{"componentChunkName":"component---common-build-tags-template-js","path":"/tag/cannathlete/","result":{"data":{"allArticle":{"edges":[{"node":{"id":"Article_3077-markdown","title":"Can CBD Help Improve Sports Performance & Recovery?","slug":"can-cbd-help-improve-sports-performance-and-recovery","content":"Higher, faster, stronger: This is the mantra of many athletes—professional, amateur and hobbyist—everywhere. However, athletes may reach their goals at a cost. \n\nFirst, there’s the preparation for performance—making sure you’re rested and in peak condition mentally and physically. And on the day of your athletic event, you must feel relaxed and focused.\n\nFOLLOW US ON [FACEBOOK](https://www.facebook.com/pg/hellomdcompany/posts/) and [INSTAGRAM](https://www.instagram.com/hellomd_us/?utm_medium=copy_link/)\n\nThen, there’s the recovery afterward where you need to deal with the pain of the performance, the damage done to muscles and tissue, and any lingering tension from competition.\n\nWhile there’s a host of treatments and techniques to deal with sports performance and recovery, cannabidiol (CBD) is increasingly moving up the podium among athletes who want a more natural way to:\n\n* Deal with pain and inflammation\n* Address muscle damage\n* Replenish themselves with deep sleep \n* Relax frayed nerves\n\n“[Some people have [CBD] the night before a workout](https://www.gq.com/story/cbd-fitness-supplements),” says triathlete Andrew Talanksy in an interview with GQ. “Usually less have it during. And most are stoked to have it after as recovery.” \n\nFor his part, Andrew ingests CBD capsules to:\n\n* Ease regular post-performance aches and pains\n* Get much-needed sleep \n* Reduce the stress of competition\n\nRELATED: [CANNABIS FOR ATHLETES? VAPEXHALES FOUNDER SAYS YES](https://hellomd.com/articles/cannabis-for-athletes-vapexhales-founder-says-yes/) \n\n“[CBD for exercise-induced inflammation](https://health.usnews.com/wellness/fitness/articles/2018-05-11/can-cbd-products-improve-your-fitness-results) is absolutely the next big area we need to explore,” says Thorsten Rudroff, an exercise scientist and director of the Integrative Neurophysiology Laboratory at Colorado State University, in a _U.S. News_ interview. \n\nBut he adds: “Most of what we know about CBD and exercise is based on anecdotal reports. There's basically no research on the topic. We need to investigate CBD's effects on inflammatory biomarkers in athletes and exercise recovery.” \n\n### Athletes Turn to CBD to Address Pain & Inflammation\n\nTwo years ago, the World Anti-Doping Agency and the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency removed CBD from their list of prohibited substances. Though tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), with its psychoactive effects, as well as synthetic cannabinoids, are still on the list of banned substances.\n\nSo, athletes are free to explore consuming CBD to see how it can supplement the natural defenses of the body’s endocannabinoid system (ECS) to deal with pain and inflammation.\n\nThorsten points out that he’s seen increasing numbers of collegiate and professional athletes, and older adults, consuming CBD oils and edibles right after exercise, hoping to recover more quickly and effectively.\n\nInflammation after a hard workout isn’t in itself a bad thing. It triggers the body’s repair mechanisms, allowing muscle tissue to grow back stronger, improving future athletic performances. \n\nBut too much tissue damage and inflammation can injure the body with strains and sprains, and result in poor athletic results.\n\nTraditional ways to cope with inflammation and pain include:\n\n* Eating antioxidant-rich foods\n* Taking ice baths\n* Consuming over-the-counter nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like ibuprofen (Advil) and naproxen sodium (Aleve)\n* Using opioids (for severe pain management)\n\nStudies have shown that cannabis can help reduce pain, which can include stiff joints and musculoskeletal pain from exercise. \n\nAnd while athletes have used NSAIDs for decades, they’re also associated with kidney damage and increased risk of heart attack and stroke. So, some athletes are finding that [CBD can relieve pain with minimal side effects](https://trainright.com/cbd-for-athletes-cannabidiol/).  \n\nWhile opioids may be very successful at managing pain, they can come at a cost that may include addiction and death. CBD isn’t as successful at dealing with high-intensity pain, but may have a role to play in long-term pain management, taken on its own or alongside other medications.\n\nThere are also some suggestions that CBD can help slow the breakdown of muscles after exertion and even promote more muscle building. For example, preliminary research offered by the _Brazilian Journal of Medical and Biological Research_ suggests that [CBD works in conjunction with the ECS to interfere with cortisol](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8257923), the stress hormone that reduces protein production and gets in the way of tissue growth.\n\n### But Can CBD Improve Actual Sports Performance? \n\nWhen it comes to sports performance itself, CBD’s benefits are harder to quantify. Yes, the cannabinoid can help relieve stress and promote sleep, both of which can help athletes compete better. \n\nBut this isn’t the same as a direct link in helping during the event or game. And when marathon runners talk about the help cannabis gave them while out on the course, it’s usually in regard to the effects of THC, not CBD.\n\nSays Michael Kennedy, a cardiologist and clinical pharmacologist who examined 15 studies on cannabis and exercise performance: “Different types of cannabis may have a lot of therapeutic values—but none of it will make you run fast, and it won’t make you stronger.” \n\n### Ways Athletes Can Consume CBD\n\nIn taking CBD, athletes have a choice of:\n\n* Oils\n* Capsules\n* Infused foods and drinks\n* Vaping \n\nFor the fastest pain and inflammation relief, you can choose from:\n\n* Vaping\n* Sublingual tinctures\n* Topical creams applied directly to the injured area \n\nThough vaping may be the consumption method that produces effects the fastest, many athletes would probably resist doing anything that risks stressing their lungs. \n\nFor longer-lasting effects, infused drinks and edibles may be the way to go.\n\nIt can get tricky when deciding what CBD dose to consume. First, it’s sometimes hard to calculate doses, because the amount of CBD that’s actually in different products varies so much and the bioavailability (how much CBD is actually accessible in your body) of each consumption method is different. The most precise way to take CBD may be capsules, or by calculating how many milligrams of CBD are in a given volume of a tincture.\n\nBut as a rule of thumb, if you’re new to CBD, it’s best to start with a low dose and work your way up. After all, you have to learn to walk before you run.\n\nPhoto credit: oneinchpunch/Shutterstock.com\n\nWant to try CBD, but don’t know where to start? [Shop our selection of high-quality, lab-tested CBD products](https://hellomd.com/) and have them shipped to your door. And if you have questions about CBD, [ask them](https://hellomd.com/questions-and-answers/) and our community will answer.\n","image":{"childImageSharp":{"fluid":{"base64":"data:image/jpeg;base64,/9j/2wBDABALDA4MChAODQ4SERATGCgaGBYWGDEjJR0oOjM9PDkzODdASFxOQERXRTc4UG1RV19iZ2hnPk1xeXBkeFxlZ2P/2wBDARESEhgVGC8aGi9jQjhCY2NjY2NjY2NjY2NjY2NjY2NjY2NjY2NjY2NjY2NjY2NjY2NjY2NjY2NjY2NjY2NjY2P/wgARCAAOABQDASIAAhEBAxEB/8QAGAAAAwEBAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAQFAgP/xAAWAQEBAQAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAABAgP/2gAMAwEAAhADEAAAAezshyHRPMz/xAAYEAEBAQEBAAAAAAAAAAAAAAACAQMSIv/aAAgBAQABBQK0zPJRFcy95oTWEPb1/8QAFhEBAQEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAER/9oACAEDAQE/AY1//8QAFxEAAwEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAERE//aAAgBAgEBPwF0zZ//xAAcEAACAAcAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAEQEQEiExMmH/2gAIAQEABj8CWOzVBqWgj//EABwQAAMBAAIDAAAAAAAAAAAAAAABESExQVFhkf/aAAgBAQABPyGKaiQr1wxGVn02bRboi2r7EdB4SP/aAAwDAQACAAMAAAAQZ9//xAAWEQEBAQAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAEQH/2gAIAQMBAT8QiNP/xAAXEQADAQAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAABEBEx/9oACAECAQE/EKaU/wD/xAAdEAACAgIDAQAAAAAAAAAAAAABEQAhMXFRYcHR/9oACAEBAAE/EDwdKrX3EWRAKquxFWC+EIcgcAzvUd4QsjBmNNQPZ//Z","aspectRatio":1.3793103448275863,"src":"/static/9136674b69c9edd8034bffcff68dd9d4/14b42/6289f2589e019f8829bbf5e57055ee86.jpg","srcSet":"/static/9136674b69c9edd8034bffcff68dd9d4/f836f/6289f2589e019f8829bbf5e57055ee86.jpg 200w,\n/static/9136674b69c9edd8034bffcff68dd9d4/2244e/6289f2589e019f8829bbf5e57055ee86.jpg 400w,\n/static/9136674b69c9edd8034bffcff68dd9d4/14b42/6289f2589e019f8829bbf5e57055ee86.jpg 800w,\n/static/9136674b69c9edd8034bffcff68dd9d4/47498/6289f2589e019f8829bbf5e57055ee86.jpg 1200w,\n/static/9136674b69c9edd8034bffcff68dd9d4/0e329/6289f2589e019f8829bbf5e57055ee86.jpg 1600w,\n/static/9136674b69c9edd8034bffcff68dd9d4/ffa36/6289f2589e019f8829bbf5e57055ee86.jpg 1773w","srcWebp":"/static/9136674b69c9edd8034bffcff68dd9d4/58556/6289f2589e019f8829bbf5e57055ee86.webp","srcSetWebp":"/static/9136674b69c9edd8034bffcff68dd9d4/61e93/6289f2589e019f8829bbf5e57055ee86.webp 200w,\n/static/9136674b69c9edd8034bffcff68dd9d4/1f5c5/6289f2589e019f8829bbf5e57055ee86.webp 400w,\n/static/9136674b69c9edd8034bffcff68dd9d4/58556/6289f2589e019f8829bbf5e57055ee86.webp 800w,\n/static/9136674b69c9edd8034bffcff68dd9d4/99238/6289f2589e019f8829bbf5e57055ee86.webp 1200w,\n/static/9136674b69c9edd8034bffcff68dd9d4/7c22d/6289f2589e019f8829bbf5e57055ee86.webp 1600w,\n/static/9136674b69c9edd8034bffcff68dd9d4/d1528/6289f2589e019f8829bbf5e57055ee86.webp 1773w","sizes":"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px"}}}}},{"node":{"id":"Article_2696-markdown","title":"Cannabis for Athletes? VapeXhale’s Founder Says Yes","slug":"cannabis-for-athletes-vapexhales-founder-says-yes","content":"Consuming cannabis for athletic performance may seem contradictory, especially if your experience has been that marijuana slows you down or makes you sleepy. But one person who absolutely believes that marijuana can help athletes is [Seibo Shen](https://www.hellomd.com/people/569c5569aadede0008000012/seiboshen). Seibo is a jiu-jitsu fighter who founded Cannathlete, a company that develops products and training programs for athletes. Cannathlete uses cannabis as part of regimented and custom-made training programs to bring competitors’ performances to the next level. He also founded VapeXhale, maker of high-quality, hand-blown glass cannabis vaporizers that feature precise temperature controls for a truly efficient vaping experience. \n\nSeibo is passionate about marijuana and its use in sports and athletic endeavors for those who tolerate the plant well. He was kind enough to answer questions from the HelloMD community about how cannabis could fit into sports performance and recovery programs. And he shared how he personally consumes cannabis for focus, endurance and healing. \n\nFOLLOW US ON [FACEBOOK](https://www.facebook.com/pg/hellomdcompany/posts/) & [INSTAGRAM](https://www.instagram.com/hellomd_com/?hl=en)\n\n### Q: With jiu-jitsu, can you use cannabis in order to enhance your sports performance?\n\nI grew up playing many different sports, but currently I do Brazilian jiu-jitsu, which is a form of submission grappling. I compete professionally. There is a masters and executives division for people over the age of 40, but I currently compete in the 18–30 bracket.\n\nBefore a competition, I will typically take about 250 milligrams of some form of THC edible about 90 minutes prior to the competition. The competitions usually last anywhere from four to eight hours, so I like to take an edible because it lasts throughout the competition. And once the competition is over, I'll take a CBD tincture to help with the injuries\n\nWith THC, the focus side of things, obviously you can overdo it, so we at CannAthlete have come up with some new language. So we have medication; we have intoxication; and for athletic performance, we want activation.\n\nCannabis activation means being the best version of yourself. And to be the best version of yourself, you have to be present. So whether you're a CEO like myself or a professional athlete, many times while we're working out or competing, we're thinking about all the various things that we have to do, whether it's picking up the kids, a shopping list. \n\n`embed: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CYGFEGk9nzU`\n\n### Q: If someone is looking to enhance their sports performance with cannabis, what should they do?\n\nAnswer: I always like to use words that rhyme, so it's easy for people to remember. So, I say start slow and low. So slow and low is utilizing low dosages and having longer periods of time in between doses.\n\nSo, one great way to start off is with a low dosage at nighttime. If your body agrees with it, and you like the way you feel with that dosage, then you should try it during the daytime with the sport of choice that you're trying to enhance your performance in. And by utilizing a methodology like that, you could slowly up the amount of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabinoids that you're ingesting until you are at that perfect level where you think that you will be present and in the zone.\n\n`embed: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LxiLJuNr848`\n\n### Q: Is there a mind-body connection when it comes to sports performance and cannabis?\n\nAnswer: One of the things that I learned that may surprise a lot of people by utilizing cannabis with my training regimen is just being able to listen to my body a bit more closely. I think a lot of the sports that we play, a lot of the coaches that teach us how to play these sports, they always tell you to push through the pain. And many times, by pushing through the pain, you will get a lot of great results.\n\nBut as you get older, understanding when you are just feeling pain versus when you’re injured is a very, very good skill to learn. And by utilizing cannabis, I noticed that the mind-body connection is much stronger, and I could start realizing when I'm actually injured versus when I need to push through the pain. And I think being able to delineate the two was a huge barrier for me to break through. Because many times when you are playing combat sports, you don't want to look like the weakest person on the team. But if you are really injured, you need to pull yourself out.\n\n`embed: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X9eI4Hvf5os`\n\n### Q: Is it appropriate to introduce cannabis into a workout regime such as yoga?\n\nAnswer: That's a really great question. And if we go back to cannabis helping athletes improve their focus, I know that for, let's just say myself. When I first started doing yoga—I'm a highly competitive person, I would look at everybody else and go, “Oh, she's lower than me or she's doing this stretch better than me,” and I would often find myself comparing myself to other students or just thinking about all the other tasks that I have to do after the yoga class.\n\nSo, for someone like yourself, by consuming cannabis before going to yoga, it could help you improve your focus, really have that stronger mind-body connection so that you could really feel the stretch. And I also found that because breathing is such a big part of yoga, I am very conscious and aware of my breath when I'm breathing too quickly or too slowly, and by being conscious of my breath I am able to utilize that to further relax myself. And that's how I think you could really incorporate cannabis into your yoga routine.\n\n`embed: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QdVGnicrpac`\n\n\nRELATED: [HOW CANNABIS AFFECTS SPORTS PERFORMANCE & RECOVERY](https://www.hellomd.com/health-wellness/5a1df0f2eea891000897e273/how-cannabis-affects-sports-performance-and-recovery)\n\n### Q: In terms of sports recovery, is there any evidence that cannabis actually works?\n\nAnswer: Yeah, absolutely. So, there's many studies that have shown that cannabinoids are a strong anti-inflammatory. On top of that, there's a lot of emotional well-being that you get from consuming cannabis that helps with sports recovery. But for our athletes, the anti-inflammatory properties are so strong—much better than Advil, acetaminophen. And we found that the side effects are so much less for cannabinoids that it's something that they could use consistently and throughout the day as well.\n\nPeople have said THC with the rest of the cannabinoids have an entourage effect. But I recently heard that the cannabinoids have more of an ensemble effect where there's not one main lead but it's all the cannabinoids working in concert with each other. So just like whole foods are better than taking a multivitamin, we always recommend that when you're consuming cannabis, get a full spectrum of the cannabinoids.\n\n[Read more answers to this question](https://www.hellomd.com/answers/5ab044178bf343000746a831/in-terms-of-sports-recovery-is-there-any-evidence-that-cannabis-actually-works)\n\n`embed: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Byn_CDaN2n0`\n\nPhoto credit: [Bradley Wentzel](https://unsplash.com/@bradleywentzel)\n\nIf you’re new to cannabis and want to learn more, take a look at our [Cannabis 101]( https://www.hellomd.com/health-wellness/56201c206430320006bb0000/cannabis-101-your-quick-guide-to-medical-marijuana) post. [HelloMD](https://www.hellomd.com/) can help you get your medical marijuana recommendation; it's easy, private and 100% online.  \n","image":{"childImageSharp":{"fluid":{"base64":"data:image/jpeg;base64,/9j/2wBDABALDA4MChAODQ4SERATGCgaGBYWGDEjJR0oOjM9PDkzODdASFxOQERXRTc4UG1RV19iZ2hnPk1xeXBkeFxlZ2P/2wBDARESEhgVGC8aGi9jQjhCY2NjY2NjY2NjY2NjY2NjY2NjY2NjY2NjY2NjY2NjY2NjY2NjY2NjY2NjY2NjY2NjY2P/wgARCAAOABQDASIAAhEBAxEB/8QAFwAAAwEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAMEAv/EABYBAQEBAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAIAAf/aAAwDAQACEAMQAAABeuHOVBEI/wD/xAAXEAADAQAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAQIR/9oACAEBAAEFAlEmQ05kVSajT//EABcRAQADAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAABESH/2gAIAQMBAT8BqGP/xAAXEQEAAwAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAREh/9oACAECAQE/Ablr/8QAFxABAQEBAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAADERMv/aAAgBAQAGPwJuq5RH/8QAGBAAAwEBAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAERMdH/2gAIAQEAAT8hg1ENEjKMEXQ80WlH/9oADAMBAAIAAwAAABCzz//EABgRAAIDAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARAdHw/9oACAEDAQE/EJTqEP/EABgRAAIDAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARAdHw/9oACAECAQE/EIbrGP/EABoQAAMBAQEBAAAAAAAAAAAAAAABESExUbH/2gAIAQEAAT8QetTXdMBhVcZf+47Da+qBOwK4rw5yH//Z","aspectRatio":1.3793103448275863,"src":"/static/4d65e74ab7686d6720218339e66ab82b/14b42/b0b49da302c1d4c3e73807af6bf192d9.jpg","srcSet":"/static/4d65e74ab7686d6720218339e66ab82b/f836f/b0b49da302c1d4c3e73807af6bf192d9.jpg 200w,\n/static/4d65e74ab7686d6720218339e66ab82b/2244e/b0b49da302c1d4c3e73807af6bf192d9.jpg 400w,\n/static/4d65e74ab7686d6720218339e66ab82b/14b42/b0b49da302c1d4c3e73807af6bf192d9.jpg 800w,\n/static/4d65e74ab7686d6720218339e66ab82b/47498/b0b49da302c1d4c3e73807af6bf192d9.jpg 1200w,\n/static/4d65e74ab7686d6720218339e66ab82b/0e329/b0b49da302c1d4c3e73807af6bf192d9.jpg 1600w,\n/static/4d65e74ab7686d6720218339e66ab82b/e0e30/b0b49da302c1d4c3e73807af6bf192d9.jpg 3660w","srcWebp":"/static/4d65e74ab7686d6720218339e66ab82b/58556/b0b49da302c1d4c3e73807af6bf192d9.webp","srcSetWebp":"/static/4d65e74ab7686d6720218339e66ab82b/61e93/b0b49da302c1d4c3e73807af6bf192d9.webp 200w,\n/static/4d65e74ab7686d6720218339e66ab82b/1f5c5/b0b49da302c1d4c3e73807af6bf192d9.webp 400w,\n/static/4d65e74ab7686d6720218339e66ab82b/58556/b0b49da302c1d4c3e73807af6bf192d9.webp 800w,\n/static/4d65e74ab7686d6720218339e66ab82b/99238/b0b49da302c1d4c3e73807af6bf192d9.webp 1200w,\n/static/4d65e74ab7686d6720218339e66ab82b/7c22d/b0b49da302c1d4c3e73807af6bf192d9.webp 1600w,\n/static/4d65e74ab7686d6720218339e66ab82b/46196/b0b49da302c1d4c3e73807af6bf192d9.webp 3660w","sizes":"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px"}}}}},{"node":{"id":"Article_2561-markdown","title":"CannAthlete’s Cannabis-Enhanced Workout & Recovery Plan","slug":"cannathletes-cannabis-enhanced-workout-and-recovery-plan","content":"The Dark Horse Gym in San Jose seems like any other training facility for combat athletes—the loud smack of boxing gloves on leather echoes throughout the space, while punching bags jingle and sway from the impact made by mixed martial artists (MMA). \n\nBut every weekend, enter the gym and you’ll notice something different—amidst the crowd of pro-MMA fighters, fitness enthusiasts and folks simply trying to get in shape is a station where a group of athletes consume cannabis in its various forms. \n\nJean Paul Ghazeleh-Aceves, who goes by JP, is the founder of [InEx](https://www.facebook.com/inex.fitness.bootcamp/) and cofounder of CannAthlete, the organizations responsible for introducing cannabis to the Dark Horse Gym. Together with [Seibo Shen](https://www.hellomd.com/people/569c5569aadede0008000012/seiboshen), a jiu-jitsu fighter and the CEO of VapeXhale, the two have constructed a program and a community that brings together people of all backgrounds who are interested in using cannabis to reach their full athletic potential.\n\nFOLLOW US ON [FACEBOOK](https://www.facebook.com/pg/hellomdcompany/posts/) & [INSTAGRAM](https://www.instagram.com/hellomd_com/?hl=en)\n\n### Cannabis Can Enhance Sports Performance \n\nCannabis’s ability to enhance sports performance is nothing new. “Athletes have been using this plant for thousands of years,” says ex-NFL player Eben Britton who has no connection to CannAthlete, but is currently working on a book about cannabis and sports. “I think there’s a very [integral relationship between the warrior and the cannabis plant](https://www.hellomd.com/health-wellness/5a555edfc7e0180007a78268/cannabis-use-in-sports-from-medieval-to-modern-times). It just hasn’t been talked about because of how stigmatized [cannabis] has been.” \n\nIndeed, soldiers in ancient times would sometimes use cannabis during battle because it lowered inhibitions, and modern-day athletes have tuned into these benefits—many like Eben say that it adds to their workouts. \n\n“I like to do high THC concentrates before my workout. I feel like it really primes my body for the physical stress I'm about to inflict on it,” says Eben. “I’ve got a lot of scar tissue and bad joints and muscles that don't necessarily stretch the way they used to—consuming a high THC concentrate eases my tissues and wipes out a lot of inflammation that I might feel in my joints.”\n\nRELATED: [EX-NFL PLAYER EBEN BRITTON: CANNABIS CAN SAVE THE LEAGUE MILLIONS](https://www.hellomd.com/health-wellness/5a724c2ff24d1300077ccb27/ex-nfl-player-eben-britton-cannabis-can-save-the-league-millions)\n\nFor many of the folks at the CannAthlete session, cannabis helps them focus on the task at hand: Nate Moore is a professional mixed marital artist who uses cannabis because it helps with his striking. Nate described the first time he used cannabis during a workout, saying, “I was relaxed; I felt that I could hit much harder—I was more fluid, and I had more endurance.”\n\n“When [my trainer] said, ‘Turn your hip,’ it had a new meaning to me. So that’s when I started to see that [cannabis] was one of the bigger elements in my life that was missing,” he adds.\n\nNot all of the individuals who come to CannAthlete sessions are professional athletes. Cameron Whigham suffered a spinal cord injury that left him paralyzed, but he says that cannabis has helped him regain some of the sensation in his legs. Like Nate, he uses cannabis during workout sessions.\n\n“[Cannabis] helps me focus on my workout,” says Cameron. “I get into the zone more, and I actually end up doing more than I intended to.” \n\n### Cannabis Helps Athletes Recover\n\n“After I work out, I like to use CBD to help relax my body,” says Cameron, touching on another application cannabis has in the sports world: recovery. Athletes are realizing that cannabis’s anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective properties can help them recuperate—UFC fighter Nate Diaz notably puffed on a CBD vape pen during a post-fight press conference last year, and Eben uses CBD lotions after workouts to help with joint pain.\n\nNate and Eben—who both partake in sports where hits to the head are the norm—add that the neuroprotective qualities of cannabis are particularly applicable to their bodies’ needs.  \n\n“I've studied a lot of plants and herbal remedies—ancient and Ayurvedic, traditional Chinese medicine—there's no other substance on this planet that I know of that has the same neuroprotective qualities that cannabis does,” says Eben. \n\n`embed: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=et7viXB8nR4`\n\n### Creating a Workout Plan That Integrates Cannabis\n\nAs athletes and avid cannabis consumers, both JP and Seibo are familiar with the relationship between cannabis and sports, and how the plant can help both athletes and non-athletes achieve fitness goals. \n\nJP works closely with athletes to fine-tune a regimen that works best for their body. He puts an emphasis on getting his clients to establish athletic goals and then uses cannabis to help them zero in on those goals. \n\n“Weed brings you back to a child's mind,” says Seibo. “You see something interesting and your attention focuses on that interesting thing. If we make that thing your competition—that's when we increase performance. And it's not just the weed—it's the full process.” JP and Seibo use cannabis to help athletes become “supple leopards”—calm and focused, yet also dynamic and ready to spring into action.\n\nCannabis is notorious for its myriad effects: What works for one person may not work for another. “Cannabis tends to facilitate a state of homeostasis—that's why people have so many different effects with the same strain. If you're a little wired and you need to calm down, you can smoke cannabis; if you're really tired and you need to pep up, you can consume cannabis,” says Seibo. \n\nJP and Seibo developed a program with this in mind. Generally, they first observe participants working out normally—without the help of cannabis. They then decide whether an individual would benefit from using cannabis as part of their workout regimen. For those who might gain an advantage, Seibo and JP’s program consists of roughly six steps: \n\n1. Cannabis performance assessment (CPA) \n2. Cannabis performance facilitation (CPF) \n3. Massage\n4. Reassessment \n5. Individualized workout \n6. 3:1 cardio interval\n\nThe CPA is a simple questionnaire that you can fill out before attending a CannAthlete get together—it’s a way to evaluate the trainee’s experience with cannabis and what they hope to get out of the program. \n\nBased off of answers in the CPA, participants consume a form of cannabis that meets their personality type and needs—this is the CPF. Participants then move onto the massage and stretching part of the program, which is conducted by a certified resistance stretching instructor and usually lasts for 10–15 minutes. \n\n“We do the massage because most people neglect that aspect of health and fitness and training,” says JP. He adds that this portion is meant to prime the body for the workout to come. This is also the time for the participant to acclimate to the cannabis they’ve consumed. \n\nDepending on how they feel after their massage, participants either consume more cannabis to balance out their mental state, or if they feel ready—they begin their workout. \n\nOftentimes, if participants are training as a group, JP and Seibo will also incorporate a kundalini breathing technique called “breath of fire,” which gives participants hyper-control of their diaphragm. According to Seibo, this technique “allows us to get everyone (more or less) at the same starting point, which is relaxed but with heightened awareness.”\n \nIf participants are on their own, JP and Seibo work with them to create an individualized workout. “This is where [participants] take many different paths. … We’re able to fine-tune the program by adding mixed martial arts, rhythm, dancing, stretching, personal training that includes weightlifting, posture, correction—but it's different for everybody,” says JP. \n\nWorkouts are rounded out by 3 to 1 cardio intervals. This type of high-intensity interval training is thought to be an efficient way to increase endurance, burn fat and build muscle—thus it’s applicable to many athletic pursuits. \n\nOnce the interval training is complete, athletes are welcome to explore more of the gym on their own, partake in CBD recovery or mingle with others who subscribe to a similar workout regimen and lifestyle. \n\nOverall, the CannAthlete program is about fine-tuning the participant’s relationship with cannabis. \n\n“If you really want to discover this, show up here on Saturday or Sunday. Everything is free,” says JP. “The cannabis is free; the snacks are free; the friendships here are definitely free—and even more valuable than anything else you'll get.”\n\nIf you’re new to cannabis and want to learn more, take a look at our [Cannabis 101](https://www.hellomd.com/health-wellness/cannabis-101-your-quick-guide-to-medical-marijuana) post. [HelloMD](https://www.hellomd.com/) can help you get your medical marijuana recommendation; it's easy, private and 100% online.  ","image":{"childImageSharp":{"fluid":{"base64":"data:image/png;base64,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","aspectRatio":1.36986301369863,"src":"/static/3f410239d80b04fab2d3dd42cd92372a/ee604/367b3580aa6f52250bd71bef2ecd5a3f.png","srcSet":"/static/3f410239d80b04fab2d3dd42cd92372a/69585/367b3580aa6f52250bd71bef2ecd5a3f.png 200w,\n/static/3f410239d80b04fab2d3dd42cd92372a/497c6/367b3580aa6f52250bd71bef2ecd5a3f.png 400w,\n/static/3f410239d80b04fab2d3dd42cd92372a/ee604/367b3580aa6f52250bd71bef2ecd5a3f.png 800w,\n/static/3f410239d80b04fab2d3dd42cd92372a/f3583/367b3580aa6f52250bd71bef2ecd5a3f.png 1200w,\n/static/3f410239d80b04fab2d3dd42cd92372a/5707d/367b3580aa6f52250bd71bef2ecd5a3f.png 1600w,\n/static/3f410239d80b04fab2d3dd42cd92372a/7b560/367b3580aa6f52250bd71bef2ecd5a3f.png 1931w","srcWebp":"/static/3f410239d80b04fab2d3dd42cd92372a/58556/367b3580aa6f52250bd71bef2ecd5a3f.webp","srcSetWebp":"/static/3f410239d80b04fab2d3dd42cd92372a/61e93/367b3580aa6f52250bd71bef2ecd5a3f.webp 200w,\n/static/3f410239d80b04fab2d3dd42cd92372a/1f5c5/367b3580aa6f52250bd71bef2ecd5a3f.webp 400w,\n/static/3f410239d80b04fab2d3dd42cd92372a/58556/367b3580aa6f52250bd71bef2ecd5a3f.webp 800w,\n/static/3f410239d80b04fab2d3dd42cd92372a/99238/367b3580aa6f52250bd71bef2ecd5a3f.webp 1200w,\n/static/3f410239d80b04fab2d3dd42cd92372a/7c22d/367b3580aa6f52250bd71bef2ecd5a3f.webp 1600w,\n/static/3f410239d80b04fab2d3dd42cd92372a/1bcc0/367b3580aa6f52250bd71bef2ecd5a3f.webp 1931w","sizes":"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px"}}}}},{"node":{"id":"Article_2555-markdown","title":"4 Cannabis Strains to Get a Better Workout ","slug":"4-cannabis-strains-to-get-a-better-workout","content":"As cannabis’s popularity reaches new heights, an increasing number of professional athletes are coming forward to discuss their marijuana use. Athletes who use cannabis to enhance their performance usually cite its ability to boost focus, quell anxiety and spur motivation. If you’re having a hard time convincing yourself to get off the couch and hit the gym, or if you just want to shake up your workout routine, here are some marijuana strains you can try. \n\nFOLLOW US ON [FACEBOOK](https://www.facebook.com/pg/hellomdcompany/posts/) & [INSTAGRAM](https://www.instagram.com/hellomd_com/?hl=en)\n\n### 1. Red Congo \n\n`embed: https://www.instagram.com/p/BeXEAdJBwYQ/` <br>\n\nRed Congo’s high promotes focus and euphoria. It also provides the kind of mental clarity that helps you laser in on the task at hand—whether it’s going on a run or lifting weights.  This African landrace sativa is often used by Seibo Shen, founder of VapeXhale and a jiu-jitsu fighter who trains with cannabis. Seibo says he’s started winning more matches since he began using cannabis in his training regimen. \n\n### 2. Green Crack \n\n![Green Crack](https://hellomd-development.s3.amazonaws.com/articles-5a74b2bff24d1300077ccb2b-d1112182-4ca1-45ae-be07-c4fff417dbe2/original.png)\n\nGreen Crack’s uplifting effects are a favorite among users who are looking to get things done—this includes working out. Its invigorating qualities will help get you outside or to the gym, while its mysterious indica heritage will give you a sense of euphoria and calm as you lift those weights or sprint around the track.  \n\nRELATED: [3 POPULAR QUESTIONS ABOUT MARIJUANA & SPORTS ANSWERED](https://www.hellomd.com/health-wellness/the-5-most-popular-strains-of-cannabis)\n\n### 3. Harlequin   \n\n`embed: https://www.instagram.com/p/Bb3EymFFBvf/` <br>\n\nNot everyone does well with tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), so for folks looking for an energy boost _sans_ psychoactivity, Harlequin is a good bet. This high-cannabinol (CBD) strain washes away any pain or anxiety you may experience during exercise, thus helping you focus and get the best out of your workout.  \n\n### 4. Grape Ape \n\n![Grape Ape](https://hellomd-development.s3.amazonaws.com/articles-5a74b2bff24d1300077ccb2b-5b96cd7a-b6c0-4c0f-a240-ae12e7ff411a/original.png)\n\nIt might seem odd to have an indica included on this list, but frequent cannabis users often enjoy a body-heavy indica while exercising. This cannabis strain’s sedating effects may even be a boon for those prone to overthinking—Grape Ape is used by the folks at CannaAthlete, a community of athletes who use cannabis during training, for just this reason. According to Jean Paul Ghazeleh-Aceves, the organization’s founder, this strain’s high myrcene content can calm the mind and allow users to fully engage in their workout. \n\nDo you have a cannabis strain that you like to use when working out? If so, let the HelloMD community know in the comments section below.   \n\nMain photo credit: [Element5 Digital](https://unsplash.com/@element5digital)\n\nGreen Crack and Grape Ape photo credit: [Dank Depot](https://www.flickr.com/photos/dankdepot/)\n\nIf you’re new to cannabis and want to learn more, take a look at our [Cannabis 101](https://www.hellomd.com/health-wellness/cannabis-101-your-quick-guide-to-medical-marijuana) post. [HelloMD](https://www.hellomd.com/) can help you get your medical marijuana recommendation; it's easy, private and 100% online.  ","image":{"childImageSharp":{"fluid":{"base64":"data:image/jpeg;base64,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","aspectRatio":1.36986301369863,"src":"/static/c6b403bcef0bc4773c3b96f0fd93b9fc/14b42/d39829ea24402ed83a4c9f89d3c547c3.jpg","srcSet":"/static/c6b403bcef0bc4773c3b96f0fd93b9fc/f836f/d39829ea24402ed83a4c9f89d3c547c3.jpg 200w,\n/static/c6b403bcef0bc4773c3b96f0fd93b9fc/2244e/d39829ea24402ed83a4c9f89d3c547c3.jpg 400w,\n/static/c6b403bcef0bc4773c3b96f0fd93b9fc/14b42/d39829ea24402ed83a4c9f89d3c547c3.jpg 800w,\n/static/c6b403bcef0bc4773c3b96f0fd93b9fc/47498/d39829ea24402ed83a4c9f89d3c547c3.jpg 1200w,\n/static/c6b403bcef0bc4773c3b96f0fd93b9fc/0e329/d39829ea24402ed83a4c9f89d3c547c3.jpg 1600w,\n/static/c6b403bcef0bc4773c3b96f0fd93b9fc/79e48/d39829ea24402ed83a4c9f89d3c547c3.jpg 2322w","srcWebp":"/static/c6b403bcef0bc4773c3b96f0fd93b9fc/58556/d39829ea24402ed83a4c9f89d3c547c3.webp","srcSetWebp":"/static/c6b403bcef0bc4773c3b96f0fd93b9fc/61e93/d39829ea24402ed83a4c9f89d3c547c3.webp 200w,\n/static/c6b403bcef0bc4773c3b96f0fd93b9fc/1f5c5/d39829ea24402ed83a4c9f89d3c547c3.webp 400w,\n/static/c6b403bcef0bc4773c3b96f0fd93b9fc/58556/d39829ea24402ed83a4c9f89d3c547c3.webp 800w,\n/static/c6b403bcef0bc4773c3b96f0fd93b9fc/99238/d39829ea24402ed83a4c9f89d3c547c3.webp 1200w,\n/static/c6b403bcef0bc4773c3b96f0fd93b9fc/7c22d/d39829ea24402ed83a4c9f89d3c547c3.webp 1600w,\n/static/c6b403bcef0bc4773c3b96f0fd93b9fc/b06c5/d39829ea24402ed83a4c9f89d3c547c3.webp 2322w","sizes":"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px"}}}}},{"node":{"id":"Article_2506-markdown","title":"4 Ways Marijuana Can Make You a Better Athlete","slug":"4-ways-marijuana-can-make-you-a-better-athlete","content":"As the stigma surrounding cannabis slowly fades and knowledge of its benefits continues to spread, an increasing number of professional athletes are coming out of the closet and admitting to cannabis use for sports performance. \r\n\r\nStudies involving cannabis and exercise science are limited, and those that do exist often serve to discourage marijuana use in sports. However, plenty of anecdotal evidence and some scientific studies vouch for the reasons athletes use cannabis to help them train—among them the ability to enhance focus, reduce anxiety and eliminate feelings of fatigue. There might also be other performance-boosting mechanisms that athletes have yet to widely acknowledge, like marijuana’s ability to act as a bronchodilator and stimulate blood flow. \r\n\r\nFOLLOW US ON [FACEBOOK](https://www.facebook.com/pg/hellomdcompany/posts/) & [INSTAGRAM](https://www.instagram.com/hellomd_com/?hl=en)\r\n\r\n### 1. Marijuana Can Help Athletes Focus \r\n\r\nMany endurance and combat athletes say cannabis helps them focus during training and competition. [Jim McAlpine](https://www.hellomd.com/people/57b786ea066417000be2b3ee/jim420games), founder of the 420 Games, says cannabis brings him into “flow state,” a psychological term used to describe full immersion in an activity wherein a person experiences feelings of focus and enjoyment in the task at hand—or as Jim puts it, “It’s when your body and mind become one.” \r\n\r\nWhat Jim says makes sense when you consider a more extreme case: Adults with ADHD who medicate with cannabis find that it helps them relax and focus. Some even prefer it over prescription medications. A study earlier this year found [preliminary evidence supporting cannabis use for ADHD](http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0924977X17302377), although the exact mechanism of how cannabis enhances focus in ADHD patients is still not understood.  ADHD/ADD seems to result from a dysfunction in dopamine release and uptake in the brain so it’s likely that cannabis, which is intricately linked to the body’s dopamine signaling system, may be influencing ADHD patients in some way. \r\n\r\nHowever, many people would argue that cannabis has the opposite effect on them, and just because cannabis can enhance focus in those with ADHD, doesn’t mean it can have the same effect across a population of people with a variety of brain chemistries. To address this, VapeXhale Founder [Seibo Shen](https://www.hellomd.com/people/569c5569aadede0008000012/seiboshen/questions/following)—who uses cannabis as part of a training regimen for combat athletes—has his clients establish athletic goals before starting a cannabis training regimen. He then uses cannabis to help them zero in on those goals. \r\n\r\n“Weed brings you back to a child's mind,” he says. “You see something interesting and your attention focuses on that interesting thing. If we make that thing your competition—that's when we increase performance.” Seibo uses cannabis to help his clients become “supple leopards”—calm and focused, yet also dynamic and ready to spring into action.\r\n\r\nRELATED: [3 POPULAR QUESTIONS ABOUT MARIJUANA & SPORTS ANSWERED](https://www.hellomd.com/health-wellness/5a287acc100a820006562eba/3-popular-questions-about-marijuana-and-sports-answered)\r\n\r\n### 2. Marijuana Can Make Athletes Less Anxious\r\n\r\nReducing anxiety with cannabis can have a number of applications for athletes—whether it’s calming nerves prior to a race or helping them get a good night’s sleep before game day. Anti-anxiety properties are usually associated with cannabidiol (CBD), which has shown much promise in the treatment of mood disorders. However, plenty of people anecdotally state that even cannabis with tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) has helped them with anxiety issues.\r\n\r\nWhile research into THC’s anti-anxiety properties is more limited than with CBD, the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) thinks that cannabis with THC can help with anxiety, which is why it’s still considered a performance-enhancing drug (PED). In 2013, the agency raised the levels of marijuana athletes were allowed to have in their system so that out-of-competition use wouldn’t necessarily disqualify them.\r\n\r\nWADA was interested in testing for athletes who were using the plant to enhance performance, citing cannabis’s ability to decrease anxiety and fear, as well as improve some types of concentration and oxygenation. Of course, whether cannabis should be classified as a PED, on par with steroids or other drugs, is up for debate. \r\n\r\n### 3. Marijuana May Help Athletes Breathe Better\r\n\r\nA few small studies suggest that THC can act as a bronchodilator—in other words, it can increase airflow to the lungs—a characteristic that can help some athletes perform better. Previous studies in asthmatic patients have found that [THC’s anti-inflammatory properties reverse constriction in the lungs](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/656294). Additionally, a small 12-person study conducted in 1986 found that [smoking cannabis induced bronchodilation during and after exercise](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/3097453), leading some to consider cannabis’s performance-enhancing abilities at a physiological level. \r\n\r\n“I think that on some level [cannabis] helps with your ability to take in oxygen and regulate your heart rate,” says Jim. “It’s sad that we don’t have enough data on this.” In spite of the lack of research on this topic, some athletes have already tuned into these possible benefits. Brittney Lusk, a jiu-jitsu fighter began using cannabis to help her have more control over her body when training. \r\n\r\n“I use [cannabis] for mindfulness, breathing and maintaining my heartrate,” she says. “It’s important when you’re in jiu-jitsu that you don’t freak out and increase your heart rate, so being mindful of your breathing very important.”\r\n\r\n### 4. Marijuana Can Help Athletes Work Out Longer & Harder\r\n\r\nStudies suggest that our bodies’ own endocannabinoids play a role in the “runner’s high” we sometimes experience when exercising—a state that’s usually associated with reduced pain and anxiety, as well as general feelings of contentment. Molecules called endorphins are what are often associated with the “runner’s high,” but endorphins can’t actually pass through the blood-brain barrier, causing some scientists to hypothesize that something else is contributing to this blissful state. \r\n\r\nResearchers have found increased levels of the endocannabinoid AEA in mice after exercise, and scientists at the University of Texas Health Center found that [people had higher levels of the endocannabinoids in their bloodstream after moderate intensity treadmill running](https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00421-012-2495-5). This suggests that endocannabinoids play a role in the “runner’s high” that often increases our pain threshold so that we can work out longer and harder. \r\n\r\nTHC mimics our bodies’ own endocannabinoids so it’s not surprising that some athletes use cannabis to help them extend and improve the quality of their workouts. \r\n\r\nCarlos Chavez, an amateur mixed martial arts fighter and participant in [Cannathlete](https://cannathlete.myshopify.com/) uses marijuana when he’s lifting weights because it allows him to push through the pain and do more repetitions. Jim reports similar experiences—in college, cannabis helped motivate him to hit the gym for long training sessions. \r\n\r\n“When I would smoke, I'd stay [in the gym] twice as long…lifting as hard as I could. I began to see that cannabis was the biggest motivator for me to get off the couch and go to the gym,” he says. \r\n\r\n### Tips for Trying Cannabis With a Sport\r\n\r\nCannabis has numerous applications in sports. However, it’s important to remember that using cannabis in this way isn’t for everyone. People who use cannabis to boost performance already tend to be decently athletic, says Jim. In addition, he’s noticed a trend in the type of sports that are more likely to benefit from the increased focus and relaxation that cannabis induces.\r\n\r\n“Where [cannabis] is most prevalent and beneficial are in communities where your brain is a big piece of getting to the finish line—it's more individual,” he says. \r\n\r\nIf using cannabis during a workout is something you’d like to try, Jim recommends recruiting an exercise buddy. He also advises users to “start incredibly slow, always err on the side of caution, take less rather than more.”\r\n\r\nPhoto credit: [Dimon Blr](https://unsplash.com/@dimonblr)\r\n\r\nIf you’re new to cannabis and want to learn more, take a look at our [Cannabis 101](https://www.hellomd.com/health-wellness/cannabis-101-your-quick-guide-to-medical-marijuana) post. [HelloMD](https://www.hellomd.com/) can help you get your medical marijuana recommendation; it's easy, private and 100% online.  ","image":{"childImageSharp":{"fluid":{"base64":"data:image/jpeg;base64,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","aspectRatio":1.3605442176870748,"src":"/static/0d4e74f7252905368d2d4a1a7d9f6a07/14b42/6e357d75be83c5f980fa88ff9beb06ed.jpg","srcSet":"/static/0d4e74f7252905368d2d4a1a7d9f6a07/f836f/6e357d75be83c5f980fa88ff9beb06ed.jpg 200w,\n/static/0d4e74f7252905368d2d4a1a7d9f6a07/2244e/6e357d75be83c5f980fa88ff9beb06ed.jpg 400w,\n/static/0d4e74f7252905368d2d4a1a7d9f6a07/14b42/6e357d75be83c5f980fa88ff9beb06ed.jpg 800w,\n/static/0d4e74f7252905368d2d4a1a7d9f6a07/47498/6e357d75be83c5f980fa88ff9beb06ed.jpg 1200w,\n/static/0d4e74f7252905368d2d4a1a7d9f6a07/0e329/6e357d75be83c5f980fa88ff9beb06ed.jpg 1600w,\n/static/0d4e74f7252905368d2d4a1a7d9f6a07/8915c/6e357d75be83c5f980fa88ff9beb06ed.jpg 2490w","srcWebp":"/static/0d4e74f7252905368d2d4a1a7d9f6a07/58556/6e357d75be83c5f980fa88ff9beb06ed.webp","srcSetWebp":"/static/0d4e74f7252905368d2d4a1a7d9f6a07/61e93/6e357d75be83c5f980fa88ff9beb06ed.webp 200w,\n/static/0d4e74f7252905368d2d4a1a7d9f6a07/1f5c5/6e357d75be83c5f980fa88ff9beb06ed.webp 400w,\n/static/0d4e74f7252905368d2d4a1a7d9f6a07/58556/6e357d75be83c5f980fa88ff9beb06ed.webp 800w,\n/static/0d4e74f7252905368d2d4a1a7d9f6a07/99238/6e357d75be83c5f980fa88ff9beb06ed.webp 1200w,\n/static/0d4e74f7252905368d2d4a1a7d9f6a07/7c22d/6e357d75be83c5f980fa88ff9beb06ed.webp 1600w,\n/static/0d4e74f7252905368d2d4a1a7d9f6a07/a1970/6e357d75be83c5f980fa88ff9beb06ed.webp 2490w","sizes":"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px"}}}}},{"node":{"id":"Article_2519-markdown","title":"How Athletes Get a Boost From the Endocannabinoid System ","slug":"how-athletes-get-a-boost-from-the-endocannabinoid-system","content":"The concepts “runner’s high” and  “second wind” are familiar to serious athletes. They’re examples of the way intense exertion can bring on a feeling of energy, euphoria and complete union of body and mind. Now, recent research reveals that the positive benefits of exercise arise from the body’s endocannabinoid system—and that for athletes of all kinds, cannabis can help to boost performance, relieve pain, and protect cells and neurons from damage and death.\r\n\r\nFOLLOW US ON [FACEBOOK](https://www.facebook.com/pg/hellomdcompany/posts/) & [INSTAGRAM](https://www.instagram.com/hellomd_com/?hl=en)\r\n\r\n### Cannabinoids, not Endorphins Responsible for Workout High\r\n\r\nA large and growing body of research continues to show that working out—or just moving more—has the power to alleviate aches and pains, reduce anxiety, improve concentration and even ease the symptoms of depression. Those benefits are so well documented that exercise is often prescribed as part of a recovery plan for both physical and mental health conditions.  \r\n\r\nFor years, [sports medicine researchers worked hard to pin down the reasons behind those well-documented effects of exercise](https://cen.acs.org/articles/93/web/2015/10/Exploring-Molecular-Basis-Runners-High.html). Until relatively recently, though, it was generally believed that the positive effects of exercise came from the release of endorphins—“feel good” chemicals expressed by the body’s own natural system of opioid receptors during intense, focused physical activity.  \r\n\r\nBecause higher levels of endorphins can be measured in the blood under those conditions, researchers believed that these natural opioids were responsible for the runner’s high and other mood-altering benefits of exercise. The opioid receptor system is largely concentrated in the brain and is strongly associated with the pleasure-reward-learning circuit. Opioid receptors, especially in the brainstem, also activate to block pain signals.\r\n\r\nBut newer research raises questions around this theory. In 2004, British sports medicine researchers observed that the [mood-altering aspects of intense physical activity more closely resembled the effects reported by recreational marijuana users](http://bjsm.bmj.com/content/38/5/536) than the sedating effects of opioids. \r\n\r\nSports and intense exercise, they discovered, stimulate the expression of natural cannabinoids in areas of the brain related to pleasure, concentration and pain relief. But because cannabinoid receptors are notably lacking in the brainstem and gastrointestinal tract, cannabinoids don’t cause the sedative effects and gastric slowdown typical of opioids. \r\nWhat’s more, endorphins in the bloodstream aren’t able to pass the blood-brain barrier. \r\n\r\nBut cannabinoids can, and when they activate receptors in the body’s endocannabinoid system, they [produce the peak experiences and pain \r\nrelief](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3717337/) known to athletes and marijuana consumers alike. Whether generated by the body itself or consumed from external sources such as cannabis, cannabinoids can also exert a protective effect potent enough to slow the progression of a number of neurological conditions—and prevent the death of neurons after events such as traumatic brain injury.\r\n\r\nRELATED: [WHAT IS THE ENDOCANNABINOID SYSTEM?](https://www.hellomd.com/health-wellness/5751cbd970410e000b00003a/what-is-the-endocannabinoid-system)\r\n\r\n### The Endocannabinoid System Generates Positive Effects During Exercise\r\n\r\nThe endocannabinoid system is a wide-ranging natural network of cannabinoid receptors that affect virtually all functions throughout the body. But this system wasn’t discovered until the 1980s, and much remains to be learned about its many complex functions, including its differences from the opioid receptor system. Those differences help to explain why cannabinoids are more able to produce the positive effects associated with exercise than opioids, and why cannabis can have more far-reaching effects on the body as a whole.\r\n\r\nThe endocannabinoid system includes two kinds of receptors. CB1 is abundant in many areas of the brain, the central and peripheral nervous systems, and organs and tissues throughout the body. In the brain, CB1 receptors exist alongside opioid receptors in areas related to pleasure, relaxation and pain responses—but they’re virtually absent in the brainstem, where opioid receptors are plentiful. CB2 is more closely associated with peripheral tissues and the immune system. \r\n\r\nThe human body produces two natural cannabinoids, anandamide and 2AG, which bind to these receptors, triggering a range of responses and supporting the functioning of other kinds of systems. The most abundant compounds in cannabis, tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD), are so similar to these natural cannabinoids that they can activate the receptors in the same way.\r\n\r\n### Cannabinoids Provide Athletes With Neuroprotection, Pain Relief & More\r\n\r\nBecause cannabinoid receptors are found on all kinds of cells throughout the body, they play an important role in protecting neurons from damage caused by inflammation, oxidation and various disease processes. This explains why cannabis can slow the progression of diseases such as multiple sclerosis and Parkinson’s disease and [prevent neuron \r\ndeath](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15281893) after injuries—even [traumatic brain injury](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25166905), a major risk in contact sports such as football.\r\n\r\nCannabinoids can relieve pain—better than opioids, according to many users. During exercise, activation of cannabinoid receptors in the brain and tissues can help athletes to push past the pain or not feel it at all. During recovery, too, cannabis products of all kinds can help reduce inflammation in muscles and tissues, and help manage pain from sports-related injuries.\r\n\r\nCannabinoids also support the healthy functioning of many essential processes in the body, and during exercise they can promote the oxygenation of tissues by encouraging vasodilation and bronchodilation for better blood flow and respiration. Increased oxygenation can enhance endurance and focus during intense exercise and competitive sports.\r\n\r\n### Marijuana & Sports: A New Relationship\r\n\r\nAthletes have been using cannabis for a long time, though many have been reluctant to say so openly. Now, cannabis entrepreneurs and activists, along with athletes in sports ranging from martial arts to football, are working to promote the use of cannabis products. \r\n\r\n[VapeXhale founder Seibo Shen is a jiujitsu fighter and passionate advocate of cannabis consumption](https://socialunderground.com/2016/08/seibo-shenvapexhale-evo-birth-cannathlete/)  to “activate” performance in sports of all kinds. As cofounder of CannAthlete, Seibo works with athletes in a structured program that combines cannabis with other mind-body techniques.\r\n\r\nCannabis, he says, “tends to facilitate a state of homeostasis. Being relaxed and also able to dynamically spring into action—that’s the mind state we want athletes to be in.”\r\n\r\n[Cannabis activist and entrepreneur Jim McAlpine](https://www.denverite.com/marijuana-pairs-best-intense-physical-activity-says-420-games-founder-jim-mcalpine-39556/) is also working to shatter the myth of the “stoner” and show that cannabis can be a key part of an active lifestyle. As founder of the 420 Games, a series of athletic events promoting the healthy and responsible use of cannabis, Jim points out that many world-class athletes and champions have used cannabis—and that it can help, not hurt, performance.\r\n\r\nA growing body of research reveals that cannabis works with the endocannabinoid system to provide its benefits—and along with the well-known “high,” athletes across the spectrum of sports can use it for performance, pain relief and protection.\r\n\r\nPhoto credit: [Autumn Goodman](https://unsplash.com/@auttgood)\r\n\r\nIf you’re new to cannabis and want to learn more, take a look at our [Cannabis 101](https://www.hellomd.com/health-wellness/cannabis-101-your-quick-guide-to-medical-marijuana) post. [HelloMD](https://www.hellomd.com/) can help you get your medical marijuana recommendation; it's easy, private and 100% online.  ","image":{"childImageSharp":{"fluid":{"base64":"data:image/jpeg;base64,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","aspectRatio":1.3605442176870748,"src":"/static/5d2a5fb69650b60bb3fc6762807f54bf/14b42/12f5b58ee4a4d562be0448396b82e8eb.jpg","srcSet":"/static/5d2a5fb69650b60bb3fc6762807f54bf/f836f/12f5b58ee4a4d562be0448396b82e8eb.jpg 200w,\n/static/5d2a5fb69650b60bb3fc6762807f54bf/2244e/12f5b58ee4a4d562be0448396b82e8eb.jpg 400w,\n/static/5d2a5fb69650b60bb3fc6762807f54bf/14b42/12f5b58ee4a4d562be0448396b82e8eb.jpg 800w,\n/static/5d2a5fb69650b60bb3fc6762807f54bf/47498/12f5b58ee4a4d562be0448396b82e8eb.jpg 1200w,\n/static/5d2a5fb69650b60bb3fc6762807f54bf/0e329/12f5b58ee4a4d562be0448396b82e8eb.jpg 1600w,\n/static/5d2a5fb69650b60bb3fc6762807f54bf/49344/12f5b58ee4a4d562be0448396b82e8eb.jpg 3300w","srcWebp":"/static/5d2a5fb69650b60bb3fc6762807f54bf/58556/12f5b58ee4a4d562be0448396b82e8eb.webp","srcSetWebp":"/static/5d2a5fb69650b60bb3fc6762807f54bf/61e93/12f5b58ee4a4d562be0448396b82e8eb.webp 200w,\n/static/5d2a5fb69650b60bb3fc6762807f54bf/1f5c5/12f5b58ee4a4d562be0448396b82e8eb.webp 400w,\n/static/5d2a5fb69650b60bb3fc6762807f54bf/58556/12f5b58ee4a4d562be0448396b82e8eb.webp 800w,\n/static/5d2a5fb69650b60bb3fc6762807f54bf/99238/12f5b58ee4a4d562be0448396b82e8eb.webp 1200w,\n/static/5d2a5fb69650b60bb3fc6762807f54bf/7c22d/12f5b58ee4a4d562be0448396b82e8eb.webp 1600w,\n/static/5d2a5fb69650b60bb3fc6762807f54bf/d2b96/12f5b58ee4a4d562be0448396b82e8eb.webp 3300w","sizes":"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px"}}}}},{"node":{"id":"Article_2461-markdown","title":"3 Popular Questions About Marijuana & Sports Answered","slug":"3-popular-questions-about-marijuana-and-sports-answered","content":"It might seem counterintuitive to think of cannabis as a sports performance enhancer, but that’s just what some athletes are discovering. Professional athletes and weekend warriors alike report that consuming certain strains of marijuana helps with focus and endurance. Others swear by cannabis products for recovery after physical activity to mitigate aches, pains and inflammation.\r\n\r\nIf you’re curious about how cannabis can fit into an active lifestyle, read our three most popular questions on the subject from our [Answers](https://www.hellomd.com/answers) page. The answers were provided by knowledgeable members of our community. We hope their insights help you decide if marijuana is right for you when you’re working up a sweat. \r\n\r\nFOLLOW US ON [FACEBOOK](https://www.facebook.com/pg/hellomdcompany/posts/) & [INSTAGRAM](https://www.instagram.com/hellomd_com/?hl=en)\r\n\r\n### Q: Is it true that marijuana will help my endurance when I exercise?\r\n**_ I am both a long-distance runner and swimmer and I have heard from several fellow athletes that they either eat an edible before an intense workout or vape. _**\r\n\r\nAnswer: [@budmaster1992](https://www.hellomd.com/people/578e8efbf4c8ef000bc63fae/budmaster1992)\r\nThis is a tough one to really answer. However, some things to consider for yourself, since everybody reacts to marijuana and its side effects completely differently, are these:\r\n\r\n* The dosage: Many edibles come in 30 mg up to 100 mg. Depending on the potency some may give you a push of energy while others may couch lock you. As always, start off small and work up.\r\n\r\n* The strain: Indicas are what make you feel the couch lock and sleepiness that people often associate with marijuana; however, this isn't always the case. Sativa on the other hand is said to be uplifting and more of a \"head\" high then a body high; which is what I would recommend using prior to a workout, like I said previously, indicas can cause sleepiness. Finally, there is a middle; called a hybrid which is often a 50/50 split between an indica and a sativa; these are often formed (and most common nowadays) when breeders cross an indica-dominate strain with a sativa; the rest is simple logic.\r\n\r\n* Tolerance: Finally, your tolerance will play a big role. If you are a moderate to heavy smoker, I say you should be fine. However, if you are one of those people who smokes a blunt every once in a while, I would suggest no. However, this is really your call.\r\n\r\nOverall, just be smart and be safe. I hope I helped!\r\n\r\n-Bud\r\n\r\nRELATED: [HOW CANNABIS AFFECTS SPORTS PERFORMANCE & RECOVERY](https://www.hellomd.com/health-wellness/5a1df0f2eea891000897e273/how-cannabis-affects-sports-performance-and-recovery)\r\n\r\n### Q: I am looking for a treatment for lactic acid in muscles after a workout.\r\n**_ Would a topical be a good option, or would an internal product be better? _**\r\n\r\nAnswer: [@didi](https://www.hellomd.com/people/5751d3fdfe8dee000b00004f/didi) \r\nI believe a cannabis topical with a high THCA content would be a good option to try out since THCA is one of the most effective cannabinoids for reducing inflammation. There is limited knowledge available to date about THCA as opposed to CBD, so many products currently available on the cannabis market do not contain THCA. We purposely balance our Sweet ReLeaf topical formula to be a 40% THCA and 60% THC blend because it works so effectively to bring down swelling, puffiness, and soreness in the muscles related to inflammation. I think it would be worth trying to see how a topical might contribute to overall wellbeing after a workout.\r\n\r\n[Read more answers to this question](https://www.hellomd.com/answers/5748a6ee620f420008000068/i-am-looking-for-a-treatment-for-lactic-acid-in-muscles-after-a-workout).\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n### Q: I developed tendinitis (golfers elbow) from doing CrossFit. Nothing seems to help.\r\n**_ I have already had two cortisone injections. The pain wakes me up at night, and I can't do any grippy workout exercises anymore. I am looking for something to help with pain and sleep. Would you recommend a topical or is there something I can take internally that would take away the pain, but not make me so high that I can’t work out. I don't want to feel drugged up. _**\r\n\r\nAnswer: [@drbluto](https://www.hellomd.com/people/56958a056305f80008000069/drbluto)\r\nI would recommend trying a topical CBD salve, balm, cream or lotion applied directly on the skin over your elbow; there is no high associated with CBD topicals. You could also try a time-release patch. They release active product over three to six hours. Another option would be a 20:1 CBD:THC tincture on or under the tongue and these can provide three to five hours relief. If your pain is preventing sleep, I might introduce a different product such as a 1:1 CBD:THC tincture which would help with nighttime pain relief and sleep enhancement.\r\n\r\nRemember THC is the psychoactive part of the plant that makes you high. CBD is not psychoactive but is anti-inflammatory and analgesic.\r\n\r\n`embed: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YcBN5JHxX9A`\r\n\r\nPhoto credit: [Clem Onojeghuo](https://unsplash.com/@clemono2)\r\n\r\nIf you’re new to cannabis and want to learn more, take a look at our [Cannabis 101](https://www.hellomd.com/health-wellness/cannabis-101-your-quick-guide-to-medical-marijuana) post. [HelloMD](https://www.hellomd.com/) can help you get your medical marijuana recommendation; it's easy, private and 100% online.  ","image":{"childImageSharp":{"fluid":{"base64":"data:image/jpeg;base64,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","aspectRatio":1.3793103448275863,"src":"/static/3523de2ab7eb6889b46bb52b764ca6b8/14b42/e2a80bc3a4e6efdf5cdb3d8221c17635.jpg","srcSet":"/static/3523de2ab7eb6889b46bb52b764ca6b8/f836f/e2a80bc3a4e6efdf5cdb3d8221c17635.jpg 200w,\n/static/3523de2ab7eb6889b46bb52b764ca6b8/2244e/e2a80bc3a4e6efdf5cdb3d8221c17635.jpg 400w,\n/static/3523de2ab7eb6889b46bb52b764ca6b8/14b42/e2a80bc3a4e6efdf5cdb3d8221c17635.jpg 800w,\n/static/3523de2ab7eb6889b46bb52b764ca6b8/47498/e2a80bc3a4e6efdf5cdb3d8221c17635.jpg 1200w,\n/static/3523de2ab7eb6889b46bb52b764ca6b8/0e329/e2a80bc3a4e6efdf5cdb3d8221c17635.jpg 1600w,\n/static/3523de2ab7eb6889b46bb52b764ca6b8/733d7/e2a80bc3a4e6efdf5cdb3d8221c17635.jpg 3620w","srcWebp":"/static/3523de2ab7eb6889b46bb52b764ca6b8/58556/e2a80bc3a4e6efdf5cdb3d8221c17635.webp","srcSetWebp":"/static/3523de2ab7eb6889b46bb52b764ca6b8/61e93/e2a80bc3a4e6efdf5cdb3d8221c17635.webp 200w,\n/static/3523de2ab7eb6889b46bb52b764ca6b8/1f5c5/e2a80bc3a4e6efdf5cdb3d8221c17635.webp 400w,\n/static/3523de2ab7eb6889b46bb52b764ca6b8/58556/e2a80bc3a4e6efdf5cdb3d8221c17635.webp 800w,\n/static/3523de2ab7eb6889b46bb52b764ca6b8/99238/e2a80bc3a4e6efdf5cdb3d8221c17635.webp 1200w,\n/static/3523de2ab7eb6889b46bb52b764ca6b8/7c22d/e2a80bc3a4e6efdf5cdb3d8221c17635.webp 1600w,\n/static/3523de2ab7eb6889b46bb52b764ca6b8/156fb/e2a80bc3a4e6efdf5cdb3d8221c17635.webp 3620w","sizes":"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px"}}}}},{"node":{"id":"Article_2498-markdown","title":"How Cannabis Affects Sports Performance & Recovery ","slug":"how-cannabis-affects-sports-performance-and-recovery","content":"Whether you’re a fitness enthusiast or a professional athlete, the concept of using substances to enhance performance and recover from a hard workout or injuries is nothing new. Athletes of many sports resort to both legal and illegal means to boost performance and recuperate—sometimes with dire consequences. As the stigma surrounding cannabis slowly dissipates and as knowledge of its benefits continues to spread, it comes as no surprise that athletes are now using marijuana to aid in their training and recovery practices. \n\nFOLLOW US ON [FACEBOOK](https://www.facebook.com/pg/hellomdcompany/posts/) & [INSTAGRAM](https://www.instagram.com/hellomd_com/?hl=en)\n\n### How Do Athletes Enhance Their Performance & Recovery? \n\nEnhancement methods for athletes usually focus on either the physical or mental aspects of performance. Physically, athletes may adopt simple lifestyle changes like eating a high protein diet and supplementing with vitamins—or they may turn to more involved measures like hypoxic training, which makes the cardiovascular system more efficient by forcing the body to work out in low oxygen conditions.  \n\nAthletes may also take supplements to improve their mental state and boost focus. Caffeine is a popular, legal and easily accessible way to increase alertness, yet some athletes may turn to amphetamines or other illegally acquired substances, which can have severe side effects like organ failure and nerve damage. \n\nRecovering quickly after intense workouts or after injuries is key for athletes—especially professionals whose livelihoods depend on the performance and the wellness of their bodies. Traditional methods of recovering from minor sports injuries include rest, icing, massage and using compression garments. For professional athletes, methods of recovery can be more extreme. They may undergo surgery to repair torn tissue, and many are prescribed opioids in order to cope with pain. \n\nOpioid misuse in professional sports has gained much attention recently, with former and current NFL players admitting to excessive opioid use. A [2011 study surveyed 644 retired NFL players](http://www.drugandalcoholdependence.com/article/S0376-87161100002-0/fulltext)—52% of those interviewed used opioids during their career, with 71% reporting misuse. In addition, 15% of those reporting misuse during their career reported current misuse of opioid pain medications. \n\n### How Can Cannabis Aid Sports Performance & Recovery?\n\nAn increasing number of athletes are using cannabis to enhance their performance due to its ability to:\n\n* enhance focus.\n* reduce anxiety.\n* eliminate feelings of fatigue. \n\nPlenty of anecdotal and preliminary research exists to support using cannabis for these purposes, although studies aren’t specific to sports enhancement. For example, adults with ADHD often medicate with cannabis because it helps them relax and focus—some even prefer it over prescription medications. A study that came out earlier this year found [preliminary evidence supporting cannabis use for ADHD](http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0924977X17302377).\n\nMeanwhile, [CBD has been shown to have anti-anxiety properties](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22729452) by [mediating receptors in the body’s endocannabinoid system](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4604171/). And finally, those with conditions that can lead to fatigue, like depression and stress, often report that using cannabis can energize them and help them function. While not traditionally thought of as an energizing substance, several cannabis strains are known specifically for giving users a boost—among them are Durban Poison, Green Crack and Ghost Train Haze. \n\nRELATED: [THE 420 GAMES CELEBRATES ATHLETES, HEALTHY LIVING & CANNABIS](https://www.hellomd.com/health-wellness/567715092829830008000034/the-420-games-celebrates-athletes-healthy-living-and-cannabis)\n\nCannabis’s anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective properties can help athletes recover from training and injury, and its powerful pain-fighting abilities are already being advocated by those seeking alternatives to opioids. Athletes looking to recuperate after an intense workout tend to use CBD for its anti-inflammatory properties. [CBD plays a part in how our bodies process pain](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28826543), and there’s already a large body of preclinical evidence that can vouch for the molecule’s ability to treat different acute, inflammatory and neurological pain. \n\nCannabis can also work in concert with opioids to magnify the pain-relieving properties of these narcotics, leading to overall reduced opioid use. In fact, cannabinoids are so effective in fighting pain that some athletes have turned to cannabis in lieu of opioids—regardless of whether their sport deems its use legal. Many studies, including one HelloMD conducted with UC Berkeley have found that a [high percentage of people regard cannabis as effective or more effective than opioids in pain management](https://www.hellomd.com/health-wellness/595413ae914ae4001b40307a/hellomd-and-uc-berkeley-release-study-on-cannabis-use-as-a-substitute-for-opioid-and-non-opioid-based-pain-medication). Given all of these reports, it comes as no surprise that pro athletes are also using cannabis in this manner. \n\nAnother property of cannabis that makes it especially useful in contact sports is neuroprotection. Both CBD and THC have shown neuroprotective properties in various studies, but the exact mechanism of how these molecules help preserve brain cell function and structure needs to be further studied. Researchers cite the many ways this might occur: from activation of CB1 and CB2 receptors to direct action on nerve cells. A 2017 review article concluded that [phytocannabinoids showed therapeutic promise for traumatic brain injuries](https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphar.2017.00069/full), further cementing reasons why this plant is so popular among NFL players—many of whom suffer from chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), a type of degenerative brain disease that arises from repeated impacts to the head. \n\n### How Can Cannabis Be Integrated Into a Training & Recovery Regimen?\n\nCannabis can complement many traditional and holistic training approaches as well as supplement a recovery regimen. It’s typically easier to use cannabis for recovery than it is for performance. This is because athletes using cannabis as part of a training strategy must consider many different mental and physical factors. \n\nWhen used properly, cannabis can help athletes relax and focus during workouts and competitions. For VapeXhale Founder [Seibo Shen](https://www.hellomd.com/people/569c5569aadede0008000012/seiboshen/questions/following), a jiu-jitsu fighter and strength trainer for combat athletes, cannabis allows his clients to be “supple leopards”—calm, yet also dynamic and ready to spring into action. \n\nSeibo works closely with athletes to fine-tune a regimen that works best for their body. He puts an emphasis on getting his clients to establish athletic goals and then uses cannabis to help them zero in on those goals. “Weed brings you back to a child's mind,” he says. “You see something interesting and your attention focuses on that interesting thing. If we make that thing your competition—that's when we increase performance. And it's not just the weed—it's the full process.”\n\nSeibo has managed to develop a pre-workout routine that addresses a person’s unique biochemistry. Before every session, athletes in Seibo’s gym partake in a five-minute yoga breathing exercise after which the athletes microdose caffeine and consume a landrace sativa strain. The yoga breathing exercise, which is typically “Breath of Fire,” a kundalini breathing technique, brings the whole class into a consistent mindset. “That way when we administer the medicine, people aren’t just super high and caffeinated, while other people are lethargic,” he says. \n\nIntegrating cannabis into a recovery regimen is much simpler: Athletes experiment to figure out how to harness cannabis’s anti-inflammatory and pain-fighting properties to suit their needs. For athletes who are using opioids to cope with pain, cannabis can either supplement opioid use or replace the drugs altogether. Sleep is one of the most important factors in helping the body heal, but it’s often disrupted for those in pain—cannabis, with its analgesic and sleep-inducing qualities, can be especially beneficial for athletes. \n\n\n### Sativas & High CBD Products Tend to Be Athlete Favorites\n\nEvery individual is different, but based on research and anecdotal evidence from athletes who use cannabis in their training regimens, here are some generalizations that can serve as a good jumping-off point for those interested in incorporating cannabis into their fitness routine. \n\nTo encourage focus and energize yourself before a workout, a sativa works best—Seibo uses the landrace sativa Red Congo to help his clients hone their focus. Other sativa strains known for their uplifting effects are [Durban Poison](https://www.hellomd.com/strains/5a7cb16cd520d60009f4f4a3), the “espresso of cannabis strains”; [Green Crack](https://www.hellomd.com/strains/5a7cc89cd520d60009f4f4a8), whose name speaks for itself; and [Harlequin](https://www.hellomd.com/strains/5a9d9ad8fdb6dd00088d0cf1), whose high CBD content is a good fit for those who want to avoid THC.   \n\nAthletes like to use high CBD products or strains to help them recover after workouts or injuries, while indica-dominant THC edibles can also help athletes sleep, leading to faster recovery times. If you’re feeling a lot of pain and want immediate relief, vaping is the best method of consumption, as most athletes usually avoid smoking due to the irritation it can cause to the throat and lungs. Edibles and tinctures provide longer-lasting relief, but may take a while to kick in. \n\nPhoto credit: [Justin Ng](https://unsplash.com/@justinng)\n\nIf you’re new to cannabis and want to learn more, take a look at our [Cannabis 101](https://www.hellomd.com/health-wellness/cannabis-101-your-quick-guide-to-medical-marijuana) post. [HelloMD](https://www.hellomd.com/) can help you get your medical marijuana recommendation; it's easy, private and 100% online.  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