New Study: Cannabis Use Tied To Higher Physical Activity, Dispelling Myth of Lazy Stoner

New Study: Cannabis Use Tied To Higher Physical Activity, Dispelling Myth of Lazy StonerPhoto byGravonUnsplash

A just released new study on Cannabis use and physical activity dispels myt of lazy stoners. A new study shows that contrary to lazy stoner stereotypes, legal medical marijuana “promotes greater physical activity” in people with chronic medical conditions and that “legal recreational cannabis promotes (even more so) greater physical activity in those not experiencing chronic medical conditions.”

Per the study, activity increased from 73.16% in 2016 to 75.72% in 2022 (3.5% increase) and current cannabis use increased from 7.48% in 2016 to 14.71% in 2022 (96.7% increase). Current cannabis use was 6.5% higher in areas of legalized recreational cannabis (vs. not legal) and 0.7% higher in areas of legalized medical cannabis (vs. not legal). For the combined years, the OR measuring the association between cannabis use and physical activity was 1.24 (95% CI 1.10–1.41), after adjusting for age, sex, race/ethnicity, marital status, employment status, education, smoking status, weight classification, legal status, and chronic medical condition. The adjusted OR was 1.47 (95% CI 1.34–1.62) in areas with legalized recreational and medical cannabis (vs. illegal) and 1.05 (95% CI 0.98–1.12) in areas with legalized medical cannabis only (vs. illegal). Having a medical condition was significantly associated with lower prevalence of physical activity in the adjusted models (overall adjusted OR = 0.79, 95% CI 0.73–0.85). However, this significantly lower odds ratio was insignificant for current cannabis users.

An online survey of 605 current adult cannabis users found that 81.7% endorsed using cannabis simultaneously with exercise (YorkWilliams et al. 2019). Those who used cannabis concurrently with exercise were more likely to be younger (mean age 36.3 [SD = 14.9] vs. 43.1 [SD = 18.0]) and male. After adjusting for age and sex, those who used cannabis concurrently with exercise engaged in more minutes of aerobic and anaerobic exercise per week than those who did not. A majority also endorsed using cannabis before or after exercise, indicating that it enhanced enjoyment and recovery from exercise. Approximately half of the participants said that it increased their motivation to exercise.

With legalization of cannabis increasing in recent decades, there is greater potential for people to combine cannabis with physical activity. In 2016, cannabis use was legal for recreational and medical use in 17% of the U.S. states and territories and for medical use only in 43% of the area. In 2022, corresponding values were 41% and 36%. Hence, cannabis was legal at some level in 60% of the areas in 2016 and 77% of the areas in 2022. Consequently, the prevalence of cannabis use in adults increased from 7.48% in 2016 to 14.71% in 2022. Further, during 2016–2022 the prevalence of cannabis use was 9% higher in areas where medical cannabis only was legal and 81% higher in areas where recreational cannabis was legal (vs. not legal) (Merrill 2024). Of interest is whether the prevalence of being physically active is greater in areas with legalized cannabis for recreational and medical (vs. illegal) and medical only (vs. illegal).

Having a chronic medical condition such as arthritis may limit physical activity because of pain and other possible problems. People with arthritis may be concerned that physical activity might worsen their pain or joint damage, or they may not know what activities are safe (Wilcox et al. 2006). However, if cannabis use is perceived to help lower arthritis pain and other potential problems such as inflammation, it may correspond with increased physical activity among these patients. Indeed, recent research has found that CBD treatment can reduce pain and inflammation-causing fibroblasts in rheumatoid arthritis (Lowin et al. 2020; Frane et al. 2022). Hence, of interest is whether the association between having a chronic medical condition and physical activity is moderated by current cannabis use.

The purpose of the current study was to assess the association between current cannabis use and physical activity after adjusting for selected variables. The study also investigated whether the prevalence of physical activity was associated with the legalization status of cannabis and if the association between chronic medical conditions and physical activity was moderated by cannabis use. The study hypothesized the following:

1. 1.There is a positive association between current cannabis use and physical activity.
2. 2.There is a higher prevalence of physical activity in areas with legalized cannabis, particularly for recreation.
3. 3.The relationship between chronic medical conditions and physical activity is moderated by current cannabis use.
   
   
   “These conclusions contradict longstanding stereotypes alleging that cannabis consumers are lazy or apathetic,” he said in a blog post. “It’s unfortunate that many of these false claims have historically guided public health messaging about cannabis and have also been used to stigmatize and discriminate against those who consume it responsibly.”