Cannabis and Exercise: Implications for Athletes
The increasing acceptance of cannabis in many countries, coupled with its widespread recreational use and evolving scientific exploration into its effects on human physiology, including potential applications in medicine and sport, underscores a complex landscape. While evidence regarding cannabis’s impact on exercise performance remains inconclusive due to regulatory barriers limiting research, its prevalence among athletes and the general population necessitates education and further investigation. Cannabis’s systemic effects on cardiovascular and respiratory functions at rest, its potential alterations during exercise, and its chronic implications pose significant knowledge gaps that demand targeted studies. The practical applications of cannabis use, particularly its cardiovascular effects and its potential doping implications in sports, urge caution and highlight the need for comprehensive research to inform safe and informed use, especially in athletic contexts.
Read More From Gatorade Sports Science Institute: https://www.gssiweb.org/sports-science-exchange/article/cannabis-and-exercise-performance-current-evidence