Does cannabis enhance or impair athletic performance?

Cannabis does not enhance athletic performance and likely impairs it in most contexts. THC increases heart rate by 20–100% at rest, which may be detrimental for endurance sports. It impairs reaction time, coordination, and decision-making — critical for most sports. However, some athletes report cannabis reduces pre-competition anxiety and pain, potentially improving performance indirectly. A 2019 survey of 1,161 cannabis users found 81.7% used cannabis around exercise, primarily for enjoyment and recovery rather than performance enhancement. For pain management in contact sports, cannabis may allow athletes to train through injury — which raises safety concerns. The "runner's high" has been partially attributed to endocannabinoid release (anandamide), but exogenous THC does not replicate this effect and may blunt it.