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Writer's pictureNicole Flanigan

Weed & Working It: Benefits of Adding Cannabis To Your Workouts

Many of the most famous athletes of our generation have used cannabis to elevate their sporty lifestyles. Remember Michael Phelps, the 23-time gold medal Olympic swimmer? Perhaps you remember the controversy surrounding him better after a photo was taken three months into the off-season of Phelps holding a bong full of weed. He revealed to the world that cannabis use didn't affect his ability to excel in his sport in the slightest. In fact, it just proved to millions of people that cannabis users and professional athletes alike lead normal lives.

image of a man exercising with text reading weed and working out: what science says

It's been found that a majority of professional athletes smoke weed to improve their game. Some even partake before games, like Matt Barnes, who won the NBA championship with the Golden State Warriors in 2017. "I smoked two blunts before every game," says former Dallas Cowboy Shaun Smith, who played nine seasons in the NFL. Regardless of celebrity athlete status, is it possible for cannabis to support a sporty lifestyle? Here's everything you need to know about cannabis use in sports and exercise, how it may improve your athletic ability, and why we think adding it to your workouts will help you elevate your game.


Can cannabis improve your game?

A few years ago, cannabis and sports was a taboo subject. In fact, many professional athletes have been disgraced over their cannabis use, even though we live in a world with legal and medicinal cannabis. After some stigma subsided, a bit of research was conducted on the subject. In most studies, the results found that cannabis use before a workout didn't make you stronger or faster. However, it did find that using cannabis before exercise might make YOU more effective at your workouts.


THC and CBD can't improve our performance in a physical sense. Smoking weed before a workout isn't like steroids, and it won't make you stronger or perform better. However, THC and CBD affect our mental states and can help us slip into the right mind for a workout or a game. Both THC and CBD are great for recovery after a workout, too. But they won't improve your performance physically.


When you smoke before a workout, you're introducing cannabinoids like THC and CBD into your body. THC is notably psychoactive and cerebral, providing euphoria and other effects like creativity, motivation, and concentration. On the other hand, you have cannabinoids like CBD, which are primarily in the body and responsible for helping your body stay balanced and in the best possible condition.

an image of a man lifting weights with geometric pattern overlay

How THC can help you before a workout

THC is great for everything from pain relief, relaxing muscles, and acting as an antioxidant to improving your mood, helping you find motivation and concentration, and boosting your creativity. A lot of people will take it after a workout to help with physical pain and recovery, though it might also increase our metabolism and help us torch calories.


THC may also help you feel more relaxed. When you're comfortable, it's easier for the mind and body to come together during a workout, and the act of physical activity turns into a type of meditation. Focusing on our bodies helps us get away from the stresses of our daily lives and also helps to improve our motivation at the gym. That's why so many people use THC before a workout— it helps us get into the right state of mind for a more productive workout.

One thing to note is that THC does demotivate some people. This is normally based on the terpene and cannabinoid content of the strain, so many athletes suggest sticking to sativas to prevent getting too sluggish to exercise. This can also come from taking too high of a dose, so remember to start low and go slow.


How CBD can help you during a workout

On the other hand, we have CBD. While THC is the better choice for getting in the zone for your sport or workout, CBD might be the choice for recovery. CBD helps keep us regular and acts as a natural painkiller with no intoxicating effects. For this reason, many athletes will take CBD before a workout to get more reps in without feeling as much pain. If a high demotivates you from exercise, CBD is the way to go.


When taken daily, CBD may be excellent for regulating our moods, sleep cycles, and bodily functions. It's also a great choice after a workout since it can help you heal. CBD is a natural bone stimulant and muscle relaxer. It may also significantly shorten your recovery time, so you can get those gains a little quicker.

Overall, cannabis might support a healthy, sporty lifestyle. In fact, hundreds of professional athletes partake in cannabis use. The key element to getting gains out of cannabis lies within your dose, though, so be sure to start with smaller hits at first until you know what improves your performance the best.


Fast Facts: Cannabis and Sporty Lifestyle

a hand holding an unlit cannabis joint with a geometric pattern overlay
  • While cannabis can't make you stronger and doesn't work as a steroid, it might help you find the motivation to get to the gym, have a more spiritual workout, and recover from exercise faster.

  • Many professional athletes have used cannabis before and after games to encourage more focus and a swifter recovery.

  • Smoking weed and then exercising is great for the mind and the body.

  • THC may encourage focus, concentration, and motivation, potentially improving your mood and how well you exercise.

  • CBD encourages faster recovery from vigorous exercise and may help us work through the pain of a high-endurance sport.

  • Sativa-dominant products are better for a sporty lifestyle since the high is more cerebral and won't slow your body down as much. Look for terpenes like Limonene, Pinene, and Terpinolene.

Best cannabis products to add to your workouts

Exercise in any form makes a tremendous impact on your body and your mental state. Sometimes though, the motivation to get out there and do what you love is severely lacking. Sometimes, you just want to explore and challenge yourself without getting frustrated. Cannabis may help create perfect harmony within us, clearing our heads of external noises and making it easier to focus on and enjoy the things we love and appreciate the most. Using cannabis before and after a workout is a great way for you to get the most out of your game and feel your best when you're pushing your body to its full potential.


If you're looking for a few products that might elevate your game, help you focus, or help you recover from exercise more effectively, you might want to try sativa-dominant products. You'll see the best results from little hits of smokable products like flowers and vapes. The higher doses found in dabs and edibles can sometimes hit you too hard and demotivate you instead of improving your game. Bridge the gap between brain and body and excel in your workout with strains rich in Limonene, Pinene, and Terpinolene before a workout. Use strains rich in b-Caryophyllene and Myrcene to help you recover faster at the end of your training.


Just remember to start with a small dose of any new products at first to see how they affect you and your game before going with a larger dose.


FAQs: Adding cannabis to your workouts

Which products are best for sports recovery?

  • Cannabis-infused balms, creams, and salves are the best options for your physical body. However, any dose of cannabinoids after a workout might help with recovery. Try edibles, concentrates, and flower, too!

Which strains are best for before a workout?

  • The best strains to use before a workout are usually sativa-dominant and rich in Limonene, Terpinolene, or Pinene terpenes. You want a strain that'll elevate your mind without making your body feel sluggish the way many indicas and hybrids may.

Should I use THC or CBD?

  • You can use both! CBD works best when taken daily as a supplement. It helps the body stay balanced and may help regulate your sleep, mood, and energy levels. That said, it works great before a workout, just as much as THC. A small dose of THC before you play can get you in the zone for a workout or for a sport too. You can also use both THC and CBD after an exercise to help you recover potentially faster.

Can cannabis actually help me to be better at sports?

  • Physically speaking, no. Cannabis doesn't alter your body, so it won't help you improve your stamina, agility, or endurance. However, it can help you while you exercise and train. Since it makes us feel more in tune with our bodies, it can encourage us to push ourselves harder and stay motivated to reach our goals long enough for us to get better at sports on our own.

Is there a limit on how much I should smoke to get the most out of my exercise?

  • Yes. Too much of a good thing can always be a bad thing. Cannabis encourages focus, motivation, and creativity by stimulating our frontal lobe and engaging our minds. However, science says that higher doses are much less effective. Start with a small dose if you're getting in the zone for a workout, and then have a bigger one when you're finished. Too much before a workout can make you less motivated to work out and much less effective at overall training.

cannabis macro image with purple overlay and sun icon

Weed Delivery in DC For Your Sporty Lifestyle

Whether you're looking for a pick me up to help you get your head in the game or you just need something to help manage your sore muscles after an intense set, you can count on Flower Ave to bring you what you need wherever you need it. Ask our educated staff to help you choose the best product for your needs, and get your weed delivered anywhere in Washington DC. We're here to help!


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