A study, published in the Journal of Cannabis Research, has found that the legalisation of cannabis is linked with higher levels of physical activity.
In the study, researchers from Brigham Young University used data from the Behavior Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) to evaluate the association between cannabis use and physical activity among adults ages 18 years and older across the USA during 2016-2022.
The data showed that physical activity increased from 73.16% in 2016 to 75.72% in 2022, a 3.5% increase. Current cannabis use increased from 7.48% in 2016 to 14.71% in 2022, a 96.7% increase. Cannabis use was found to be 6.5% higher in areas with legal recreational access and 0.7% higher in areas where medical cannabis was legal compared to regions where cannabis remained illegal.
After making adjustments for age, sex, ethnicity, and health conditions, the likelihood of being physically active was 24% higher among cannabis users. In states where recreational cannabis was legal, this association was even stronger, with a 47% higher likelihood of physical activity.
“The results of this study indicate that legal medical cannabis promotes greater physical activity in those experiencing chronic medical conditions and legal recreational cannabis promotes (even more so) greater physical activity in those not experiencing chronic medical conditions,” study authors said.
The findings support a growing body of research that shows cannabis users are not lazy, but in fact are more likely to be physically active and motivated. A study published earlier in 2024 found that chronic cannabis users are motivated and exhibit a willingness to carry out tasks that require effort. In this study 260 cannabis consumers were asked to report their experiences and behaviours at random times throughout the day.
Researchers studied the participants’ willingness to exert effort in completing a task while high on cannabis. They found that people were willing and motivated to exert the same amount of effort while high, even when compared to when they were not.
They also found that cannabis users experienced a boost in positive emotions such as awe and gratitude, and a reduction in negative emotions such as fear and anxiety after consuming cannabis.
