Winter is coming and that means it’s time for you skiers and boarders to get those legs in shape. The problem is you need to get your lazy asses to the gym first. Most would assume that’s not even possible for a Utah medical cannabis patient with all the couch-locking clouds they’re puffing.
It’s common to consume cannabis while on the ski lift, but have you ever thought about using this herbal medicine to create a stronger you on the slopes? If you’ve been paying attention to the War On Drugs this past century, we assume you haven’t dabbled with this new wizardry.
Medical cannabis use is mostly viewed as treatment for people suffering severe chronic pain or terminal diseases, but what about those who just want to improve their health and make better powder turns on the slopes?
As cannabis legalization crumbles around the country, the lazy stoner stereotype seems to be as fragile as the archaic laws we’re leaving behind. Decade after decade, those who consume cannabis have been considered unmotivated and indulgent freeloaders who only weigh society down – rather than boost it up. They definitely haven’t been considered gym rats before.
Let’s look at famous stoner movie characters like Cheech and Chong (Up In Smoke), Jeff Spicoli (Fast Times At Ridgemont High), Jesse Pinkman (Breaking Bad), Lester Burnham (American Beauty), Sanka Coffie (Cool Runnings), and Dale Denton (Pineapple Express). The list is quite literally endless of deadbeats who habitually consume cannabis and lack self-respect, or even respect from their peers. Of course, this misconception leaps the movie screen and echoes throughout our modern day society, leaving no doobie toker or pipe puffer safe from its inaccurate representation. That means you, reader!
Where are all of the movie characters based off of athletes like Ricky Williams, Michael Phelps, Conor McGregor, Marshawn Lynch, Megan Rapinoe, Sha‘Carri Richardson, and countless others who verify cannabis helps them become better athletes. That list is also quite literally endless, but because of strict drug testing and harsh cannabis penalties, many athletes remain silent about their consumption.
Momentum from mass cannabis legalization throughout the country, however, is allowing some of these athletes to start sharing their stories for the first time, and some say the Pandora Box of cannabis training has been opened. No, we don’t mean the 6-foot Bong Olympics for those just catching on – we’re talking real sports here.
So, does this mean we’ve got ski bum culture and the lazy demeanor attached to it all wrong too? That topic is still up for debate, but those on the mountain who are using cannabis during their workout and recovery claim they are raising the bar on performance and motivation. Look at Olympians from all walks of life like Michael Phelps (swimming), Usain Bolt (runner), Ross Rebagliati (snowboarder), Nicholas Delpopolo (Martial Arts), Jamie Anderson (snowboarder), and Shaun White (snowboarder). They have all reached success at the Olympic games, and all admit to using cannabis as medicine.
Regardless of these stoner’s accolades above, the debate whether athletes should be allowed to use cannabis has been an ongoing argument in sports for decades. In recent years, the NBA has stopped testing for cannabis altogether, while the NFL has reduced the punishment for players who test positive on drug tests. Sprinter, Sha’Carri Richardson, faced the harshest punishment recently when she was banned for competing in the Tokyo Olympics for testing positive for cannabis.
Although cannabis does not offer the same muscle-related or mental advantages that anabolic steroids, Adderall, or other amphetamines can give athletes – it’s still often lumped into the same class and forbidden in most sports.
In 2019, CBD was removed from the doping ban, which allowed athletes for the first time to take advantage of this cannabinoid for pain relief and promote muscle recovery without discrimination. It’s a start, but we’re about to take things a step further. If you’re interested in using cannabis during your pre-season workout and recovery, and becoming healthier – read further.
For years, cannabis has been accredited to helping athletes recover after a hard workout. We agree with this thinking, but believe incorporating cannabis into your workout can affect so much more including: motivation, focus, diet, and sleep. These are all components of being a healthy individual and will also help your body to ward off unwanted disease. Chances are your ski turns will increase in power and stamina too for those deep Utah powder days.
When we work out, we’re actually causing damage to our bodies. That soreness you feel the day after a workout is actually your muscles repairing where they were torn. So, when you hear a meathead say, “Hey, let’s go get shredded,” they’re actually onto something. Every bicep curl or leg lift you do causes small tears in your muscles, which lead to inflammation, and will require repair from your body. It’s also how your body builds more muscle. No pain, no gain – right?
THC is also known for helping reduce sensations of pain through anti-inflammatory actions. This can be crucial in the recovery portion of workouts and with the discomfort caused by overly sore muscles. Additionally, those who are in too much pain for athletic activity can sometimes find enough relief using THC they can begin exercising again.
CBD is also known to reduce pain, relieve inflammation, and help with restlessness and sleep quality like it’s relative, THC. Most athletes prefer this cannabinoid over THC because it provides similar benefits without the unwanted head change. It’s becoming known that using both cannabinoids at the same time allows CBD and THC to reach their full potential. In other words, taking CBD with a low dose of THC can be extremely useful when experiencing effects.
Professional athletes participating in extreme sports like MMA, boxing, football, and skiing have all found benefits in cannabis for recovery caused by the heavy hits and lifting they do, but what about getting motivated and hyped-up to work out? The famous misconception that cannabis leaves consumers couch-locked and lazy we’re finding is just an urban myth, and athletes say they’ve found something to replace their cup of coffee that leaves the jitters behind. That is if you choose the correct strain.
Before legalization, acquiring a bag of grass wasn’t always so easy, and picking out the strain was unheard of. Now that dispensaries have opened their doors in Utah, patients can dial down not only the type of product they want, but also the many effects cannabis comes with.
During a workout, it’s important to be fired up and ready to go, right? That’s why many athletes are chugging Red Bulls or other energy drinks to get a kick-start on their way to the gym. Instead, lets find an uplifting strain like Jack Herer, Durban Poison, Sour Diesel or Green Crack to get your body moving. More importantly, these strains will give you focus too.
It’s been common belief that high-THC strains or products should be avoided when working out to prevent couch lock or laziness, but we’re here to tell you that thinking is WRONG. If you have a decent tolerance to cannabis already, you should be seeking out high-THC strains that come with uplifting terpenes like limonene, pinene, and terpineol. The added THC comes with added focus and some athletes say it slows everything down enough that the body and mind work harmoniously together. This is a lot like Flow State, which you read about in our summer magazine.
If THC isn’t your friend, try seeking out CBD rich strains like Charlotte’s Web or Harlequin from Utah hemp growers. Since there is little THC present in those strains – paranoia, dizziness, and inebriation are left at the door, and only sharp focus is left. Plus, the added amounts of CBD will help during recovery with inflammation from overused muscles.
Many people categorize CBD as a ‘”non-psychoactive.” This is not entirely true though. This cannabinoid does interact with our nervous system and can induce changes in awareness and mood. With elevated mood after consuming CBD or THC, athletes can better respond to stress and anxiety they experience while working out in the gym. In result, this can help athletes push through mental hurdles that are harming their performance. Both cannabinoids can also produce heavy body relaxation that some consumers describe feels like a muscle relaxer. Making THC or CBD an ideal choice for recovery and sleep.
Consuming cannabis with high doses of THC and terpenes like myrcene, linalool can send your body in recovery mode after a workout. The heavy dose of THC can spur appetite and help athletes get the sleep quicker. This is the point of your workout when you need to start giving back to your body what you took. Stretching, yoga, eating, and sleeping are all great activities to accomplish this.
Setting up a routine to follow is key. Let cannabis be your motivation and reward when working out and good health and energy is inevitable. And the next time someone calls you a lazy stoner – say “thanks” and invite them to the gym. Enjoy the mountains this winter and have fun breaking the negative cannabis stereotype one set at a time.
