Before working out, people often take different supplements to improve the experience. These can range from protein shakes to energy supplements and so much more. But apparently there’s a new substance taking the workout world by storm: Cannabis.
Marijuana has become one of the most used substances for people before working out. These people, who call themselves “Cannathletes,” say that using Cannabis before working out improves the experience.
“It’s a weird phenomenon, but it’s an increasingly common phenomenon,” says Peter Grinspoon, a doctor at Massachusetts General Hospital. “The fact that a lot of people are saying it helps them can’t be ignored.”
While many people associate marijuana with sitting on a couch eating Doritos, that’s not necessarily how all strains affect people. Many strains can help improve a person’s focus or give them an energy boost, both of which would be valuable to someone getting ready to work out.
There’s also the pain relieving aspects of marijuana that would help people not feel the burn as much while working out, which could allow them to push through barriers in their routines they otherwise wouldn’t be able to do.
Of course, many of these effects are purely anecdotal. While there isn’t much research into this area, the little there has been suggests that using marijuana doesn’t really have much of an effect on motor function. But perhaps just having a psychological effect on people working out is enough.
The phenomenon has become popular enough for people to actually begin offering Cannabis workout services. Marijuana yoga classes are frequent in legal states, and there’s even an event called the 420 Games in California, where participants are encouraged to get high before taking part in the activities, such as a 4.20 mile run.
So the next time you go to the gym, don’t be surprised if you smell someone who’s more skunky than sweaty.
