Study: Cannabis Use Enhances ‘Runner’s High’ During Exercise

LOS ANGELES-Recent research published in the journal Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research has shed light on an intriguing association between cannabis use and an enhanced running experience. According to the study’s data, individuals who used cannabis before hitting the pavement reported greater feelings of enjoyment and tranquility during their runs compared to those who didn’t indulge.

The study participants, averaging an impressive 3.88 miles per run, reported a significantly more positive exercise experience when they incorporated cannabis beforehand. Authors of the study observed that the runners experienced heightened positive affect, enjoyment, tranquility, and even the renowned “runner’s high” – characterized by euphoria and a sense of effortlessness.

In a striking alignment with prior research, the findings underscored the notion that combining cannabis use with exercise may boost exercise enjoyment. This fusion could potentially play a role in encouraging individuals to initiate and maintain a regular exercise routine. As positive feelings during exercise have been associated with sustained commitment to physical activity, the study suggests that cannabis use might serve as a motivator for some users to engage in regular exercise.

Interestingly, these findings could partially explain why cannabis users often meet the minimum physical activity guidelines and tend to have lower body mass indexes. Those who incorporated cannabis into their exercise routines also tended to engage in more frequent exercise on average compared to non-cannabis-using counterparts.

Further insights into the mechanisms behind the runner’s high were brought to light in a separate study by Wayne State University researchers in 2022. Their data strongly suggests that endocannabinoids, natural chemicals in the body, play a central role in creating the euphoric experience often associated with vigorous exercise. Unlike the popular belief that endorphins were responsible for the runner’s high, this research points to the endocannabinoids as the primary “stars” behind the phenomenon. The body’s endocannabinoid levels were found to increase reliably during exercise, offering a potential explanation for the numerous benefits that physical activity brings to both the brain and body.

Interestingly, previous studies have also established a connection between cannabis use and higher levels of physical activity, spanning across different age groups.

As the scientific exploration of cannabis’s effects continues to unfold, this study provides a valuable glimpse into the potential benefits of combining cannabis with exercise, fostering a more enjoyable and tranquil running experience for those who partake. The association between cannabis use and physical activity may open up new avenues for understanding and encouraging healthier lifestyle choices among cannabis users. The study’s abstract, titled “Running high: Cannabis users’ subjective experience of exercise during legal market cannabis use versus no use in a naturalistic setting,” is available online for further exploration.