If you live in California or Colorado, you don’t have the excuse of having only a few gyms around where you can work out. These states have plenty of gyms. A single chain brand, Chuze Fitness, already has 19 gyms in California, plus another 8 gyms in Colorado.

California and Colorado are also among the states in the US that allow for the recreational use of marijuana. Which does pose an issue for many of the residents here? Is it good to indulge in recreational marijuana if you’re concerned about health and fitness? What does marijuana use mean for your workouts?

According to various healthcare officials, scientists, and cannabis experts, the use of marijuana comes with its own set of benefits and drawbacks.

Pros

For the most part, the benefits of marijuana use are more apparent when it’s used for recovery.

Anti-Inflammatory

Workouts often lead to muscle and joint inflammation, and cannabis helps to reduce those problems. This benefit is attributed to the CBD in marijuana. Marijuana doesn’t even have to be smoked, since topical CBD ointments can locally target the problem areas. You don’t have to be high, either. 

Pain Relief

Marijuana has long been touted as a better alternative to more addictive opiates for pain relief. Marijuana studies have demonstrated that it can help with a wide range of pain issues, such as chronic pain, pain from injuries, and muscle recovery. And cannabis isn’t as addictive, either.

This is actually one of the benefits of marijuana that has convinced many doctors (especially oncologists who deal with cancer patients). It’s very soothing, and it also helps with feelings of nausea.

Muscle Spasm Reduction

Many states allow for the medical use of marijuana to help treat patients with diseases that involve muscle spasms. These include Parkinson’s and multiple sclerosis.

Some studies also indicate that cannabis helps with muscle spasms caused by workouts and athletics as well. It reduces muscle spasms and helps with muscle recovery.

Improved Sleep

It’s long been known that the quality of a person’s sleep has a significant effect on that person’s overall health. It reduces stress levels (and stress is another main problem for overall health), which leads to better sleep duration and quality. It can help people with PTSD or sleep apnea.

It’s basically a better alternative to traditional sleep medications, as those usually come with a long list of negative side effects. And those sleep medications can be habit-forming as well.

Boost for Focus

Sure, large doses of marijuana may affect your judgment and mental acuity. But regular low doses of THC (another main component of marijuana, aside from CBD) can help with focus. Many athletes have confessed that regular use of marijuana in slow doses helps them keep calm and focused on their tasks. It can also help them achieve a meditative flow state that’s vital in athletics.

Cons

It’s not all good news with marijuana, however. After all, it’s been historically banned for some good reasons.

Impaired Motor Skills

This is perhaps the main drawback to marijuana, and it’s why you’re not supposed to drive or operate heavy machinery when you’re high. It acts like any other intoxicant, as it impairs your motor coordination and your ability to make rational decisions.

This means you’re not supposed to get high right before a sports game or a workout. These impairments significantly increase the risk of injuries, as your brain is fuzzy and you’re awkward as hell.

Increased Calorie Consumption

Marijuana can lead to what some people to the “munchies”, or a marked increase in appetite. It’s very likely that you just might order yourself a triple-patty burger or an entire pizza all for yourself. And that’s not good if you’re worried about your calorie intake.

Lung Damage

This is a problem if you’re smoking marijuana. Healthy lungs are crucial for workouts and overall fitness, so you need to be very careful about smoking anything. Your marijuana may contain carcinogens, toxins, and irritants that can be very bad for your lungs.

Increased Risk of Heart Attack

Some studies indicate that you’re at a higher risk of a heart attack within an hour of consuming marijuana. This is why you should consult with a doctor when you’re contemplating the use of marijuana if you have any history of heart problems.

Better yet, consult with your doctor if you’re thinking about using marijuana at all!