{"componentChunkName":"component---common-build-tags-template-js","path":"/tag/vapexhale/","result":{"data":{"allArticle":{"edges":[{"node":{"id":"Article_2823-markdown","title":"Picking the Right Cannabis Vape: What You Should Know ","slug":"picking-the-right-cannabis-vape-what-you-should-know","content":"In the market for a new vape pen or desktop vaporizer? Good thinking. Vaping cannabis is generally better for your health than smoking it is. And that’s because of one thing: combustion.\n\nWhen you smoke cannabis, you’re applying heat in the form of a direct flame to flower or concentrate. This heat turns the tetrahydrocannabinolic acid (THCA) in raw cannabis into tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). This process, known as decarboxylation, is needed for cannabis flower or concentrate to produce the psychoactive effects cannabis is known for. However, the high heat of combustion may also release compounds that pose a risk to your health. \n\nBecause of this, health-conscious cannabis consumers have turned to vaporization, which uses a lower heat to decarboxylate cannabis, creating a vapor—instead of smoke—that you then inhale. \n\nFOLLOW US ON [FACEBOOK](https://www.facebook.com/pg/hellomdcompany/posts/) & [INSTAGRAM](https://www.instagram.com/hellomd_com/?hl=en)\n\nIn today’s cannabis world, there are more vaping options than ever. How do you know what to choose? Don’t worry. We’re here to help. We’ll go over conduction and convection; two different heating methods that you should consider. And we’ll brief you on different heating elements, so you’ll be off to a good start in your search for the perfect vaporizer. \n\n### What’s a Conduction Vaporizer? \n\nVaporizers heat cannabis in two different ways: conduction and convection. In conduction vaporizers, cannabis is heated via direct contact with a hot surface, but the surface never gets hot enough to combust the cannabis—hopefully. \n\nMost portable vape pens are conduction vaporizers. This is because they don’t take long to heat up, have a simple design that makes them easy to maintain and can be made at an affordable price point. \n\n#### The Pros of Conduction Vaporizers\n  \n* Heat up faster\n* Less maintenance\n* Good price point\n\n#### The Cons of Conduction Vaporizers \n\n* Uneven heating\n* Little temperature control \n* Harsher vapor \n\nThe downside to conduction vaporizers is that many of them don’t heat cannabis evenly. Typically, the heating element only touches one part of the cannabis, meaning you sometimes have to shake or stir the material, so it can come into contact with the heat source. \n\nAdditionally, these devices usually lack temperature controls. Without these controls, you run the risk of the vaporizer getting too hot, leading to some combustion and a harsher vapor that can be harder on your lungs.\n\nVape pens often contain additives like propylene glycol and polyethylene glycol. These thinning agents are safe for consumption at lower temperatures, but at higher heat (around 446 degrees F), they can [transform into carcinogenic chemicals like formaldehyde](https://www.liebertpub.com/doi/abs/10.1089/acm.2016.0337). While there’s still debate on how applicable these studies are to real life, you may want to play it safe and have a vaporizer that lets you keep temperatures at lower levels.  \n\nThere are conduction vaporizers with temperature controls like the PAX Era and PAX 3. These vape pens boast temperature control settings that you can operate via your smartphone, and they have a lock feature that prevents them from being operated by any unwanted consumers.\n\n### What’s a Convection Vaporizer? \n\nWhile conduction vaporizers decarboxylate cannabis via contact with a direct heat source, convection vaporizers heat up the air around your cannabis. Convection vaporizers were developed in response to many of the challenges brought up by conduction vaporizers. \n\n#### The Pros of Convection Vaporizers\n \n* Even heating \n* Precise temperature control \n* Cleaner vapor\n\n#### The Cons of Convection Vaporizers\n \n* Longer heat up time\n* Expensive\n\nConvection vaporizers require a lot of energy to heat up, so you’ll usually find them in a pricey desktop vaporizer, though there are some portable options. However, you’ll get the benefits of advanced temperature settings, allowing you to consume your cannabis more safely, efficiently and effectively. \n\n### Vaporizer Heating Elements: Metal, Ceramic & Glass\n\nBeyond the heating mechanism, you may also want to consider what material the heating element is made out of. In a conduction or convection vaporizer, the heating element is what causes either the heating surface or air to get hot. Heating elements are typically made out of: \n\n* Metal \n* Ceramic \n* Glass\n\nThere are pros and cons to each type of material. \n\nAluminum and titanium are popular choices for metal heating elements. Both metals conduct heat well and respond easily to temperature changes, making vaporizers with these devices able to control temperatures to a T.\n\nSome folks are wary of metal heating elements, because it’s thought that at high temperature metals can give off substances that can be harmful to your health. However, these claims have no solid scientific basis. In fact, for aluminum to be hot enough to emit any substances, it needs to reach 1220 degrees F—most vaporizers tend to heat around the 400 degree F range. \n\n#### The Pros of Using Metal\n \n* Precise temperature control \n\n#### The Cons of Using Metal\n \n* Tends to be pricier\n* May alter taste of cannabis \n\n### Vaporizer Heating Elements: Ceramic \n\nCeramic is another popular choice for heating elements due to its low cost and ability to withstand higher temperatures than metal. However, ceramic isn’t as good of a conductor as metal is, making temperature harder to control.\n\nSince ceramic vaporizers can be made at a low cost, you should do a bit of research before buying one to make sure you don’t end up with a low-quality product. There are many high-quality ceramic vaporizers on the market like the VapeXhale.  \n\n#### The Pros of Using Ceramic\n\n* Doesn’t alter taste\n* Can achieve hotter temperatures than glass or metal\n\n#### The Cons of Using Ceramic\n\n* Temperature can be hard to control\n* Need to watch out for low-quality products\n\n### Vaporizer Heating Elements: Glass\n\nGlass is pricier than metal and ceramic are, but it’s not necessarily better, so it’s the least popular of the three. However, it’s increasingly popular among dabbers. Glass has many of the same qualities as ceramic does, but it’s more fragile. \n\n#### The Pros of Using Glass\n\n* Good flavor\n* Can withstand hotter temperatures than metal can\n\n#### The Cons of Using Glass\n\n* Temperature can be hard to control\n* Fragile \n\nAll in all, choosing the right vaporizer is a matter of personal preference. Typically, you get what you pay for, and the priciest vaporizers have the best heating elements. It all comes down to how much you’re willing to spend, and what you value in your consumption experience. \n\nPhoto credit: [Finn Gross Maurer](https://unsplash.com/@finnfi)\n\nIf you’re new to cannabis and want to learn more, take a look at our [Cannabis 101](https://hellomd.com/articles/cannabis-101-your-quick-guide-to-medical-marijuana) index of articles. [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/200dc5d27a0a244bdcc046eb0fef1842/14b42/1b24556f07b2be21439e1307cb1f1a58.jpg","srcSet":"/static/200dc5d27a0a244bdcc046eb0fef1842/f836f/1b24556f07b2be21439e1307cb1f1a58.jpg 200w,\n/static/200dc5d27a0a244bdcc046eb0fef1842/2244e/1b24556f07b2be21439e1307cb1f1a58.jpg 400w,\n/static/200dc5d27a0a244bdcc046eb0fef1842/14b42/1b24556f07b2be21439e1307cb1f1a58.jpg 800w,\n/static/200dc5d27a0a244bdcc046eb0fef1842/47498/1b24556f07b2be21439e1307cb1f1a58.jpg 1200w,\n/static/200dc5d27a0a244bdcc046eb0fef1842/0e329/1b24556f07b2be21439e1307cb1f1a58.jpg 1600w,\n/static/200dc5d27a0a244bdcc046eb0fef1842/5e49b/1b24556f07b2be21439e1307cb1f1a58.jpg 3635w","srcWebp":"/static/200dc5d27a0a244bdcc046eb0fef1842/58556/1b24556f07b2be21439e1307cb1f1a58.webp","srcSetWebp":"/static/200dc5d27a0a244bdcc046eb0fef1842/61e93/1b24556f07b2be21439e1307cb1f1a58.webp 200w,\n/static/200dc5d27a0a244bdcc046eb0fef1842/1f5c5/1b24556f07b2be21439e1307cb1f1a58.webp 400w,\n/static/200dc5d27a0a244bdcc046eb0fef1842/58556/1b24556f07b2be21439e1307cb1f1a58.webp 800w,\n/static/200dc5d27a0a244bdcc046eb0fef1842/99238/1b24556f07b2be21439e1307cb1f1a58.webp 1200w,\n/static/200dc5d27a0a244bdcc046eb0fef1842/7c22d/1b24556f07b2be21439e1307cb1f1a58.webp 1600w,\n/static/200dc5d27a0a244bdcc046eb0fef1842/bbedc/1b24556f07b2be21439e1307cb1f1a58.webp 3635w","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,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","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_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.  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