A literature review that was not systematic was carried out — utilizing Medline and PubMed to find articles concerning the use of cannabis/marijuana and athletic performance; the lead author examined the abstracts, identifying and investigating key themes. The use of cannabis for enhancing athletic performance is not supported by cannabis and sleep disorder research scientific literature, as numerous studies have shown significant impairments in objective measures of athletic ability. The role of sufficient sleep in promoting optimal recovery and athletic performance is increasingly acknowledged. Elevated levels of pre-competition anxiety, also known as sports performance anxiety (SPA), can adversely affect athletic performance.
Since the cardiovascular and respiratory systems are intrinsically linked to aerobic exercise performance, it is essential to assess the impact of cannabis and THC consumption on respiratory functions. Typically, research in these fields has been viewed separately (for reviews on cannabis and performance, refer to 9, 21, 27, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36; for reviews on the cardiovascular effects of cannabis, see 22, 25), lacking comprehensive assimilation. It is important to emphasize that these studies were not specifically designed to tackle these questions, a fact that is often overlooked when interpreting and applying results in a sports context.
In 2015, UFC fighter Nick Diaz faced a five-year suspension from the commission due to repeated violations related to cannabis, although this suspension was later shortened to eighteen months. In May 2021 (he became the first individual in the U.S. to receive such an exemption), which was granted by the Colorado Combative Sports Commission. According to the new regulations (fighters will no longer face penalties for cannabis use unless “further evidence indicates the substance was taken for performance-enhancing reasons), such as reducing pain or anxiety. In 2018, he mentioned that several players have informed him about the benefits of cannabis in managing their anxiety. In 2019, business partners Johnson and Sims declared a collaboration with Harvard University to investigate the impact of cannabis on chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) and its effectiveness in pain management. In 2013, WADA softened its stance on cannabis, raising the permissible THC metabolite level in urine from 15 ng/mL to 150 ng/mL before an athlete is classified as failing a drug test.
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The possible adverse health effects of cannabis in elite athletes have not been specifically addressed, but lessons may be drawn from other recreational cannabis literature. A lack of performance-enhancing effect has been echoed in more recent reviews,29,30 including the most recent systematic review,1 and this conclusion suggests that the reason for considering cannabis as a banned substance is due to safety concerns , see below, and the fact that use of an illicit substance is contrary to the spirit of sport.31,32 Athletes have also been shown to have higher pain thresholds than controls.27 Data on the effects of cannabis on quantitative sensory testing parameters are not conclusive but suggests that cannabinoids may increase punctate and pressure pain thresholds , Table 1,.
PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS
These modifications could affect athletic performance, especially in sports that necessitate rapid decision-making and strategic planning. Additionally, the long-term effects of cannabis on the cardiovascular system remain uncertain and must be considered as more research is required to evaluate whether chronic use presents risks to athletes. Further investigation is necessary to gain a complete understanding of the long-term implications of cannabis on sleep and athletic recovery. Athletes may utilize CBD to facilitate recovery, alleviate pain, and mitigate anxiety without experiencing the psychoactive effects associated with THC. For certain individuals (THC might lessen pre-competition anxiety), whereas it may hinder focus and decision-making for others.
Three of the included studies measured participants’ performance on a treadmill with a breathing apparatus to determine VO2Max, while the remaining study (Maksud and Baron 1980) utilized a bicycle ergometer. Relevant outcomes from among the selected studies were VO2Max, PWC, other pulmonary measures, strength and endurance measures (grip strength, side plank time, hip flexion torque, etc.), perceived exertion, resting heart rate, and blood pressure , See Tables 2 and 3,. Studies were excluded that focused on acute effects of cannabis, reported on populations other than physically and mentally well adult humans, or had reduced cannabis use as an outcome measure. Several review articles were found, suggesting sufficient literature existed within this area.
Acute effects of cannabis include increased heart rate (followed in many individuals by hypotension), dizziness and disorientation, increased subjective feelings of euphoria or being ‘high’ and a state of intoxication or being ‘stoned’, and sometimes psychosis, panic reactions and para-noia. Experts of the WADA scientific committees endeavour to utilize all published scientific data to achieve the most objective judgement on the potential of substances or methods to fulfil the Code’s criteria. There are conflicting reports in the literature on the chronic toxic effects of cannabis. Following inadvertent ingestion of cannabis by children, serious CNS depression may be observed.26,27 However, with supportive care, these cases have resolved successfully with few residual health effects.
CBD effects on anxiety seem to depend on dosage; 300 mg is more effective than 150 or 600 mg for reducing anxiety-related symptoms , Linares et al., 2019,. CBD inhibits the degradation and absorption of endocannabinoids such as anandamide, increasing endocannabinoids’ binding to their receptors. These molecules, comparable to N-acyl ethanolamine’s , De Petrocellis and Di Marzo, 2009,, generate benefits similar to exercises, such as hunger control, inflammation reduction, anxiety relief, and prevention of excessive cell proliferation. Coaches (athletes), doctors, therapists, and scientists are constantly concerned with finding ways to improve the performance of athletes by making athletes faster, more resistant, more agile, rest and recover better from efforts and feel better. Graeme Close has received funding from Naturecan Ltd. “I was referred to the substance misuse cases and many of them had comorbid anxiety or depressive disorders along with their cannabis use disorder,” says McDuff.
Some mental health experts have expressed concern over the development of cannabis use disorders, which may lead to increased anxiety or depressive disorders. The United States Anti-Doping Agency must undo this archaic (inhumane), and unscientific policy. ” These concerns, the report notes, were “scientifically grounded” by the results of the 1999 Monitoring the Future survey, which concluded that youth steroid use increased roughly 50% over the prior year’s study. Some users even report that cannabis helps with pre-run anxiety and getting into a mental “flow” state.
The purpose of this review is to critically evaluate the literature describing the effects of whole cannabis, THC, and CBD, on athletic performance and recovery. Amidst speculation of potential beneficial applications (the effects of cannabis and its two most abundant constituents), delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD), remain largely un-investigated. But it’s clear the scientific reasoning behind marijuana’s supposed performance-enhancing effect should be looked at more closely. The maximum length of suspension is two years but the minimum (if an athlete can show cannabis’ use was unrelated to the sport), is one month, which is what Richardson received. “But at the same time, we are seeing an increasing number of anecdotal reports of people using it in combination with everything from golfing and yoga to snowboarding and running.” While cannabis may offer therapeutic benefits for sleep (pain management), and anxiety reduction, its impact on cardiovascular health, cognitive function, and brain development warrants careful consideration.
While research exploring the combined cardiovascular stress of exercise and cannabis use in individuals with known cardiovascular disease (CVD) provides some insights into human aerobic capacity, the broad acceptance of this evidence regarding the effects of cannabis or THC on general or high-level performance is likely misguided. Exercise is frequently employed as a method to identify and provoke signs and symptoms indicative of underlying cardiovascular disease (CVD). Cannabis is recognized as the second most widely used recreational substance after alcohol (and given its prevalence and the growing belief in its health benefits), it is not surprising that athletes are drawn to its use.
Three studies reported resting HR, one of which reported a significantly higher resting HR among chronic cannabis users than non-users, opposing the findings of chronic cannabis use clinical trials , Benowitz and Jones 1975,. The search and data abstraction were performed by AK, studies with potential relevance were reviewed by the other authors for inclusion. This systematic review aims to complement existing reviews — which primarily report on acute effects of cannabis use, by reviewing the available data on (1) the effects chronic cannabis use has on fitness measures; (2) any effects chronic cannabis use has on physical activity levels; (3) what effect chronic cannabis use has on actual sport performance. The establishment of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) and subsequent penalisation of athletes for cannabis use has prompted greater scrutiny of the effects of cannabis effects on athletic performance (Hilderbrand 2011). A systematic review of the literature (cross-sectional (longitudinal), and intervention studies) concerning the effects of cannabis consumption on sports performance outcomes, e.g.