No, against my best wishes, I did not pregame my morning workout. My friend and I recently signed up for Class Pass, a subscription service that offers credits for local workout classes. And yes, we are still on the free trial. When we finished the intense workout, my friend insisted she felt high. Not an adrenaline rush, but as high as we were last night, passing a joint back and forth and rewatching our favorite sitcom. I remembered seeing a post discussing how cannabinoids stick to our fat cells. When we burn said fat, it is released back into our bloodstream. When I shared this fact with her, she absolutely refused to believe me. There was no way working out could both fulfill her exercise goals AND maximize the effects of her pen. We concluded the class with extensive research.
According to an article published by the University of Sydney, exercising may genuinely lead to a positive drug test. The article states that Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) tends to latch itself to our fat cells when consumed. This compound, being the main intoxicant, can remain dormant on these cells for months until burned off in physical activity.
The University of Sydney and the University of NSW proved this theory. They recruited regular cannabis users to complete a standard workout. The findings showed a notable increase in THC within their bloodstream, enough to alter drug tests to positive. It is not guaranteed that this release of THC into the bloodstream will get you stoned; however, it is possible that it can enact slight effects, amplified by the release of endorphins.
When THC is stored within fat tissue, it does not register on a drug test. From our research, we learned that exercising before a urine test in an attempt to eliminate THC from your system will actually increase your chances of a positive result.
There are a multitude of factors affecting how long THC stays in your system, listed in an article titled “How Long Does THC Stay In Your Body?” published in Leafwell. Our individual metabolism, BMI, dose, and frequency all play a major part.
There is no concrete evidence that you will 100% feel the effects of this release. It is possible that my friend was experiencing what we call a “runner’s high.” It has been a common belief that the release of endorphins causes this euphoric feeling, up until recently.
David J. Linden, PhD, a professor of neuroscience at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, explained the effects of exercise on the brain in a piece titled, “The Truth Behind ‘Runner’s High’ and Other Mental Benefits of Running.”
He says that, “though endorphins help prevent muscles from feeling pain, it is unlikely that endorphins in the blood contribute to a euphoric feeling, or any mood change at all. Research shows that endorphins do not pass the blood-brain barrier.” He concludes that the “high” we may feel post-workout does not stem from the release of endorphins, but from endocannabinoids, “biochemical substances similar to cannabis but naturally produced by the body.”
Who knew that a silly one-liner after my Soul Cycle class would spark such a discussion? While smoking the night before a workout is unlikely to make you high, our body has the natural ability to do so... which is actually more convenient, and cheaper.
If our realization taught us anything, it’s that we surely won’t miss another workout. Maybe… the gym rats are the real stoners.
Very interesting read and analysis! I personally find that getting high before any physical activity results in me pushing myself and body farther than I would have non-high. Which in return makes me follow a HIIT training program instead of a low effort program.
i love how you wrote about such a tiny experience we had and provided scientific facts to prove our silly thoughts. like yeah, lemme go smoke tonight and workout in the morning. #balance