Cannabis, Culture, and the Science of the Runner’s High
Cannabis has gone from the subject of Reefer Madness propaganda to a mainstream wellness product. But for athletes, the debate over weed is still tangled up in stigma, patchy science, and confusing rules.
In this episode of Your Diet Sucks, Zoë Rom and Kylee Van Horn dig into the messy intersection of cannabis, culture, and sport. We trace how racist policies and industry lobbying shaped the “lazy stoner” stereotype, how the World Anti-Doping Agency still bans THC despite limited evidence, and what current research actually shows about cannabis and performance.
The science paints a complicated picture. THC doesn’t boost VO₂ max, strength, or coordination, and in some studies, it made performance worse. But many athletes say cannabis helps them manage pain, fall asleep faster, or feel less anxious before competition. CBD, once hyped as the ultimate recovery tool, has largely failed to deliver in clinical trials, though mislabeling and contamination remain widespread. And the runner’s high itself may be thanks to your body’s own endocannabinoid system, the same one cannabis taps into.
Cannabis isn’t a performance enhancer, but for some athletes, it may make training more enjoyable or recovery less stressful. With U.S. federal restrictions blocking high-quality trials, athletes are left to experiment on themselves while science struggles to catch up.
References:
Bonn-Miller, M. O., Loflin, M. J. E., Thomas, B. F., Marcu, J. P., Hyke, T., & Vandrey, R. (2017). Labeling accuracy of cannabidiol extracts sold online. JAMA, 318(17), 1708-1709. https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.2017.11909
Bryan, A. D., Bryan, S., Magnan, R. E., Sauder, K. A., & Hutchison, K. E. (2019). Cannabis use and exercise behavior during a 4-month randomized trial of aerobic exercise training. PLOS ONE, 14(4), e0215763. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0215763
Johns Hopkins Medicine. (2022). Some CBD products don’t contain what they claim. Retrieved from https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org
Meier, M. H., Caspi, A., Ambler, A., Harrington, H., Houts, R., Keefe, R. S. E., McDonald, K., Ward, A., Poulton, R., & Moffitt, T. E. (2012). Persistent cannabis users show neuropsychological decline from childhood to midlife. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 109(40), E2657–E2664. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1206820109
National Commission on Marihuana and Drug Abuse. (1972). Marihuana: A signal of misunderstanding. U.S. Government Printing Office.
Pacher, P., Bátkai, S., & Kunos, G. (2006). The endocannabinoid system as an emerging target of pharmacotherapy. Pharmacological Reviews, 58(3), 389–462. https://doi.org/10.1124/pr.58.3.2
Raichlen, D. A., Foster, A. D., Gerdeman, G. L., Seillier, A., & Giuffrida, A. (2012). Wired to run: Exercise-induced endocannabinoid signaling in humans and cursorial mammals with implications for the “runner’s high.” Journal of Experimental Biology, 215(8), 1331–1336. https://doi.org/10.1242/jeb.063677
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. (2023). HHS recommends rescheduling marijuana. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Retrieved from https://www.hhs.gov
World Anti-Doping Agency. (2023). The 2023 prohibited list: International standard. WADA. https://www.wada-ama.org
Hesse, J. (2021). Runner’s High: How a Movement of Cannabis-Fueled Athletes Is Changing the Science of Sports. G.P. Putnam’s Sons. (ISBN 978-0593191170)
[Penguin Random House listing] https://www.penguinrandomhouse.ca/books/653009/runners-high-by-josiah-hesse/9780593191170 Penguin Random House Canada