Cannabis, Athletic Performance, and Recovery

It’s a common story that seems to repeat often over the years: a big-name athlete like Sha’Carri Richardson is suspended or banned from competition after testing positive for cannabis. These high-profile headlines encourage us to look deeper into why this is the status quo.

Does cannabis really impact athletic performance like steroids and other banned substances? The answer, like many things in cannabis, is more nuanced than “yes” and “no.” Learn more here, and meet a group right here in New York City that’s integrating cannabis and fitness to support happier, healthier lifestyles.

Does cannabis affect athletic performance?

The research is relatively limited, and there is little evidence regarding the physiological effects of cannabis during exercise or for athletic performance. In other words, there is currently no direct evidence that cannabis results in performance-enhancing effects in athletes.

There is the possibility that cannabis can support a training routine, though, which would indirectly improve an athlete’s performance. For example, a cannabinoid called d THCV may provide a source of energy and mental focus for athletes. While THCV won’t directly boost your athletic performance on its own, it may give you the needed motivation to get after those two-a-day training sessions in the lead up to a big competition. And, unlike THC, this cannabinoid is non-intoxicating, so athletes can train and compete without altering their perception.

How significant a boost cannabinoids like THCV provide remains the subject of debate. And whether it constitutes a significant difference in supporting a training regimen compared to another supplement, such as creatine, is often hotly contested. This is one of many open questions around cannabis and athletics that professional sports organizations continue to struggle with.

Is cannabis banned in professional sports leagues?

Despite the lack of evidence that cannabis improves athletic performance, it remains on the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) Prohibited List. The WADA list applies to a wide range of international sports competitions, including the Olympics, so it applies to some of the world’s top athletes.

However, there are signs of progress in other areas of professional sport. Some organizations in the U.S., like the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and MLB, have removed cannabis from their testing policies. Even those that maintain a nominal cannabis ban, like the NFL and NBA, have loosened their cannabis policy by reducing the frequency of random tests, increasing the THC threshold for a positive test, and ending suspensions for athletes who test positive.

What about cannabis and recovery?

While there is no evidence that it enhances athletic performance, cannabis may be useful for athletic recovery thanks to certain properties often found in cannabinoids. Athletes may try cannabis to feel relaxed and soothed from head to toe after training or a match.

Others may choose cannabis for its mentally relaxing properties, helping them fall asleep faster and stay asleep longer. Cannabis products with CBN or terpene myrcene often excel at promoting restful sleep. While they may not directly enhance athletic performance, healthy sleep is a critical part of training and recovery.

“Licensed dispensaries give you a list of everything that’s in the product, including CBN, CBD, and THCV,” said Thai Richards, founder of Rage and Release, a New York City-based organization dedicated to bridging the gap between spirituality and fitness — which sometimes includes cannabis. “Seeing what’s in the product is really important because you can understand whether you need more of this or less of that.”

Leveraging cannabis products for athletic recovery starts with understanding the individual cannabinoids and terpenes and how they affect you. Every licensed cannabis product in New York includes a link or QR code to its full laboratory testing results on the label, so you can see precisely what’s in it. Want high levels of THCV to energize you before a workout? Looking for high levels of caryophyllene to help calm your body down after a workout? Check these results to see what each product contains.

Topicals, like THC lotions, are designed to deliver localized effects, so you simply apply them to the desired area and let them get to work. Oftentimes, they are combined with other soothing ingredients found in non-infused sports creams like Vitamin E, menthol, or camphor.

At licensed dispensaries like The Travel Agency, you can also talk about your goals with expert budtenders who are intimately familiar with our entire inventory. If you’re in need of better sleep to achieve your fitness goals, for example, they’ll be able to direct you to the right products for your needs.

In these ways, cannabis may be a supportive tool for athletes to train and recover at their very best. Some are using cannabis not just as a fitness tool, but also to transform every aspect of their lives.

Combining fitness and cannabis to build community

There are many who see this natural connection between cannabis and fitness. Others have described the connection between the plant and a spiritual outlook. Through Rage and Release, Richards aims to bring all these angles together, leveraging cannabis and fitness to create a sense of meditative mindfulness and strengthen the bond of a new sort of congregation.

“Fitness is about being in tune with your body,” Richards said. “It’s about creating a functional lifestyle for people to become more mindful and conscious.”

Since Richards began Rage and Release in 2015, the group has grown to an international scale, with visitors coming from as far as Asia to participate in their events. And while the group has a considerable following in the running community, they’re focused on more than just cardio.

“My philosophy is full body,” Richards said. “Running can take a huge toll on the knees, hips, and back. I mix calisthenics with running; we created dynamic warmups that you can do every day. The whole program is focused on overall functionality.”

According to Richards, the Rage and Release model is about supporting everyday tasks, like lifting bags of groceries or hurrying to catch a bus. The spiritual aspect is also important for daily mindfulness, helping people to live more peaceful, fulfilled lives. That’s where the cannabis side of things comes in, he said.

“Cannabis is a huge tool in everything we do. It gives people the space and opportunity to be with like minded people and see that it’s a functional tool,” Richards said. “It’s about natural connections — one thing I love about running and fitness is you never know who you’re next to.

“We can build those connections even more with The Travel Agency and New York’s cannabis brands,” he added. For example, The Travel Agency has hosted Rage and Release events that include guided sound bath meditations and acupuncturists, bringing together multiple forms of wellness in one place.

According to Richards, there are also intangible benefits cannabis provides to many when it comes to staying healthy. If consuming cannabis helps people tap into a more mindful, present, and empowered version of themselves, he said, they can change things in their own lives for the better.

“We see it in how people show up for themselves on a weekly, monthly, and yearly basis,” he said. “We’re focused on health consumption — how you consume is how you live, so we’re bringing things to the table for people to feel good and think about where they are in life.”

Creating these meditative moments with others who are dedicated to fitness, mindfulness, and spirituality is what Rage and Release is all about. Through its partnership with The Travel Agency, it’s bringing that message to even more New Yorkers.

Find cannabis products to support your goals at The Travel Agency

Whether you’re a serious athlete who finds cannabis helpful for training and recovery or just want to be more active, The Travel Agency is here to help you reach your destination. Stop into one of our dispensaries, located in Union Square, Downtown Brooklyn, and Fifth Avenue, to see what we have in stock.