More and more fitness fiends are hitting the bong as much as they’re hitting the gym- and there’s some serious data as to why. Anecdotally, there has been an increase in budtenders reporting that their customers are looking to pair potent products with their physical fitness routines. In 2020, a report showed that of 50,000 athletes surveyed, nearly 25% of them hard reported using cannabis within the last year. Another study from 2022 showed that of 131 cannabis users ages 18-55, close to half had reported being under the influence of cannabis while doing physical activity. They most commonly took part in activities such as hiking, yoga, or utilizing aerobic machines.
With the rise in cultural commonality for cannabis use, it’s natural that it starts to extend into other elements of everyday life. But why are people getting high before working out?
While there are indications that smoking cannabis and the resulting coughing and complexities that follow may prove to be counterintuitive to optimizing health, there are other benefits from cannabis use while working out. Joel Stein of The Hollywood Reporter covered a Stoned + Toned workout in 2023 reported on the focus he felt while working out while high. “I … kept losing track of time, which made exercising less unpleasant”, the author states. He did make note of his dry mouth kicking in before he broke a sweat, but overall, the high made the workout move faster which can be common for consumers.
Aside from mental benefits, cannabis can support athletic recovery. Several medical studies have shown that CBD has anti-inflammatory properties which support muscle recovery. CBD paired with THC has been known to amplify the efficacy of each of their components. A 2023 study states that “CBD and THC have the potential to enhance recover from aerobic and resistance exercise due to analgesic, anti-inflammatory effects as well as the ability to enhance sleep quality.” Additionally, a THC product with the right terpene profile can often enhance energy or concentration for users. While each consumer’s mileage may vary, terpenes like limonene or pinene encourage energy and focus for workouts. As more and more terpene education comes to the forefront of the cannabis conversation, more people will inevitably discover ways to utilize cannabis for better workouts.
These cannabis-friendly workouts have also left private homes and are starting to pop-up in major cities. In addition to the aforementioned Stoned + Toned, groups like Bend and Blaze have begun in places like Brooklyn, NY and Denver, CO. These typically allow for on-site consumption during workout classes or encourage attendees to light up before class starts. Step aside goat yoga- Golden Goat yoga is rolling into town.
One of the strongest upsells retailers can offer for their more athletic consumers looking to dabble into workout dabs is to talk about topicals.
Several infused salve and lotion combinations are on the market and often utilize a THC and CBD blend that is optimized for anti-inflammatory properties. In 2023, topical sales in dispensaries only comprised 0.56% of all SKUs sold. This makes topicals a huge area of opportunity for all cannabis retailers. For more on how to sell more topicals in your store, keep reading our blog.
This trend is more than just a fad- cannabis-infused workouts are going strong and will last longer than the average new year’s resolution to start working out. Dispensaries can use this as a key opportunity to upsell recovery topical products while recommending the right workout accessories. Bonus points if you talk terps while you do it.
