By Jeff Eckenrode, COO

Whether you like to get outside and ski or snowboard, or you’re staying warm inside lifting weights or practicing yoga, winter is the perfect season to start a new sport and be active!

And if you’re anything like us, you might have considered grabbing some cannabis before you hit the slopes or your local gym.

If you're packing your workout bag and want to know what to bring on your next snowy adventure or workout, then you’re in the right place! 

Here’s everything you need to know about THC, CBD, and exercise.

Marijuana makes everything more fun!

Even exercise! Put simply, THC and CBD cannabis products can make your workouts or adventures more fun. And once you’re done breaking a sweat, they can also help ease your post-workout aches and pains, especially if you’re a new athlete.

If you’ve ever tried a new sport before, then you’ll know what I mean. After your very first hockey game or first day on the slopes, you’ll be amazed at the number of sore muscles you’ll find—some you didn’t even know existed before!

So needless to say, pushing through the initial discomfort of a new exercise can be a BIG challenge. And that’s exactly where cannabis can be a big help!

Now that’s what I call a Runner’s High!

A study published in the August 2013 edition of Drug and Alcohol Dependence found that THC storage in fat can give athletes a “runner’s high,” even up to a month after consumption.

The reason, as noted in the study, is that when you use cannabis, THC accumulates in your fat tissue. When you exercise, small amounts of THC are slowly released from your fat cells back into your bloodstream.

The result? You get a little high!

Not only that, but this study found that your body mass index (or BMI: a measure of body fat in adults), can have a significant impact on the amount of THC that is re-released by your fat cells during exercise. 

Simply put, the greater your BMI, the greater the increase in THC reintroduced into your body during exercise.

But what if I don’t want to get too high? 

Don’t panic; you’re not alone! Too much of anything can be a problem. And that goes for THC, too!

Luckily, THC and CBD have different effects at different dosages.

For example, low doses of THC can effectively treat anxiety. However, higher doses of THC may prompt it.

Another example: CBD can have energizing effects in low doses, but sedative ones in higher doses.

So finding the combination of THC and CBD that works for you and your workout routine is the best way to maximize the benefits of coupling cannabis with exercise, while avoiding unpleasant side effects!

But how do I know what CBD/THC combination is best for me?

It’s simpler than you might think!

Here are our recommendations for finding the perfect THC/CBD ratio for any activity.

Did we answer all your THC, CBD, and exercise questions?

Or are you looking for a customized recommendation?

Then comment here, on our social media, or stop by any of our locations in Seattle, Redmond or Everett!

That way, we can get you prepped and ready for your next workout or winter adventure.