for example. Associate professor at the University of Texas Health Science Center and expert on endocannabinoids Andrea Giuffrida conducted several treadmill running tests and found that these runners experienced naturally high levels of endocannabinoids after an intense go on the machine. She hypothesizes that the endocannabinoids from marijuana could leave the same effect of a higher pain threshold, much as natural endorphins do.

MEDICINE
SPORTS
HEALTH
MERRY JANE Staff
FOLLOW
MERRY JANE is based in Los Angeles, California and is dedicated to elevating the discussion around cannabis culture.
Share this article with your friends!
AD
By using our site you agree to our use of cookies to deliver a better experience.
Accept
Decline
MORE FROM MERRY JANE