Yeah, yeah, it’s 4/20, and you’ve probably already heard a dozen weed jokes today… But here’s a puzzler for you: What do cannabis and bicycles have in common? The answer is more than you might expect. And we’re learning more every day about the different effects cannabis and exercise can have on your body.
If you’re not planning on hitting the bong or taking an edible today, here’s why you should consider hitting the trails on a bike ride for a similar state of bliss.
Your body produces a natural “high” from exercise. If you’ve ever been a runner, you’ve likely heard of the “runner’s high,” which isn’t exclusive to running. It’s the feeling of euphoria most athletes experience at some point during a hard training session. Recent studies have shown that this “high” is legit: It presents as a change in mood, lost sense of time, change in run “quality,” and feeling of euphoria. And as it turns out, it is the result of activation of the endocannabinoid system—cannabis-like substances that our bodies produce naturally.
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A study published in Gut Microbes in November 2021 found that even without experiencing the runner’s high, plain old exercise boosts the endocannabinoid system. The researchers found that people with arthritis who exercised did not just reduce their pain, but also lowered the levels of inflammatory substances while increasing levels of cannabis-like substances in their bodies.
“Our study clearly shows that exercise increases the body’s own cannabis-type substances. Which can have a positive impact on many conditions,” said study lead Doctor Amrita Vijay.
And when it comes to mixing weed and workouts, the numbers are shockingly high. A study done in Colorado (where weed usage is legal) found that a whopping 82 percent of cannabis users surveyed use the drug before and/or after exercise. “There is a stereotype that cannabis use leads people to be lazy and couch-locked and not physically active, but these data suggest that this is not the case,” said the study’s lead author, professor Angela Bryan. Many participants added that it increases enjoyment, enhances recovery, and heightens motivation during workouts.
This may be part of the reason it’s still on WADA’s banned substance list. While most people consider it a tool for relaxing, there are some potential athletic benefits. “There is evidence to suggest that certain cannabinoids dampen pain perception. We also know that the receptors cannabis binds to in the brain are very similar to the receptors activated naturally during the runner's high,” said the study’s coauthor Arielle Gillman. “Theoretically, you could imagine that if it could dampen pain and induce an artificial ‘runner's high,’ it could keep people motivated.”
Now, that’s not to suggest that everyone should go out and get high before their next ride: The study’s authors noted that the study was limited by the fact that those surveyed were longtime recreational cannabis users, so they understood the effects of the drug on their systems and were used to their reactions.
We have to remind you that if you celebrate 4/20 as a holiday, remember that heading out on a ride while high may have legal consequences and could be dangerous. Riding impaired is as potentially deadly as driving impaired. If you’re leery of cannabis, consider instead heading out for a ride and trying to score a “cyclist’s high” while enjoying flowy trails and roads outdoors.
