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For decades, the “runner’s high” has been romanticized as the elusive, euphoric payoff for pushing the body to its limits. Traditionally attributed to endorphins, emerging research now points toward the endocannabinoid system as a major driver of that post-run bliss. But as cannabis legalization sweeps across the United States, a new conversation is taking shape: what happens when athletes intentionally pair cannabis with their workouts? A groundbreaking survey of over 600 adult cannabis users in fully legal states offers the clearest picture yet—and the findings may challenge everything we thought we knew about cannabis, motivation, and movement.

Breaking Stereotypes and Increasing Strides

For years, cannabis users have been painted with a “couch potato” stereotype—sedentary, unmotivated, and disengaged. Yet in this landmark survey, 81.7% of respondents reported using cannabis before and/or after exercise, and these co-users didn’t just participate in physical activity—they outperformed their counterparts. Even after controlling for age and gender, co-users logged 43 more minutes of aerobic exercise and 30 more minutes of anaerobic exercise per week than non-co-users. Nearly 40% met or exceeded ACSM’s weekly aerobic guidelines, compared to only 28.7% of those who didn’t pair cannabis with exercise. The data suggests that for many athletes, cannabis isn’t a barrier—it’s a bridge.

Enjoyment and Recovery Take Center Stage

If motivation is the ignition key for exercise, then enjoyment and recovery are the fuel that keep athletes moving. Among co-users, 70.7% agreed that cannabis increases exercise enjoyment, and an even larger 77.6% said it enhances recovery—pointing to strong perceptions that cannabis reduces inflammation, eases joint pain, and helps the body rebound. These are crucial insights, given that poor recovery remains one of the most significant barriers preventing people from sustaining consistent training routines. While fewer users believed cannabis improves performance outright, the overwhelming sentiment was that cannabis makes the experience itself better—and that alone may meaningfully support exercise adherence.

A New Lens on the Runner’s High

Perhaps the most intriguing insight from the study is how cannabis may intersect with the biology behind the runner’s high. The endocannabinoid system—activated both by endurance exercise and by cannabis—plays a key role in mood, pain modulation, and perceived effort. It’s possible that by engaging this system more directly, cannabis amplifies the very sensations athletes chase: smoother flow, reduced discomfort, and increased motivation. While roughly half of co-users reported heightened motivation to exercise, the real takeaway may be that cannabis supports the emotional and sensory components that make exercise feel rewarding, not punishing. This evolution of the runner’s high could explain why cannabis and cardio are becoming a more common pairing in endurance culture.

The relationship between cannabis and exercise is more nuanced—and more promising—than outdated stereotypes suggest. While this study doesn’t advocate for universal adoption, it highlights meaningful pathways by which cannabis may support core aspects of physical activity: enjoyment, recovery, and motivation. As legalization broadens and research expands, the intersection of cannabis and athletic performance will continue to evolve. What’s clear today is that for many athletes, cannabis isn’t hindering their workouts—it’s helping fuel them.