CANNABIS AND ATHLETES

I borrowed the following Blog with permission from Green CulturED. Their link is on the bottom. I will add a bit of my own experience and opinions in this post as well. While cannabis is still a highly illegal ‘drug’ in many parts of the world, the relationship between cannabis and athletes is and can be a beneficial one.

I am not saying that getting high  will improve performance, or that getting high is something any athlete should be doing. If you’ve read any of my other posts or pages here, you will already have educated yourself on all the benefits of the cannabinoids and terpenes that are present in the cannabis plant. This includes Hemp, as it too is a cannabis species.

I personally use a full spectrum hemp oil  almost every day, especially when my muscles hurt or my knees flare up from over working them. I then use a combination of cannabis products from the marijuana plant topically, on the hurting areas.  They have been miracles for me, allowing me to avoid the medical intervention of knee replacements. I am no athlete however, I am happy to stay on my feet, painfree, and I ask for nothing more than that.

For those of you that can still run and jump, take care of those joints! The cannabinoids in the cannabis plant smother the inflammation that causes much of the damage in the first place. Once the damage is done, the cannabinoids still put the fires out in the inflammation, reducing or eliminating pain, to allow much healing to take place.

 

“How Cannabis And Fitness Can Work Together

The myth that all cannabis users are lazy “stoners” who do nothing but eat chips and watch Netflix is just that, a myth. In the era of cannabis having mainstream appeal, the plant and its many compounds are being used for a number of beneficial purposes.

From using Cannabidiol (or CBD) to treat child seizures to using 1:1 ointment to treat joint pain caused by arthritis, cannabis is quickly establishing itself as a “Swiss army knife” of sorts. One use for cannabis that many may not fully understand it as a supplement for athletic individuals.

According to a study by PubMed, cannabis is the second most used drug by athletes. Understanding the relationship between cannabis and fitness is key to unlocking the plant’s myriad of effects beneficial to using cannabis as medicine those who consider fitness to be an important part of their lives.

 

Sore? Cannabis Is Here To Help

Those who work out often understand the constant soreness that the body can go through during bouts of excessive exercise.

This soreness can be a major issue for those who expect to be able to work out every day. To ensure recovery, cannabis can be an option for some.

There are a number of studies reading into cannabis’ ability to treat pain and soreness. One study found that Sativex, a drug consisting of Tetrahydrocannabinol (or THC) and CBD at a 1:1 ratio could treat pain. The study found, “Numerous randomized clinical trials have demonstrated safety and efficacy for Sativex in central and peripheral neuropathic pain, rheumatoid arthritis, and cancer pain.”

 

Forms Of Exercise That Works With Cannabis

While cannabis can be an excellent tool for recovery after a workout, it can also be used to enhance your performance during a workout. Even Olympic great Michael Phelps has talked about his use of cannabis as positive and a number of exercises can be enhanced by cannabis.

For example, the relationship between cannabis and yoga is strong. Many regular yoga practitioners like to consume high THC cannabis to help them enter a more relaxed state of mind that is paramount to a successful yoga practice.

Another new trend that is taking hold is consuming cannabis before walking or jogging. Avery Collins, a lightning fast ultra-marathoner from Colorado says cannabis while running drastically enhances his performance. In a New York Times article, Collins said, “it allowed me to be very present and not to worry as much about overall times and what’s going on with the run.”

The number of possible uses for cannabis is endless. It can be a life-altering medicine for some or a laugh-inducing recreational drug for others. What many are beginning to discover is that it can also be used to enhance athletic performance.

Whether companies will begin to exploit this fact is unknown but what is known is that cannabis and fitness seem to be a match made in heaven.

Let us know what you think.”

Green CulturED

Using cannabis, especially when athletes are tested for competitions, is obviously a barrier. Until the stigma of using marijuana is largely overcome with solid sensible knowledge, athletes in competitions are advised NOT to use cannabis in any shape or form until these unreasonable rules are changed.

However, for those of you that are athletes, not involved in drug tested competitions, what’s the harm in using it for healing and pain? This article from the Hub seems to agree with that point. Cannabis and athletes can be partners in a holistic way IMHO

Peace to all of you