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Kramer A, Sinclair J, Sharpe L, et al. Chronic cannabis consumption and physical exercise performance in healthy adults: a systematic review. J Cannabis Res. 2020;2(1):34doi: 10.1186/s42238-020-00037-x.
Kramer, A., Sinclair, J., Sharpe, L., & Sarris, J. (2020). Chronic cannabis consumption and physical exercise performance in healthy adults: a systematic review. Journal of cannabis research, 2(1), 34. https://doi.org/10.1186/s42238-020-00037-x
Kramer, Andrew, et al. "Chronic cannabis consumption and physical exercise performance in healthy adults: a systematic review." Journal of cannabis research vol. 2,1 (2020): 34. doi: https://doi.org/10.1186/s42238-020-00037-x
Kramer A, Sinclair J, Sharpe L, Sarris J. Chronic cannabis consumption and physical exercise performance in healthy adults: a systematic review. J Cannabis Res. 2020 Oct 07;2(1):34. doi: 10.1186/s42238-020-00037-x. PMID: 33526096; PMCID: PMC7819470.
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J Cannabis Res. 2020 Oct 07;2(1):34. doi: 10.1186/s42238-020-00037-x.

Chronic cannabis consumption and physical exercise performance in healthy adults: a systematic review.

Journal of cannabis research

Andrew Kramer, Justin Sinclair, Lara Sharpe, Jerome Sarris

Affiliations

  1. NICM Health Research Institute, Western Sydney University, Locked Bag 1797, Penrith, NSW, 2751, Australia. [email protected].
  2. School of Psychology, Western Sydney University, Penrith, Australia. [email protected].
  3. NICM Health Research Institute, Western Sydney University, Locked Bag 1797, Penrith, NSW, 2751, Australia.
  4. Department of Psychiatry, The Melbourne Clinic, Professorial Unit, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia.

PMID: 33526096 PMCID: PMC7819470 DOI: 10.1186/s42238-020-00037-x

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: The effects of chronic cannabis consumption on physiological parameters of athletic performance are investigated to determine whether chronic cannabis consumption negatively affects athletic performance; improves performance, potentially via enhanced recovery; or has no effect at all.

METHODS: A systematic review of the literature (cross-sectional, longitudinal, and intervention studies) concerning the effects of cannabis consumption on sports performance outcomes, e.g. VO2Max (maximal oxygen uptake), PWC (physical work capacity) up to January 2020 was conducted using the PubMed, CINAHL, Medline, PsycArticles, PsycInfo, SPORTDiscus, Psychology and Behavioural Sciences Collection, and Health Source: Nursing/Academic Edition databases. After screening and additional forward searching, four articles were found to fit the inclusion criteria.

RESULTS: Resting heart rate was the only physiological measure that significantly differed between groups, and only in one of the four studies included herein. The strongest predictors of athletic performance (VO2Max and PWC) were not found to be significantly different between groups in any of the included studies. Chronic cannabis consumption had no significant effect on athletic performance. The included studies did not assess other elements, such as recovery or endurance.

CONCLUSION: No evidence exists for ergogenic or ergolytic effects from chronic cannabis consumption. In some sports, advantages may plausibly be conveyed by psychotropic enhancement or pain reduction. Further research (particularly longitudinal or interventional studies) is required to determine whether cannabis, or constituents thereof, may provide indirect supplemental benefits to athletes.

Keywords: Athletics; Cannabidiol; Cannabinoids; Cannabis; Exercise; Marijuana; Physical activity; Sport

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