The Runner's High
Many Americans of a particular generation vividly remember the anti-cannabis ads run on broadcast television during their adolescence. Educators hung posters on school bulletin boards. Cartoon characters taught everyone how to "just say no." The public was told with unquestionable certainty that "marijuana is a gateway drug."
It turns out that gateway might be the finish line of a marathon.
The legalization of cannabis research has not only discredited cannabis propaganda but also shined a light on the Endocannabinoid System's involvement in human health and the "Runner's High."
Discovered at the end of the 20th century, the Endocannabinoid System has proven to be pivotal in understanding mental and physical health, providing a bounty of holistic and natural solutions to many modern ailments. Now, cannabis has shown to be vital in improving anxiety, inflammation, nausea, joy, pain, and unlocking access to the endocannabinoid system.
A brief history of the Runner's High
In the 1960s, the popularity of running was burgeoning across the country, launching some of the world's biggest brands today, such as Nike and Asics. Researchers began attempting to understand the Runner's High since it entered the pop-culture lexicon.
At first, the data was anecdotal. Runners began sharing their feats of endurance, mentioning an inexplicable and intoxicating experience of euphoria, clarity, calm, and pain relief only after they reached a point where they were about to give up on their run. The mass adoption of running made it clear that the Runner's High was not an isolated event but something many could (and did) experience.
The term "Runner's High" became the de facto label for the biological effect humans experienced during endurance sports (in retrospect, it is unlikely that it is only a coincidence that the popularity of illicit cannabis use and running took parallel paths in their growth along the same timeline). The effect many runners experienced was often compared to the high cannabis users experienced. Both cheeky and accurate, "Runner's High" stuck as the favorite term for cardio and endurance exercise, even as other activities' popularity also brought their high, including cycling, swimming, weight lifting, rowing, and many others.
No matter the sport, athletes who experienced the Runner's High found it very addicting. People across the country began chasing the high. Although not entirely understood back then, the undisputed truth that exercise is good for your mind and body is prevalent today. The motivation as to why so many became addicted to staying healthy, while others found no purpose in it, was a mystery for some time. That mystery is just now being explained.
Born to run
When considering the evolutionary theory as to why people experience a Runner's High, today's popular view is that for hundreds-of-thousands of years, humans (specifically Homo Sapiens) developed the ability to run long distances for survival. In short, the flight portion of "fight or flight" meant that when climbing a tree was not enough to get away from a big-cat, the next best thing was to run.
While many predators prevalent in prehistoric times were capable of reaching much faster speeds for short distances, homo-sapiens could run for much longer at a relatively fast pace. The human anatomy evolved to better cope with the impact, energy depletion, and mental stress of running by deploying the endocannabinoid system. Rather than giving up halfway and being mauled by a big-cat, humans were given a second wind in the form of a Runner's High to continue their escape and survival. Those that could outrun the danger would procreate the next generation of runners.
The agricultural revolution led to the development of cooperative strategies amongst humans, which resulted in more need for working the land, rather than running away from prey. But the development of the Runner's High was already coded in our DNA, only to return to a wider population once again with sport creation.
Understanding the high
As runners began telling their version of the experience, it became clear that this was not an isolated phenomenon. Researchers were curious as to how and why so many people were sharing similar stories. There was already an obvious correlation in the slang between getting high on cannabis and a Runner's High, but academia was not buying it, nor were they legally able to. Cannabis research laws were strictly enforced by the federal government, making it bureaucratically impossible to connect the dots in a lab setting without years of debilitating red tape.
Many even claimed that the Runner's High was a placebo effect from eager runners trying to reach euphoria having heard of others' experience.
For decades, experts debunked theories of the Runner's High like these. Early studies conducted on the Runner's High found that endorphins (naturally produced opioids) were being released. Yet, endorphins alone were unable to produce the full experience of the Runner's High. Unlike endocannabinoids (that scientists hadn't yet discovered), endorphins cannot travel past the brain stem, making them obsolete when it comes to decreasing inflammation and improving circulation in the joints and muscles most fatigued by running.
The 1990s brought a wave of understanding with the discovery of the biological endocannabinoid system (ECS) found in humans and other mammals. The ECS consists of endocannabinoids that bind to cannabinoid receptors. Researchers identified two primary cannabinoid receptors: CB1 in 1990 and CB2 in 1993, believing they could identify more receptors as they gained a better understanding of the ECS. CB1 receptors are the main molecular target of exogenous THC and endogenous Anandamide (discovered in 1993). In comparison, CBD acts as an antagonist at both CB1 and CB2 receptors.
Anandamide (named after the Sanskrit word for "bliss") is created naturally in the human body in relatively low quantities and has very similar THC properties. It produces pleasant feelings of relaxation, pain cessation, and euphoria, much like the shared experience for running enthusiasts over the years.
In 2015, a team of German scientists released research that proved "a Runner's High depends on cannabinoid receptors in mice." Their ability to use pharmacologic, molecular genetic, and behavioral studies in mice allowed them to demonstrate that the endocannabinoid system is crucial for a Runner's High. Debunking the myth that endorphins alone were the cause by proving running exercises increase blood levels of both endorphins and anandamide. Unfortunately, euphoria cannot be studied in mouse models. However, anecdotal accounts of people experiencing euphoria during a Runner's High are frequent and consistent.
Mental euphoria and physical health
Although the Runner's High is analogous to running, naming it an Exercise High would be more accurate given the many modern forms of exertion people can perform to create the same effect on a biological level. Non-running fitness enthusiasts and cannabis users have been found to use similar language to explain their experience and affection for their sport of choice. We can attribute much of these comparisons to the similar reaction endo, and phytocannabinoids have on people.
In 2015, researchers released "Cannabis and Exercise Science" claiming that "policies regarding cannabis use are rapidly changing, yet public officials have limited access to scientific information that might inform the creation of these policies. One important area in which to begin investigations is the link between recreational cannabis use and health, specifically exercise."
Inability to conduct adequate research led to relying solely on anecdotal reports, which were mixed. Pointing out a peculiar fact (given that policymakers tended to lean towards the notion of "cannabis makes you lazy"), the World Anti-Doping Agency includes cannabis as a prohibited substance in sport, partly because they believe it can "enhance" sports performance.
In 2019, the University of Colorado Boulder published research in Frontiers in Public Health that found many people use cannabis before or after their workouts. The survey noted that cannabis users tend to exercise more than the average American. And more than 80 percent of respondents said they used cannabis before starting to exercise or within four hours of ending a workout. Many participants reported that cannabis motivated them to train and allowed them to enjoy the activity even more. Although the findings are conducted exclusively in legal cannabis states, experts must do more research with a larger population of participants and a non-user control group.
Another survey conducted on social media by Humboldt State University in Arcata, California, targeted people that specifically used cannabis for exercise. The study of 126 men and women uncovered cannabis use before numerous types of activities lead not only to greater enjoyment, but participants believed that cannabis increased their focus, concentration, and mind-body awareness.
What the future holds
With America divided into two halves on almost every issue, how is it that Cannabis Legalization became the one thing Americans agreed on most in 2020?
Other than Gen-Z, every living generation has grown up under the influence of an "anti-drug" propaganda machine, funded by our own tax dollars. State legalization and capitalism are now forcing everyone to wake up to the smell of money. Revealing the ridiculousness of having fought a war against a plant, only to find out the plant is a pacifist.
Gallup polls show that 68% of Americans are in favor of federal legalization. With overwhelming positive sentiment towards Cannabis Reform from voters, politicians are doing their best to usher in legislation without making themselves look like fools for their involvement in the war on drugs. Just now, South Dakota jumped headfirst and legalized medical and recreational cannabis simultaneously. California is on track to become the largest cannabis market globally, and less than a decade ago, California was still conducting military-style raids on marijuana cultivators and dealers.
As cannabis commerce has expanded rapidly, research has been limited. In December of 2020, the federal government has presented separate bills. The Cannabidiol and Marihuana Research Expansion Act allows cannabis research to be streamlined, removing excessive barriers that make it difficult for researchers to study cannabis and giving the FDA power to analyze CBD and medical cannabis products. The Medical Marijuana Research Act offers researchers access to state-legal cannabis, removing the over half a century-long requirement that cannabis research may only be conducted on marijuana grown at a single federally approved facility at the University of Mississippi. This grants access to consumer products that are actually consumed as opposed to what is produced federally.
At the time of writing this article, both bills show some rare signs of bi-partisan support. No matter the vote, private enterprises continue to fund and advance the industry through innovation and scientific breakthroughs, circumventing federal bureaucracy in the name of state-sanctioned progress, capitalism, and living a plant enhanced life.
Researchers found when workouts are too hard or too easy, people quit. But when cannabinoids make exercise feel better, people stick with it.
You hear a lot of people say “go hard!” or “embrace the suck!” Turns out those people actually enjoy it. If you’re not one of those people, you’re going to want to hear this.
Scientists wanted to know why some people keep exercising for years while others quit. So they studied 273 gym goers. They found something surprisingly simple: people who enjoy their workouts exercise more often, stick with it longer, and turn it into a habit. It wasn’t about willpower. It was about how the workout feels. When exercise feels too hard, people want to stop. When it feels too easy, people get bored. But when it feels challenging and doable, people enjoy it and they keep coming back for more. In fact, about 9 out of 10 people naturally choose an intensity that already feels right for them. The big lesson: if it feels good, you keep doing it.(1)
Now here’s where it gets really interesting. Another study looked at 49 regular cannabis users who went on two runs: one with cannabis and one without. The runners said the run felt more enjoyable when cannabis was involved. The difference wasn’t small or random: it was statistically meaningful (p = 0.004), which means it was very unlikely to be an accident. They also reported more positive feelings, less negative feelings, and more “runner’s high” sensations during the cannabis run. They didn’t run faster. They felt better doing it.(2)
A third study found that 80% of cannabis users mix cannabis and working out, with 70% saying it increases enjoyment, 78% saying it boosts recovery and 52% saying it motivates them.(3) Dispelling the myth that it makes you lazy.
Why does this matter? Your body already has a built-in system called the endocannabinoid system (ECS). One of its jobs is to help control mood, pain, stress, and enjoyment. When you exercise, your body releases natural cannabinoids (like anandamide) that help create the famous runner’s high.(4) Cannabinoids from plants work on this same system. So when this system is supported, exercise can feel better, more fun, and less uncomfortable.
This is by no means saying that cannabis solves all our problems. What this means is that cannabinoids, when administered correctly to fit your needs can create the consistency so many of us are looking for.
Put it all together and the story is simple:
When exercise feels better, people do it more.
Enjoyment isn’t a bonus. It’s the engine. OFFFIELD isn’t about forcing your body to suffer. It’s about helping your body and brain work together so movement feels good and when it feels good, you keep showing up.
That’s how consistency is built. That’s how longevity happens. And that’s how performance actually lasts.
Footnotes / Sources
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De Meester et al., 2022 — “Does intensity matter for exercise enjoyment and adherence?” (Study of 273 gym members showing enjoyment strongly predicts habit, frequency, and long-term consistency.)
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YorkWilliams et al., 2023 — “Cannabis and Exercise: Real-World Running Study” (49 runners, cannabis condition showed significantly higher enjoyment, p = 0.004, more positive affect, less negative affect, more runner’s high.)
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Front. Public Health, 2019 — “The New Runner's High? Examining Relationships Between Cannabis Use and Exercise Behavior in States With Legalized Cannabis”
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Raichlen et al., 2012 / 2013 — Studies showing that anandamide (an endocannabinoid) rises during exercise and is a key driver of the runner’s high, not just endorphins.
The rise of GLP-1's have changed our culture's relationship with obesity. It's never been more confusing. Every TV commercial is for Ozempic or Mounjaro. Every celebrity is now priding themselves on losing weight and looking... different. At OFFFIELD, we're trying to change our relationship with our health by finding joy in it. Science backed and proven.
With decriminalization of cannabis research, we're also learning why cannabis users have such lower rates of obesity than non-users. With far fewer side-effects and unknowns than GLP-1's.
A study by Cavalheiro and colleagues explores an intriguing possibility: could phytocannabinoids, the biologically active compounds in Cannabis sativa, offer a novel tool to combat the metabolic dysfunction of obesity by harnessing their anti-inflammatory and antioxidant potential?
Why this matters
For athletes and active folks, metabolic resilience is just as important as strength or endurance. A system bogged down by chronic inflammation won’t recover as fast, won’t adapt as well, and won’t take performance gains to the next level. If cannabinoids can support metabolic re-settling, for example reducing waist circumference, improving lipid profiles, and improving cellular inflammation signals, then the conversation shifts from “weed and weight gain” to “smart use of hemp-derived biology to support leaner, fitter terrain.” Ok, that's a mouthful but you get it.
What the review found
This paper is a narrative review, meaning the authors pulled together existing preclinical and clinical data rather than generating new experimentation themselves. Key take-aways:
Epidemiological data suggest that cannabis users on average have lower body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference than non-users. This is counter-intuitive given the “munchies” narrative, yet starts to hint that underlying metabolic processes may be altered.
Specific phytocannabinoids (notably Δ9-tetrahydrocannabivarin (THCV), Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD)) were discussed for their distinct pharmacological profiles.
The authors link obesity’s pathophysiology to endocannabinoid signalling, adipose tissue inflammation, oxidative stress and neuro-metabolic regulation and suggest that modulating the cannabinoid system may rebalance some of these derangements.
Regarding clinical outcomes, some small studies indicated reductions in triglycerides, increases in HDL cholesterol, increases in adiponectin (an insulin-sensitive hormone), and reductions in waist circumference and fat mass.
Mechanistic angles: how might it work?
The review details a few mechanistic pathways worth your attention:
Endocannabinoid system (ECS) modulation: The ECS, via CB1 and CB2 receptors among others, influences appetite, lipogenesis (fat creation), adipocyte differentiation and inflammation. Over-active CB1 signalling in adipose tissue and liver has been implicated in obesity and insulin resistance. By contrast, modulation (or antagonism) of CB1 might yield metabolic benefit. The phytocannabinoids discussed may alter this signalling.
Anti-inflammatory and antioxidant actions: Obese adipose tissue secretes pro-inflammatory cytokines, generates oxidative stress and drives systemic metabolic harm. CBD and related compounds have demonstrated anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects in pre-clinical settings. By reducing adipose inflammation the downstream metabolic burden could decrease.
Adipocyte and mitochondrial effects: Some evidence (primarily in animal models) suggests cannabinoids influence adipocyte function, reduce lipogenesis, increase mitochondrial activity, and influence browning of fat (shifting white fat to more metabolically active beige or brown phenotype) though this remains speculative for humans.
Neuro-metabolic regulation: Appetite, reward, energy expenditure and glucose homeostasis are all subject to central nervous modulation. Cannabinoids may influence these pathways though here the risk of psychoactive effects or undesired CNS impact is higher.
So what does this mean for an active, performance-minded person?
The anti-inflammatory, metabolic-support potential of cannabinoids means they might complement recovery protocols. Beyond traditional recovery strategies like sleep, nutrition, and mobility, hemp-derived cannabinoids may offer another lever for addressing adipose (especially visceral fat) inflammation, thereby improving systemic recovery.
Waist circumference is one of the more relevant markers: it’s a proxy for visceral fat and metabolic risk, and was among the anthropometric measures improved in some studies.
The idea isn’t that cannabinoids are a “magic bullet” for fat loss; rather, they may serve as a metabolic adjunct, supporting the body’s ability to respond to training, nutrition and lifestyle interventions more effectively.
Key take-home statements
Phytocannabinoids from Cannabis sativa show promising metabolic and anti-inflammatory profiles relevant to obesity and visceral fat dysfunction.
Human observational data suggest cannabis users have lower BMI and waist circumference. Small intervention data suggest improvements in triglycerides, HDL, adiponectin and fat distribution.
Mechanistically, the pathways of greatest interest include endocannabinoid system modulation (especially CB1 and CB2 receptors), adipose tissue inflammation, mitochondrial and adipocyte function, and systemic energy-balance regulation.
For us, these findings provide a credible scientific anchor to position cannabinoid sports products, especially when combined with exercise, recovery optimization, and nutrition.
Final thoughts
This review by Cavalheiro takes the conversation around cannabis and metabolism out of the “stoner myth” zone and into serious scientific terrain. For OFFFIELD’s mission, blending performance, recovery and innovation, it offers a strong bridge between nature-derived compounds and athlete-centric outcomes. The key is to turn the promise into educated, realistic, transparent messaging and product design that complements, not replaces, the fundamentals of training, nutrition, recovery and sleep.
In short, cannabinoids aren’t a shortcut to fat loss, but they may become a smart adjunct tool in the fitness toolbox.
Study: C avalheiro EKFF, Costa AB, Salla DH, da Silva MR, Mendes TF, da Silva LE, da Rosa Turatti C, de Bitencourt RM, Rezin GT (2022) Cannabis sativa as a treatment for obesity: from anti-inflammatory indirect support to a promising metabolic re-establishment target, Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research 7:2, 135–151, DOI: 10.1089/can.2021.0016.
Imagine this: Your experience with cannabis is way different then what older generations told you it would be like.
It turns out, you’re not alone. A big new study found that people who use cannabis are more likely to be active, especially in states where it’s totally legal.
Wait, What Was in this Study?
Researchers looked at health data from thousands of adults across the U.S. between 2016 and 2022. They wanted to know: Is there any connection between cannabis use and physical activity?
Short answer: Yep. And it’s a good one.
5 Fast Facts from the Study
🧠 More Movement
From 2016 to 2022, more people started getting active AND more people started using cannabis. The two went hand in hand.
🏃 Cannabis Users Were More Likely to Exercise
People who used cannabis were 24% more likely to engage in physical activity compared to non-users.
🌱 Legal States = More Movement
The connection was even stronger in states with legal recreational cannabis. Users there were 47% more likely to be active.
💪 Chronic Illness? Cannabis Might Help
Usually, people with medical conditions are less active. But among those who used cannabis, that drop-off wasn’t as big.
📈 This Isn’t a Fluke
Researchers controlled for age, income, and health—and the link still showed up.
Quotes from the Study (with Human Translation)
"Cannabis use was associated with greater odds of physical activity."
Translation: People who use weed move more.
"The association was stronger in recreational-legal states."
Translation: When cannabis is easier to get, people are even more likely to be active.
"Among individuals with chronic conditions... cannabis use may mitigate this disparity."
Translation: Cannabis might help folks with pain or health challenges get back out there.
So What Does This Mean for You?
Here’s the deal: OFFFIELD was created on the idea that movement can be joyful, even euphoric, and that cannabinoids, when used intentionally, can support that feeling.
This study? It’s a giant green checkmark on what we’ve believed from the beginning.
With OFFFIELD, you can:
Run Happy : not punishing.
Train Focused : not foggy.
Recover Deeply : not sluggish.
Enjoy the Process : not just the progress.
A Note to the Skeptics (or Your Aunt Becky Who Thinks Cannabis = Couch)
Science is evolving. What we’re seeing now is that cannabis isn’t just about chilling on the couch. It’s showing up in races, rides, hikes, and runs.
And with the right dose, the right blend, and the right mindset? It’s not a shortcut, it’s a tool for better training, better recovery, and better connection to your body.
Try It for Yourself
If you're 21+ and live in the U.S., OFFFIELD is here to help you move smarter and smile bigger. We’re science-backed, athlete-approved, and here to bring joy to every workout, one gummy, sip, or mile at a time.
Happy trails. And hey, move how you like.
