I鈥檓 running like I鈥檓 being chased by a bear. Sweat is pouring off me, my heart is pounding, and my mouth tastes like pennies. Also, I鈥檓 stoned.
Exercising on drugs is a new experience for me. And except for some fun in my early twenties, I鈥檝e never been a pot smoker. But about 15 minutes ago, I took a hit of marijuana and jumped on a treadmill to see how it affects my athletic performance.
I know what you鈥檙e thinking: What鈥檚 the point? The societal view of a stoner is of somebody couch-bound and snacking on chips. Even the vast majority of regular cannabis users will probably tell you that the effect of the drug hinders their ability to do anything athletic at a high level.
That鈥檚 what I always believed, too, and research seemed to back it up. A found that those who smoked pot experienced a 25 percent decrease in power output. found that people who ingested THC lost motor skills and experienced decreased reaction time.
The World Anti-Doping Association bans cannabis use during competition, citing studies that say the drug decreases anxiety and increases airflow to the lungs.
Still, the World Anti-Doping Association during competition, citing studies that say the drug decreases anxiety, potentially helping athletes stay calm in the heat of competition, and acts as a bronchiodilator, which increases airflow to the lungs. Pro athletes who use marijuana are obviously reluctant to admit it, but in 2003, skateboarder Bob Burnquist , 鈥淚 have learned a lot of tricks while stoned.鈥
Some close friends, who also happen to be really good skiers, swear that the drug improves their skills on the mountain, claiming that they can 鈥渇eel the snow better.鈥 So last winter I gave it a shot. After popping a ten-milligram THC gummy, I experienced a slight yet very functional high. But something else stood out: I felt invincible and proceeded to attack the steepest lines without fear. That reaction doesn鈥檛 surprise Stanford Medical School professor . 鈥淲e have cannabinoid receptors throughout our brains, and when the THC hits those receptors, it triggers a system that reduces anxiety,鈥 he says. 鈥淭hat you would feel more aggressive is a natural reaction to the drug.鈥
That got me wondering: Could pot make me better at other sports? To find out, I contacted physiologist , who recommended a battery of tests that I could perform both sober and while high to see if the drug affected my performance.
Which is what led me to buy a bag, take a hit, and jump on the treadmill. Earlier, for my control test, I set the pace at five miles per hour, increasing the ramp angle by 2.5 percent every two minutes. The goal was to see how long I could stay on. While sober, I made it 19 painful minutes.
While stoned, the experience is much different. I can still feel the pain, but I鈥檓 not fixated on it; my mind is lost in random thoughts. Finally, my legs stop turning over quickly enough and I hit the stop button: 19:30. Interesting. I repeat the test twice more over three days, both sober and stoned, and yield similar results, which Sims confirms is a substantial performance gain.
My experience is less surprising when you examine the science. When we run, our bodies actually produce endocannabinoids, a naturally occurring form of THC which, along with endorphins, are responsible for the runner鈥檚 high that athletes enjoy. Smoking pot simply puts you in that state before your body begins generating the chemical.
I do a heavy squat session while high, which would normally leave me sore for two days, but I鈥檓 surprisingly fresh 24 hours later. Even when not stoned, other aches and pains seem to dissipate, too. Humphreys says studies have shown that the drug has an anti-inflammatory effect, which is one reason why medical marijuana is so prevalent.
On a stoned mountain-bike ride after two weeks of testing, I feel flowy and fast, much better than when I鈥檓 sober. But soon I ride straight off the trail, unable to judge my speed correctly through a turn. 鈥淒istance perception is impaired, and reaction time is slower,鈥 says Humphreys. 鈥淵ou might feel invincible out there, but you鈥檙e probably putting yourself in more danger.鈥
I鈥檓 also wheezing. Smoking for two weeks 鈥╤as definitely taken a toll on my lungs. Ingesting it or using a vaporizer could get around that, but a published in the British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology showed inconsistent results when the drug was consumed in ways other than smoking it.
So will I smoke before I exercise from now on? No. I still prefer the natural high of a hard run. But if I鈥檓 racing a 10K with bragging rights on the line, I just might.