late

"Scientists have refuted the idea that marijuana is a performance enhancer for competitive athletes. But some amateurs are turning to it before exercise because it eases their chronic pain and anxiety — or just because it makes working out more fun.

In a small 2019 study, the top reasons people used cannabis before exercise were to increase enjoyment and focus. But close behind was pain relief. Research has shown that marijuana can help some patients alleviate chronic pain, which affects some one in five people around the world. When the pain is treated, people become more functional, said Dr. Alan Bell, a physician and assistant professor at the University of Toronto who was the lead author on a set of clinical practice guidelines for using cannabis to treat chronic pain.

Cannabis “may bring muscle relaxation or a sense of ease, and so it allows people to increase and maintain their physical function,” said Dr. Deondra Asike, an anesthesiologist and pain medicine specialist at Johns Hopkins University. She added that once people’s fear of movement was gone, some would find they could do things such as yoga or taking a hike.

People who combine movement and marijuana repeated a well known piece of advice when it comes to cannabis: Start low, go slow. This is especially true when using edibles, which can take 45 minutes or longer to take effect.Otha Smith, the founder of Tetragram, runs about 30 miles a week. He uses cannabis to manage his joint pain, but said his first experiment was a bust: He tried a 10 milligram edible and never made it out the door. Finally, he settled on a 2.5 milligram gummy with a one-to-one ratio of CBD and THC, which he consumes about an hour before he goes on a run.

“It’s there to enhance your mind-body connection,” Ms. English said about the role of weed in a workout, “not to pull you out of reality.”

What I take is similar to that gummy with a one to one of CBD and THC. I don't get stoned. I also haven't used it exercising. But I am thinking about trying it. I'll try it with resistance exercises first.

My rides are in the country with little to no traffic. I stopped riding into the city, the traffic is worse than it used to be, and while many cities are getting more friendly towards cyclists, that hasn't been what's happening in Portland.

Anyway, interesting article from the Times.

https://www.nytimes.com/2024/03/26/w...s-workout.html

late

Today was an arm day. Took a pot pill, didn't notice a difference except I got more exercising done than I usually have over the last couple weeks. Somethings been bothering me, feel like I'm coming down with a cold. But I never get sick.

blacknbluebikes 

I get the pain management angle, no questions there. But I need all the wits I got when riding. Too many surprises, too many balance requirements, too many quick judgement calls.

late

Yeah, my usual ride has only one busy intersection, most of the time you just toodle along with the occasional car going by.

I wouldn't ride in Boston traffic sober now...

Carbonfiberboy 

I tried CBD oil, didn't notice any difference. I vape flowers, but only for pleasure or improved sleep. I can do a little edible for hiking, in fact it's quite nice, but I would never do it driving or riding or exercising. My belief is that pain management is best done by therapy, not by drugs. Using painkillers increases the chance of injury. Pain has a purpose.

late

Type and dose make a huge difference.

I could see doing anything but driving with my pills. They don't get you stoned. But I do have some old strong pot I never use. Like I said, I don't use it, but I would never take it and ride or drive.

Wildwood 

I have a friend who has had Attention Deficit his whole life - claims getting a bit high helps him focus.

Also know 2 elderly women who swear by THC gummies for helping with anxiety. One is riding her bicycle again.

Medical benefit or placebo effect? Who knows. Not me.


......and quite honestly, 2 ibuprofen (occasionally) works better for my pain than any cbd cream I have tried. Luckily, no chronic pain issues to deal with, I just keep on livin & smilin.

late

Yeah, cbd downregulates the nervous system. Don't think it can do that sitting on your skin.

Chuck M 

I can't use cannabis even with a medical marijuana card due to me working for a chemical manufacturer and subject to testing. But from what I do know, you do not need to go Snoop Dog with marijuana to get the medicinal benefits. For example, micro-dosing before bed may be all that is needed to help with sleep, anxiety and minor aches and pains.

gif4445

I've tried some edibles to deal with pain, but only once and the result was no improvement. Maybe I'm missing something and should try again. At this point, pain is my daily (hourly) companion.

zandoval 

Topical Marijuana as a pain killer works no better the some of our other compounds for topical pain. Smoking Marijuana is a different matter.

Lately, my paranoid conspiracy theory self has been thinking that Legalization of Marijuana may be a government method of pacifying the general population.

Don't Worry, Be Happy, All Is Well; or in conflict, Go about your business, move, along, move along...

Another thought is that many people of great intelligence are trapped in jobs with no upward mobility or challenges. For them maybe a puff is not so bad. And as more and more people succeed to their individual point of Maximum Incompetency, maybe a puff will maintain their sanity.

For me Marijuana means decreased productivity. I dont need that...

indyfabz

If they are like the topicals I use, regular use often yields better results.

RB1-luvr

I tried CBD oil for my anxiety. It didn't help my anxiety at all, and it blocked the uptake of my statin. My cholesterol shot way up.

TiHabanero

My wife brought home gummies from the massage therapist place. She was told to use them to help anxiety related sleep issues. Having no experience with pot, I ate a whole gummy before bed and was up all night with anxiety related issues. She had the same experience, and then a guy at work told me to only take a small bit of the gummy, not the whole thing!
We threw the gummies into the trash. Our bodies seem to do best when sober. FWIW, the guy at work, who is an acid head, strongly advised that I never take acid. Said I have too much anxiety to have a good trip. Uh, thanks, Mike. I'll try to remember that. LOL.

IRideCantitoeRd

I love gummies! My absolute favorite is the blueberry lemonade flavor from Joy Organics. It's the only store where I've found this specific flavor, so I keep going back for more.

LaPlataPig

I never ride while using any substance. Riding is the high for me. But as a chronic gout sufferer, CBD salve I’ve bought from Walgreens has allowed me to walk with almost no pain during a gout attack. I thought it was a bit of a snake oil, but after my wife bought some for me to try, I’m sold. I know plenty of people who don’t like any THC and some who would be better off without it. But I can clean the entire house with a good sativa edible and not hate the chore or want to sink into the couch. With my drinking days long over, a mild edible and strong organic coffee/espresso are my only vices these days. But for rides, I want complete mental concentration and alertness.

bruce19

In CT if you get a medical marijuana card you lose your permit to carry, if you have one.

MinnMan

After many years when I seldom partook, I recently started purchasing gummies. I like the THC gummies, but I limit myself to about 1/week. I don't want it to become "normal" or to get a tolerance. My favored time is Saturday afternoon, when I'm done with my ride and I'm doing household chores like yard work or sweeping the kitchen (+earbuds, of course). I wouldn't if the chores involved power tools, ladders, etc.
I also like CBD to relax before bedtime on occasion, and I might do that, say, twice/week.

I wouldn't consider THC for outdoor riding for the awareness/judgment reasons stated by others, but I do wonder whether it will help me enjoy Watopia more, come next winter. Can't really crash the trainer.

Steel Monkey

I wish pot DID increase focus, since more and more (from my biking experience) motorists are toking in their cars. I smell it more and more over the years. And, again just my experience, driving habits are getting worse and worse.

Attitude wise, I feel the same as I do about alcohol: do it at home or in a safe environment. But no machinery should be operated impaired.

Biker395 

Ah, the evil weed.

In my youth, use was limited to occasional surfing trips when there was little else to do. Oy, did we manage to get some good stuff at times.

I had some guy tell me I should try surfing stoned ... that I would feel like Superman. The reality is that after imbibing, the paddle out seemed to take forever. I seem to remember getting lost on the way out to the lineup and cutting off a lot of surfers. For sure, I remember that all of us were 2 hours late to work slinging pizzas that evening. Any one of us would have been fired, but they didn't want to let us ALL go, so we kept our jobs. Good times.

Nowadays, I do use the "happy gummies." Not for entertainment (the shine of inebriation wears off quickly with me), but as a sleep aid. And they are terrific for that.

But riding a bike while high? Hard no for me.

PS: I have tried CBD products. None I have tried have worked at all.

Hondo Gravel

The skunk weed from youth was some stuff.