Cannabis, Exercise & You
By Jeff Eckenrode
Whether you like to run, practice yoga, climb, swim, or bike, summer is the perfect season to get outside and exercise! And if you’re anything like us, you might have considered getting high before you hit the trail.
Why, you might ask? Because coupling cannabis with your exercise is amazing!
Not only can it make your workout more fun, cannabis can help ease your post-workout discomfort, and it can help new athletes to push through the initial discomfort of a new exercise routine.
Cannabidiol (commonly known as CBD) can help alleviate many of the aches and pains common to working out. (For more information on CBD, including how it works and how to use it, click here.)
Fortunately, your favorite Hashtag budtenders have been hitting the gym. They’ve done their research and are eager to share what they’ve learned with you! Here’s everything you need to know to find the cannabis product that’s right for your workout:
Cannabis & Exercise
When you smoke, eat, rub on, or vape cannabis, you are introducing molecules called cannabinoids into your body. THC (Tetrahydrocannabinol 𝚫9: the principal intoxicating property of cannabis) and CBD are just a few examples of the dozens of cannabinoids that can be found in cannabis (learn more here).
Once THC or CBD hits your blood system, these cannabinoids can bond with receptors located throughout your entire body. Scientists call this network of receptors the endocannabinoid system (for more info, click here).
Although your body makes efficient use of the cannabinoids that enter your system, your body cannot make 100% use of all of the THC and CBD in your system. Like what happens when you take vitamin C supplements, whatever your body doesn’t need, it excretes! And the remaining THC and CBD that doesn’t get filtered out of your blood by your liver or kidneys can be stored in your body’s fat cells.
A study published in the August 2013 edition of Drug and Alcohol Dependence found that THC storage in fat can give athletes a “runner’s high,” even up to a month after consumption.
The reason, the study notes, is that when you use cannabis, THC accumulates in your fat tissue. When you exercise, small amounts of THC are slowly released from your fat cells back into your bloodstream.
The result? You get a little high!
Not only that, but this study found that your body mass index (or BMI: a measure of body fat in adults) can have a significant impact on the amount of THC that is re-released by your fat cells during exercise.
Simply put, the greater your BMI, the greater the increase in THC reintroduced into your body during exercise.
Why should I care?
Because endocannabinoid receptors are located all over your body (not just in your brain) and they allow your body to absorb THC and CBD.
And although THC can get you high, CBD can help you counteract the negative effects of getting too high (all while activating endocannabinoid receptors throughout your body, and thus alleviating discomfort).
That’s great, but I’m in a hurry! What should I buy?
Not to worry. Here are just a few of our budtenders’ favorites to help you get started:
Need a clear head? Try Green Revolution's Remarkable Spray Tincture!
This tincture has a whopping 10:1 CBD to THC ratio and is a great buy for folks looking for the benefits of CBD without the intoxicating side effect of THC. This pocket-sized, water-based tincture can be mixed with your favorite sports beverage or sprayed beneath the tongue for fast-acting effects.
Need to focus? Try Mr. Moxey’s 5:1 CBD Mints!
Available in peppermint and ginger, Mr. Moxey’s CBD mints are a delectable, discreet, and discrete choice for athletes looking for a low dose edible with a 5:1 CBD to THC ratio. Mr. Moxey’s mints blend the soothing effects of CBD with the stimulating effects of echinacea and Indian gooseberry. A handful of these treats will leave you focused, alert, and ready to tackle any mountain!
Need to relax? Try Dragon Balm Ancient Ointment from Ceres!
Your discomfort is no match for the dragon! This high CBD lotion combines the cooling sensation of menthol with the soothing effects of camphor to distract the brain and turn down the volume on discomfort. This potent CO2 extracted oil provides deep and lasting tissue relief to get you back on your feet and feeling your best.
And that’s just to get you started!
Stop by our Fremont and Redmond locations before or after your next workout to see what’s new.