Abstract
Cannabis is widely used for both recreational and medicinal purposes on a global scale. There is accumulating interest in the use of cannabis and its constituents for athletic recovery, and in some instances, performance. Amidst speculation of potential beneficial applications, the effects of cannabis and its two most abundant constituents, delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD), remain largely un-investigated. The purpose of this review is to critically evaluate the literature describing the effects of whole cannabis, THC, and CBD, on athletic performance and recovery. While investigations of whole cannabis and THC have generally shown either null or detrimental effects on exercise performance in strength and aerobic-type activities, studies of sufficient rigor and validity to conclusively declare ergogenic or ergolytic potential in athletes are lacking. The ability of cannabis and THC to perturb cardiovascular homeostasis warrants further investigation regarding mechanisms by which performance may be affected across different exercise modalities and energetic demands. In contrast to cannabis and THC, CBD has largely been scrutinized for its potential to aid in recovery. The beneficial effects of CBD on sleep quality, pain, and mild traumatic brain injury may be of particular interest to certain athletes. However, research in each of these respective areas has yet to be thoroughly investigated in athletic populations. Elucidating the effects of whole cannabis, THC, and CBD is pertinent for both researchers and practitioners given the widespread use of these products, and their potential to interact with athletes’ performance and recovery.
Highlights
The empirical case for or against cannabis use to aid athletic performance remains tenuous
While the bona fide effects of cannabis on athletic performance are limited by an incomplete evidence-base with low ecological validity for athletes, the physiological actions of cannabis and THC offer important insight into perturbations of cardiorespiratory homeostasis through which cannabis may interact with performance
Concussion is a type of mild traumatic brain injury [138] which may occur following a rapid deceleration or rotational force applied to the brain [139]
Summary
THC, and CBD by athletes for the purposes of improving performance and recovery is increasingly reported across different sports and levels of competition. Appropriate empirical evidence regarding the effects of cannabis use on sport performance is lacking. Understanding the short- and long-term effects of cannabis and THC on human performance in athletes will require well-controlled, athlete-specific research, with applied performance outcomes. CBD may have some promise for aiding athletes with recovery by improving sleep quality, pain, and mild traumatic brain injury
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