CANNABIS AND SPORT: UNLEASHING THE ATTENTION AND THE BENEFITS

Have you ever thought about using cannabis before training? If you’re in a good mood, it could be the key to releasing that extra concentration you need for a run! Contrary to popular belief, research shows that mixing cannabis and exercise is the best way to unlock the skills embedded in you. Below are the 4 ways cannabis can actually improve you sporting skills,

4 WAYS IN WHICH CANNABIS PROMOTES MUSCLE GAIN AND EXERCISE

• Sleep

If you want to maximise your body’s potential, you already know how important sleep is for developing muscles and refreshing the mind. Studies have shown that cannabis cannabinoids can stimulate the natural activity of the brain, which leads to the regulation of sleep patterns and better sleep. Scientists have found that it helps the average person to fall asleep an hour earlier, on average, and that it increases the duration of deep sleep (the time the body goes back to sleep).

• Attitude

It is said that our attitude is at the heart of everything we do. In our experience, physical exercise is not the first thing that comes to mind after smoking a joint. In general, most people only want to do one task and that means they have to calculate the price of the pizzas they have ordered. While some people are afraid of the short distance to the front door, some of us stoned friends are apparently out there lifting weights and letting them really rip. At least according to the Mens Health Forum, where a surprisingly large number of people  gave their opinion on cannabis and its benefits in exercise. Users said the drug allowed them to “disconnect” and enter a state of absolute concentration that breaks the monotony of jogging for runners and helps them keep up, while weightlifters “connect better” with their bodies and build muscles. The negative messages on the forum come almost entirely from non-smokers who have not tried to get high before starting a training session, based on their convictions about the dangers of smoking and its harmful effects on the lungs and arteries. Logical arguments which have been invalidated by those who use edible products or sprays.

• Cannabis and sport

However, one user shared an experience where he and his friend went to the gym after smoking a little and discovered that he couldn’t concentrate at all while his friend was completely absorbed in an intense workout. As we know, smoking affects each of us differently, so whether or not you get a boost from it may depend entirely on your situation.

• Metabolism

A study in an Inuit community (including a large percentage of regular cannabis users) found that smokers appeared to have a higher metabolism and generally a lower BMI despite higher calorie consumption. The rate of obesity and diabetes in this society was also much lower.

• Ravenous hunger

The famous cravings for snacks can finally be used for a good cause. When trying to gain muscle mass, athletes can get tired of eating non-stop to support themselves. In some cases, this is quite understandable. Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson must eat 7 meals a day to maintain his massive mass. By indulging in occasional grass smoking, this familiar craving for food can be exploited and turned into a muscular refuelling session.

EVEN A FITNESS STUDIO DEDICATED TO IT

We are not the only ones who have done some research on the power of cannabis in sport. Thanks to the legalisation of cannabis, the first American fitness studio on the theme of cannabis should soon open its doors, under the well-chosen name of “Power Plant”. Co-founder Jim McAlpine said the studio will focus on cannabis as a tool for concentration and recovery, to reveal the many real uses of cannabis and dispel the myth that all cannabis users are lazy. He said: “It will not be a place to get high and hang out”. The gym is still in the planning stage, but it should make it clear that cannabis and exercise have the potential to establish a beneficial relationship. The fact is that many people have talked about the combination of exercise and cannabis and its benefits (Rob Van Dam the wrestler or Joe Rogan of the UFC, for example), but when deciding what is good for you and your training, listen to your body. If you can reap the rewards, why not take a bang before going to the gym.