Does Weed Improve Athletic Performance? Sha'Carri Richardson's Case and the Science

The link between weed and sports has sparked plenty of debate lately. Short answer: there's no solid evidence that cannabis improves athletic performance, and a 2021 scientific review concluded it's better avoided before exercise because it raises heart rate, hurts balance and makes it harder to sustain effort. Some athletes say it helps with recovery and focus, while others warn it can throw off motor coordination and cardiovascular capacity.

Digging into where cannabis and sports meet means looking at the scientific studies, athletes' own experiences and the rules on marijuana use in competition.

A little history on weed and sports

Recent history gives us a clear-cut example of the debate over marijuana in sports: the case of American sprinter Sha'Carri Richardson. After her standout win in the 100 meters at the Olympic Trials in Eugene on June 19, 2021, her Tokyo Olympics hopes were cut short when it came out that she'd tested positive in a drug test the same day she won.

The substance detected was carboxy-THC, a urinary metabolite of delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol, the main active compound in marijuana. As a result, she was suspended for a month and lost her shot at competing in the Olympics.

Richardson's ban sparked debate, since her marijuana use happened out of competition and had nothing directly to do with athletic performance. She said she'd used it while coping with her mother's death. The U.S. Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) explained that the suspension was shortened because she completed a counseling program.

What happened after the Richardson case?

The episode reopened the discussion over why marijuana sits on the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) prohibited list. To land there, a substance has to meet at least two of three criteria: it enhances performance, it poses a health risk, or it violates the spirit of sport.

WADA's position is that marijuana not only enhances athletic performance but also poses a health risk. It leans on a 2011 study published in Sports Medicine suggesting that cannabis can induce euphoria, boost confidence, promote relaxation and reduce stress, all of which could potentially offer a competitive edge.

That same report warns, though, that using marijuana during competition can put athletes and others in danger because of a greater tendency to take risks, slower reaction times and poor decision-making.

Weed and athletes: what do doctors say?

According to Jordan Tishler, a physician and cannabis specialist at InhaleMD in Boston, Massachusetts, WADA's position is "untenable and outdated." He argues that marijuana is actually a performance-degrading drug.

His point is that peak performance, like max strength, top speed and VO2 max, is unlikely to happen while using cannabis.

In fact, cannabis can throw off body movement, make it harder to think and solve problems, cause breathing issues and raise your heart rate, and none of that helps you perform at your best.

That said, Tishler notes that cannabis only really matters for performance while the person is actually under its effects. He explains that when it's inhaled, the effects can last three to four hours, while taken orally they can last eight to 12 hours.

Another take on athletes who use weed

Ryan Vandrey, a professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine and a member of Realm of Caring, a nonprofit dedicated to cannabis research, education and advocacy, adds that individual tolerance to the drug's effects also plays a big role.

He points out that someone who uses cannabis at night to sleep may feel some lingering cognitive impairment the next morning. He also stresses the lack of data on how marijuana really affects athletic performance.

Claims have been made about cannabis's potential benefits, but the lack of in-depth research makes it impossible to draw solid conclusions. Bottom line: without clear data, any opinion on the subject is pure speculation.

The science on what happens if you smoke and then hit the gym or play sports

A scientific review published in April 2021 in The Journal of Sports Medicine and Physical Fitness shed some light on how marijuana affects athletic performance, and it pushed back on some popular beliefs.

Contrary to the widespread idea that cannabis boosts performance, the researchers concluded that using it before exercise should be avoided if you want to perform at your best.

Their analysis found that marijuana lowers athletes' ability to sustain effort, raises heart rate and breathing rate as well as the heart muscle's oxygen demand, and makes balance problems worse. In short, it doesn't give you an edge. It makes a weaker performance more likely.

What does this mean for recreational runners?

According to Jordan Tishler, if you're not actively high, cannabis is unlikely to affect your performance. But that's exactly the problem for athletes like Sha'Carri Richardson: under the WADA rules in force at the time, cannabinoids weren't banned outright, but they were prohibited in competition, from midnight the day before an event until it ends.

Even so, they can show up in urine for up to 21 days after use, which means an athlete can get sanctioned even when the effects wore off long ago.

For recreational runners who smoke socially, it's worth thinking about how often you use, how much and how it hits you personally. Ryan Vandrey stresses that your pattern of use and how you take it (smoking, vaping, edibles) make a big difference in the potential health risk.

The takeaway: don't expect peak performance if you get high before a big competition. There's still a lot we don't know about how cannabis affects performance, but current research suggests that using it during physical activity can hold back your athletic potential.