People who use marijuana aren’t more or less likely to be physically active compared to non-users—but they do tend to favor light or moderate exercise, suggesting that “cannabis may influence the subjective experience” such as “enjoyment,” according to a new study that undermines the stereotype about lazy stoners.
Students with the University of Alabama at Birmingham’s Heersink School of Medicine conducted the study, which involved a cross-sectional analysis of survey data. One of the key takeaways departs from the myth about couch-locked cannabis consumers, finding that marijuana use “was not associated with a consistent increase or decrease in overall physical activity levels.”
However, the data did reveal “variability across individuals,” which could be linked to how marijuana affects the endocannabinoid system that “regulates mood, motivation, and motor function, and may therefore influence both the experience and performance of physical activity,” the study authors found.
Participants who reported non-medical cannabis use tended to favor light or moderate activity (e.g. walking and recreational sports), compared to “vigorous” activity such as heavy exercise and aerobics.
“Cannabis use was common within the sample, with substantial variability in frequency, including a subgroup of daily or near-daily users,” the study found. “There was no clear overall
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