According to science – no, it does just the opposite. So, who or what should we believe? Let’s dive in this together and see who comes in first. The thing about marijuana is that it has never been considered to be a performance-enhancing drug. So when a snowboarder got disqualified because cannabis was found in his blood, which really made no sense on any level whatsoever. However, it seems that particular disqualifying committee could have been on to something.
Then again, when you look at research, marijuana actually makes muscles deteriorate over time, especially if you are a frequent smoker who doesn’t do any sort of activity except for couch surfing. Keep in mind that Michael Phelps wasn’t caught with a bong just before he went for that Olympic swim because if he did – he would hardly be winning any medals. Marijuana has a terrifying effect on motivation. To presume it has a positive effect in that regard would be ludicrous. Most of the times, when you get high, you’re not exactly thinking about conquering mountains and looking for the next big challenge in your life.
Muscles & Motivation
With that being said, not everything is black and white when it comes to this wonderful plant. While it is true that it can deteriorate your muscles and rid you of motivation, marijuana is also known for relaxing your muscles and erasing unpleasant thoughts that might be connected specifically to your lack of motivation. For instance, it is not a bad idea to vaporize a bit of cannabis after a hardcore workout because it will relax you physically. Marijuana also works before a long exhausting workout because it numbs the part of your brain that wants to give up as soon as possible. In that sense, it provides you with motivation because it prolongs your workout.
Sativa vs. Indica
Then there’s the strain issue. Naturally, for any amount of physical activity, it would be unwise to choose an indica strain as that will not get you very far. However, a sativa strain will definitely lift your spirits and get you going in the right direction. Indica strains are best used for mental relaxation, before going to sleep or chilling in front of the TV. Don’t expect to be very productive while inhaling indicas.
Another trend has been popping up recently and that is the one of college students consuming marijuana before they have to study for an exam. Basically, that might work in the short run solely because of the euphoria provided by a sativa strain. In the long run, however, consequences will be evident in short term memory loss and you don’t need a doctor to tell you that, numerous research studies have proven it.
To conclude, marijuana can be a powerful aid when used as a good reason for something, mostly in medicinal purposes. Hell, it can even help with your workouts and exams but that is only because of the specific characteristics of the strain, which in this case is Super Lemon Haze. However, as any drug, marijuana will leave consequences if consumed in unlimited amounts so please keep that in mind.
