"Pain-free and focused" – that's how fitness enthusiast Jürgen Fruth describes his workouts after using cannabis. During the month of the UEFA Euro, the Grünhorn Group is exploring the potential of cannabis in sports.

For the first time, football fans at the Euro 2024 in Germany will not face a cannabis ban. The (now retracted) statement by a police spokesperson from Gelsenkirchen in an interview with The Sun caused a stir by suggesting that cannabis is preferable to alcohol for watching football, as it doesn't lead to aggression. However, cannabis is becoming more interesting not just for the audience but also for athletes themselves. The idea that cannabis makes you lazy and is incompatible with sports is a cliché. This notion dates back to the time before partial legalization when access to cannabis was limited, and knowledge about its variety was scarce. Today, it is known that there are strains with different and sometimes activating effects that can be useful for athletic purposes.

Sports that you wouldn't typically associate with cannabis are beginning to embrace the benefits of the plant, writes American investigative journalist Josiah Hesse. Following legalization in Colorado, he discovered a "subculture" of athletes who incorporated cannabis into their rigorous training routines – in sports such as ice hockey and baseball. National basketball player Daniel Theis openly admitted to his cannabis use and estimated that three-quarters of all NBA players use it to unwind after games. Football players have also tested positive for cannabis and been excluded from their teams, such as former Borussia Dortmund professional Ibrahim Tanko. In professional sports, THC remains on the anti-doping agency's banned substances list, despite a lack of evidence for performance-enhancing effects.¹. Nach der Legalisierung in Colorado entdeckte er dort eine „Subkultur“ von Athlet:innen, die neben strengen Trainingsroutinen Cannabis konsumierten – etwa im Eishockey oder Baseball. Der Basketball-Nationalspieler Daniel Theis gab seinen Konsum öffentlich zu und schätzte sogar, dass drei Viertel aller NBA-Spieler Cannabis nutzen, um nach Spielen abschalten und einschlafen zu können. Auch einige Fußballspieler wurden schon positiv auf Cannabis getestet und von ihren Mannschaften ausgeschlossen, wie der Ex-Borussia Dortmund Profi Ibrahim Tanko. Im Profisport steht THC auf der Liste der Anti-Doping-Agentur, obwohl eine leistungssteigernde Wirkung, die Dopingsubstanzen zugeschrieben wird, nicht belegt werden konnte.

"Runner's high" and euphoria

Pharmaceutically relevant compounds in the cannabis plant are Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and Cannabidiol (CBD). Terpenes, which are responsible for the unique aroma and effects profile of the flowers, also have therapeutic benefits. Receptors in the endocannabinoid system are only activated by cannabinoids; no other medication interacts with them in this way. They have various effects, including appetite stimulation (useful for increased calorie needs in sports), pain reduction, regenerative properties (post-training), stress reduction, and mood enhancement (e.g., in competitive situations). The so-called "runner's high" leads to euphoria in endurance sports. It was long believed that this effect was caused by increased endorphin release. Today, it is known that it is due to endocannabinoids. In his book "Runner's High," runner Josiah Hesse describes a shift in perspective after consuming cannabis orally: "I felt light. I felt joyful. It reminded me a lot of being a kid and running (...). You're not doing it to get fit, look good, or lower your cholesterol; you're just thinking, 'This is really fun.'"²

User Jürgen Fruth reports: "More focus, less pain"

Some athletes report an enhanced ability to focus on their training sessions through the use of cannabis. For 38-year-old physiotherapist Jürgen Fruth, the motivational aspects are key: "I suffer from the painful spinal condition Scheuermann's disease, where it's important to move regularly. For a while, I barely exercised, became lazier, and gained weight," he says. By using cannabis, he was motivated to set up his own small home gym: "I've now found the perfect strain for me, a strong sativa, and I can lift weights or swim practically pain-free and focused every day." This allowed him to reduce his use of painkillers, which are known for their side effects. Painkiller misuse in sports is a well-known issue that the Bundestag's sports committee has already addressed. Many athletes also face inflammatory processes in their tendons, joint capsules, and bursae due to the higher physical strain. The use of CBD-rich cannabis extracts or flowers can support anti-inflammatory processes.³

Safe Consumption and Quality in Focus

"To maximize the benefits of cannabis for sports, selecting the right strain from over 100 different flowers is crucial," says biochemist Dr. Nadine Herwig, head of the Grünhorn Academy. The digital flower finder from Grünhorn Pharmacy can help with this selection. For those who value post-exercise recovery, an Indica strain might be chosen, while for training sessions, an activating, Sativa-dominant strain with a focusing terpene profile is recommended. To minimize health risks, it is also important to obtain cannabis from reputable sources. Grünhorn Pharmacy tests every batch, provides precise information on THC, CBD, and terpene content, and offers only pharmaceutical-grade flowers that meet strict pharmacopeia standards and are free from contaminants such as mold, lead, or pesticides. To avoid reducing lung capacity and to prevent health hazards from burning cannabis, oral consumption or inhalation with vaporizers is preferable to smoking.

Podcast series on cannabis and sport

A detailed technical article on "Cannabis & sport" can be found at the Grünhorn Academy. The Grünhorn Academy Podcast with Dr. Nadine Herwig continues to explore the topic of "Cannabis & Sport" in a special four-part series. All episodes are available at YouTube, Spotify and Apple Podcast available:

• Folge 1: Schmerzpatient Stephan nutzt neben der Cannabistherapie Sport zur Linderung seiner Beschwerden.
• Folge 2: Schmerzfrei und fit: Mit Cannabis zurück ins aktive Leben. Tim hat durch die Cannabistherapie zurück in ein aktives Leben gefunden.
• Folge 3: Medizinisches Cannabis als Motivationsschub – Jürgen hat nach langer Pause wieder mit dem Fitness-Training begonnen.
• Folge 4: Julia hat nach Beckenbruch durch Yoga zu mehr Lebensqualität gefunden.

Sources:

^{1 J. Hesse: Runner’s High – How A Movement of Cannabis-Fueled Athletes is Changing the Science of Sports
2 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35081831
3 https://www.cell.com/cell-chemical-biology/abstract/S2451-9456(23)00249-0}