Summary: The Benefits Of Marijuana

When considering ergogenic aids, marijuana is not typically the first supplement that comes to mind, however there are several performance enhancing benefits to cannabis use. Though cannabis use is associated with reduced coordination and lack of spatial perception, many athletes report many different performance enhancing effects. Goaltenders, for example, may find that cannabis use increases their quality of vision. Cannabis is also known to decrease anxiety, which could prove helpful in competitive situations. This is particularly true of extreme sports athletes, who are subjected to intense competitions often on a large public stage. Some athletes claim that cannabis use improves their concentration, enabling them to make better decisions during an event. Athletes who use cannabis may also …show more content…
Though additional scientific research is necessary, research has proven that the performance enhancing effects of cannabis use are significant enough to qualify it as an ergogenic aid.
The study used for reference is actually a review of “scientific articles with no time restriction and with the following keywords: ‘cannabis’, ‘marijuana’, ‘anti-doping/antidoping’ and ‘drug testing’ (Heustis, Mazzoni, & Rabin 950). The purpose of the review is to “provide the scientific data to support the status of cannabis vis-à-vis the Prohibited List, and to further explore cannabinoid pharmacokinetics and pharmacology after acute and chronic exposure in the context of the fight against doping in sport” (Heustis, Mazzoni, & Rabin 950). The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) has included cannabis on its banned substance list, because it meets each of the three criteria established for addition to the Prohibited List (Heustis, Mazzoni, & Rabin 950). These three criteria are “(i) potential to enhance performance; (ii) risk for athletes’ health; and (iii)