Featuring Lukis Padu | Interviewed & Written By: Jai Morzaria

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In a culture still catching up to the realities of cannabis and performance, Lukis Padu isn’t asking for permission; he’s proving a point. Mile after mile, trail after trail, the Arizona-based ultra runner is dismantling outdated narratives around cannabis use in athletics. Through his movement, High Runs, Padu isn’t just running; he’s rewriting what peak performance can look like in a world where cannabis and endurance coexist with intention.

Before the movement, before the miles stacked into ultras, Lukis Padu was already operating at an elite level. A former collegiate track and field athlete at the University of Mount Olive, he earned All-American honours on a full-ride scholarship, competing nationally against top-tier talent. His academic journey continued at East Carolina University, where he graduated in 2023 with a degree in Professional Writing and Information Design; an education that now fuels the precision and storytelling behind his content. Balancing a full-time role as a UPS supervisor with the demands of endurance training, Padu embodies a new archetype: the modern athlete who builds, works, and performs without compromise.

But accolades only tell part of the story. What separates Padu is his willingness to confront the stigma head-on, not with theory, but with lived experience. In this exclusive conversation with Sports Cannabis, his words don’t just explain the movement; they define it.

“My name is Lukis, and I’m the creator of High Hikes. It’s a movement built around showing that cannabis and endurance can coexist when there is intention behind both. I come from a track and field background and earned a full athletic scholarship. Now I use running, hiking, and storytelling to challenge outdated ideas around cannabis and performance while showing that active lifestyles and cannabis can exist together.”

For Lukis, running isn’t just a sport—it’s a language, a daily negotiation between mind, body, and environment.

“Running is one of the purest ways I express myself. It clears my mind, grounds me, and puts me fully in control of my body and thoughts. It is therapeutic, rewarding, and honest. Some days I love it, and some days I have to battle through it, but it is always there for me. At this point, running feels as natural and necessary to me as breathing.”

His relationship with cannabis didn’t begin in rebellion; it began in reflection, during a period where lifestyle choices demanded reevaluation.

“I actually came to cannabis later than most people expect. I did not really start using it until the COVID lockdown period. Before that, I drank heavily, and I began noticing that alcohol was slowing me down. My recovery was worse, my runs felt harder, and I felt off the next day.

When I slowly transitioned away from drinking and experimented with cannabis, I felt a completely different balance. The moment I knew the pairing worked was when I started running long efforts, like 13-mile runs, at the same pace I ran years earlier. The difference was that I felt more relaxed, recovered better, and mentally clearer. Ten years later, with a completely different lifestyle, I was still running just as fast or faster. That is when I realized the stigma and the reality do not match.”

Beyond performance, cannabis has become a functional part of his recovery system, especially for an athlete navigating the physical demands of his frame.

“Yes. I am a medical cardholder in Arizona. Being 6’6″, I have dealt with knee and back pain for years from both growth and long-distance running. I use cannabis topicals and creams before and after runs to help with inflammation, soreness, and recovery.”

When it comes to application, Padu’s approach is intentional, not excessive; dialled into mental clarity before the first step is even taken.

“For me, it helps most before the run. When you are competitive and focused on pace and performance, it is easy to overthink every run. Cannabis helps calm my mind and bring me back to the real purpose of running, which is movement and presence. When my mind is clear before I start, my runs usually end up being much better.”

Ask him about the elusive “runner’s high,” and his answer strips away cliché and replaces it with something almost meditative.

“Runner’s high is when everything locks into rhythm. Your breathing, your footsteps, and your thoughts all start syncing together. You begin hearing the details around you, like the gravel, the wind, or birds in the distance. It becomes almost meditative. For me, it usually comes during longer efforts, after many miles on the trails, when everything finally clicks, and the run starts to flow naturally.”

But Padu knows performance alone isn’t enough to change perception—visibility and consistency are what shift culture.

“I break stigma by showing results and sharing my experiences openly. I have run marathons, ultra distances, and competitive races while being transparent about cannabis. High Hikes exists to show proof through action. When people see the miles, the times, and the consistency, it becomes harder to judge something based on old stereotypes.”

Still, the misconceptions follow, rooted not in reality but in assumption.

“The most common misconception is that people assume I smoke all day. In reality, I am very intentional with it. Most days it is specifically before or after movement. It is not something I do all day long. It is used purposefully in connection with training and recovery.”

And for those still holding onto outdated narratives, Padu doesn’t argue; he redirects the conversation.

“I usually ask them if they are active themselves. Before blaming cannabis, people should take a look at their own habits first. A plant does not determine discipline. The individual does.”

His method of consumption is as straightforward as his philosophy: controlled, purposeful, and aligned with performance.

“Before a run, I usually take a couple of strong bong rips or a dab. It is simple, effective, and controlled.”

Even when imagining the ultimate training partner, Padu’s mindset stays rooted in growth, discipline, and curiosity.

“I would say, David Goggins. I know he probably would not be interested in the smoking part, but I would love to sit on top of a mountain after a long climb and hear him talk about endurance, mental battles, Badwater, and the discipline it takes to push human limits.”

And for those watching his journey, looking to carve out their own path, his message is grounded in patience and purpose.

“Stay consistent and keep sharing your message. Truth takes time, but it always finds its way out. If you have a purpose behind what you are doing, keep building it. Focus on recovery over ego, and process over performance. If running and cannabis are both part of your life, approach them with intention and honesty.”

Lukis Padu isn’t trying to fit into the old model of what an athlete should be; he’s building a new one in real time. Through High Runs, he’s creating space for athletes who refuse to separate performance from authenticity, discipline from recovery, or cannabis from conversation. In a world quick to judge and slow to understand, Padu’s message is simple but powerful: results speak louder than stigma. And as the miles continue to stack, so does the proof—this isn’t a moment, it’s a movement.