Marijuana and Its Effects on Athletic Performance: A Systematic Review

Trinh, Kien; Diep, Dion; Robson, Hannah

doi:10.1097/jsm.0000000000000471

Cited by 11 publications

(8 citation statements)

References 16 publications

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“…Examples include sports where vision or muscle relaxation are important, or when anxiety or fear impair the potential of the athlete. However, very few scientific data are available on the effects of cannabinoids on sports performance itself, a conclusion that was also reached in two recent reviews [110, 111]. A double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled, crossover study has been conducted showing tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) had no effect on handgrip strength and decreased performance in a specific type of submaximal bicycle test compared with placebo in healthy untrained males [112].…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Review of WADA Prohibited Substances: Limited Evidence for Performance-Enhancing Effects

Heuberger

Cohen

2018

Sports Med

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The World Anti-Doping Agency is responsible for maintaining a Prohibited List that describes the use of substances and methods that are prohibited for athletes. The list currently contains 23 substance classes, and an important reason for the existence of this list is to prevent unfair competition due to pharmacologically enhanced performance. The aim of this review was to give an overview of the available evidence for performance enhancement of these substance classes. We searched the scientific literature through PubMed for studies and reviews evaluating the effects of substance classes on performance. Findings from double-blind, randomized controlled trials were considered as evidence for (the absence of) effects if they were performed in trained subjects measuring relevant performance outcomes. Only 5 of 23 substance classes show evidence of having the ability to enhance actual sports performance, i.e. anabolic agents, β2-agonists, stimulants, glucocorticoids and β-blockers. One additional class, growth hormone, has similar evidence but only in untrained subjects. The observed effects all relate to strength or sprint performance (and accuracy for β-blockers); there are no studies showing positive effects on reliable markers of endurance performance. For 11 classes, no well-designed studies are available, and, for the remaining six classes, there is evidence of an absence of a positive effect. In conclusion, for the majority of substance classes, no convincing evidence for performance enhancement is available, while, for the remaining classes, the evidence is based on a total of only 266 subjects from 11 studies.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Review of WADA Prohibited Substances: Limited Evidence for Performance-Enhancing Effects

Heuberger

Cohen

2018

Sports Med

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“…In 2018, researchers at McMaster University in Hamilton, Canada, scoured the literature for studies of marijuana's effect on athletic performance that included a control group. Only three small studies made the cut 7 .…”

Section: Evidence Versus Anecdotementioning

confidence: 99%

“…Conducted between 1975 and 1986 in people under the age of 35, two of the studies in the review 7 had participants exercise before and after smoking cannabis. The third study was purely observational.…”

Section: Evidence Versus Anecdotementioning

confidence: 99%

Working out with weed

Nguyen¹

2019

Nature

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“…1500 mg•day −1 or as an acute dose of 6000 mg) [170]. While several recent reviews have described the impact of cannabis on athlete health and performance [99,176,188], the influence of CBD alone has yet to be addressed.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Cannabidiol and Sports Performance: a Narrative Review of Relevant Evidence and Recommendations for Future Research

et al. 2020

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Cannabidiol (CBD) is a non-intoxicating cannabinoid derived from Cannabis sativa. CBD initially drew scientific interest due to its anticonvulsant properties but increasing evidence of other therapeutic effects has attracted the attention of additional clinical and non-clinical populations, including athletes. Unlike the intoxicating cannabinoid, Δ 9-tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ 9-THC), CBD is no longer prohibited by the World Anti-Doping Agency and appears to be safe and well-tolerated in humans. It has also become readily available in many countries with the introduction of over-the-counter "nutraceutical" products. The aim of this narrative review was to explore various physiological and psychological effects of CBD that may be relevant to the sport and/ or exercise context and to identify key areas for future research. As direct studies of CBD and sports performance are is currently lacking, evidence for this narrative review was sourced from preclinical studies and a limited number of clinical trials in non-athlete populations. Preclinical studies have observed robust anti-inflammatory, neuroprotective and analgesic effects of CBD in animal models. Preliminary preclinical evidence also suggests that CBD may protect against gastrointestinal damage associated with inflammation and promote healing of traumatic skeletal injuries. However, further research is required to confirm these observations. Early stage clinical studies suggest that CBD may be anxiolytic in "stress-inducing" situations and in individuals with anxiety disorders. While some case reports indicate that CBD improves sleep, robust evidence is currently lacking. Cognitive function and thermoregulation appear to be unaffected by CBD while effects on food intake, metabolic function, cardiovascular function, and infection require further study. CBD may exert a number of physiological, biochemical, and psychological effects with the potential to benefit athletes. However, well controlled, studies in athlete populations are required before definitive conclusions can be reached regarding the utility of CBD in supporting athletic performance.

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Marijuana and Its Effects on Athletic Performance: A Systematic Review

Abstract: Because the number and quality of studies was low, the effects of marijuana on athletic performance remain unclear.

Cited by 11 publications

References 16 publications

Review of WADA Prohibited Substances: Limited Evidence for Performance-Enhancing Effects

Review of WADA Prohibited Substances: Limited Evidence for Performance-Enhancing Effects

Working out with weed

Cannabidiol and Sports Performance: a Narrative Review of Relevant Evidence and Recommendations for Future Research

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