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Abstract
Cannabis is widely used for both recreational and medicinal purposes on a global scale. There is accumulating interest in the use of cannabis and its constituents for athletic recovery, and in some instances, performance. Amidst speculation of potential beneficial applications, the effects of cannabis and its two most abundant constituents, delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD), remain largely un-investigated. The purpose of this review is to critically evaluate the literature describing the effects of whole cannabis, THC, and CBD, on athletic performance and recovery. While investigations of whole cannabis and THC have generally shown either null or detrimental effects on exercise performance in strength and aerobictype activities, studies of sufficient rigor and validity to conclusively declare ergogenic or ergolytic potential in athletes are lacking. The ability of cannabis and THC to perturb cardiovascular homeostasis warrants further investigation regarding mechanisms by which performance may be affected across different exercise modalities and energetic demands. In contrast to cannabis and THC, CBD has largely been scrutinized for its potential to aid in recovery. The beneficial effects of CBD on sleep quality, pain, and mild traumatic brain injury may be of particular interest to certain athletes. However, research in each of these respective areas has yet to be thoroughly investigated in athletic populations. Elucidating the effects of whole cannabis, THC, and CBD is pertinent for both researchers and practitioners given the widespread use of these products, and their potential to interact with athletes' performance and recovery.
1Introduction
The empirical case for or against cannabis use to aid athletic performance remains tenuous. Despite evidence of long-standing human consumption over the ages [1], scientific investigation into the effects of cannabis has been relatively limited, largely in part to challenges faced to investigate a drug that has a long global history of prohibition and tight regulatory control [2, 3]. Despite cannabis remaining an illicit drug in a majority of countries and holding a place on the World Anti-Doping Agency's (WADA) prohibited substance list, accounts of its use amongst competitive and recreational athletes abound [4-7].
Today, the global use of cannabis and formulations made of its derivatives are progressively more widespread as many nations relax laws around both medical and recreational use. Cannabis has been noted as the second most consumed recreational...