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Tennis Loves CBD

Tennis Loves CBD

We are in love with Tennis on so many levels. But as many recreational (and professional) tennis players know, it’s not easy on your mind or body. Yet, we still play the game as often as we can because connecting on that ball is one of the greatest feelings in the world.

As the popularity of tennis grows in the United States, attention to the professional sport has shown signs of mental and physical stress to even the most elite players. Although we do not all have the same pressure as these marvels of the court have, we still carry with us a lot of baggage that weighs down our game.

Fortunately for modern day tennis enthusiasts, the legalization of cannabis and the popularity of CBD has brought new natural solutions to the aches and pains we all experience on the court (or the next day). If it’s all about getting that extra edge on your opponent, cannabinoids including CBD have been found to make some major improvements to the health and wellness of players across the country.

Why is CBD becoming so popular for exercise?

First off, let us give you a quick reminder of what CBD actually is. Short for Cannabidiol, CBD is a non-psychoactive phytocannabinoid found in the cannabis plant. It is one of many cannabinoids discovered to help with inflammation and anxiety, with many more on the way, including CBG. These cannabinoids are capable of attaching to our internal Endocannabinoid System. Each and every single human being has an Endocannabinoid System that manages many bodily functions such as mood, pain, inflammation, and even hunger, with the release of our own internal cannabinoids called endocannabinoids. Recently, scientists discovered that the Endocannabinoid System (ECS) is responsible for the “Runner’s High” or “Exercise High.”

Phytocannabinoids, including CBD, is one of the few exogenous materials found in the natural world to affect and attach to the CB1 and CB2 receptors in our ECS. What many users have voiced is their ability to manage pain and inflammation in order to perform at their best and recover quickly for the next time, with little to no side effects compared to synthetic drugs regularly available during cannabis prohibition. 

CBD is in

The legalization of the cannabis plant is slowing rolling out. But CBD has made some big strides ahead of the cannabinoid pack. It’s therapeutic properties and lack of psychoactive effect has opened doors to sports around the world. And tennis is no exception. As of the date this article was published, CBD is allowed for professional tennis players that wish to apply more plant based and holistic remedies to improving their game thanks to the International Tennis Federation approving CBD for competition. Many professional athletes have also advocated publicly for the use and continue to break cultural norms for the benefit of all of our collective mental and physical health.

CBD specifically for Tennis

CBD for Tennis

Swinging a racket and sudden quick movements come with some serious ailment to your joints and muscles. Anything from tennis elbow to back pain, CBD is a natural plant-based remedy for all your basic tennis needs. Although non-psychoactive, CBD can also help your mind focus less on the pain and more on the game. As many players know, tennis is just as much a mind game as it is technique. You need to be ready for anything, but also dish out the unexpected with accuracy and confidence.

4 ways to improve your game

Pain Management

CBD is an anti-inflammatory that helps relieve muscle and joint pain without any known side-effects. CBD has even been found to release serotonin in your brain, allowing for a more pleasurable experience. They don’t say “keep your mind off the pain” for nothing.

Mind Body Connection

Tennis is perhaps one of the most mental games out there. You need to be confident and show your strength from all the way across the court the second you step on those lines. CBD’s ability to keep you calm during competition (and even practice) can give your the upper hand during a match. By relaxing the central nervous system, CBD has been found to be a great way to manage anxiety and reduce blood pressure.

Good Sleep

Exercising has been proven to improve your sleep. However, if you’re still not sleeping well it makes it that much harder to exercise. Then you get stuck on a hamster wheel of chasing your health because you’re too tired to let it come to you. Especially for tennis players that have a big match that they’re preparing for, overthinking your strategy and opponent may just mean you lose hours out of your night resulting in exhaustion and poor performance. CBD has been found to help with sleep habits by decreasing nighttime cortisol levels, allowing for more optimal deep sleep.

Sports Science and Plant Research

With the discovery of all these incredible cannabinoids, the legalization of cannabis research has shown many benefits for active people across the country. However, there were few products that took into account the lifestyle of many athletes. Rather than creating something specifically for them, it was just another random CBD product to throw in their gym bag. That’s why we created a hydration supplement that provides all the benefits of CBD, and packs it with premium ingredients to better boost performance and suppress inflammation.

OFFFIELD Enhanced Hydration

Our Enhanced Hydration formula uses the power of 20mg of Broad Spectrum CBD, CBG, L-Theanine, B-Vitamins, Vitamin C, Magnesium and Zinc to deliver a natural solution with way less sugar than regular sports drinks. Made to help you move, Enhanced Hydration does not sacrifice on the hydration part. Optimized for ideal electrolyte intake, with great subtle flavors that give you that boost you need when you need it most. Great for everyday athletes or tennis pros alike.

When reviewing our Enhanced Hydration mix, Tennis Magazine wrote “Imagine having Mansour Bahrami's sky-high energy, Naomi Osaka's poise on big points, and walking around the court with Andre Agassi's styled confidence.”

If you’re interested in learning more about the benefits of CBD, CBG or our Enhanced Hydration formula, you know where to find us!

Breaking "Lazy"

Author’s Note: At OFFFIELD, we are focused on cannabinoid research and developing products formulated for exercise and recovery. Cannabis is a broad term encompassing thousands of products and substances that can be healthy, unhealthy, or anything in between. We share these new findings regarding cannabis because it is important to highlight the propaganda and false information shared with the general public, which creates a stigma around a plant that has the potential to help people when used responsibly by both companies and individuals.

Introduction

For generations, the “lazy stoner” trope has dominated pop culture. We’ve all seen the caricature: a cannabis consumer glued to the couch, never quite making it outside for a run or even a brisk walk. Yet a growing body of research is challenging this outdated image, both through anatomical understanding and statistical significance. Most recently, a federally funded study published in the journal Addictive Behaviors found that on days people used cannabis, they actually got more moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA). That’s a revelation for anyone who assumed cannabis consumption went hand-in-hand with total inactivity.

Conducted by a team of ten researchers from universities across the U.S.—including the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences, the University of Texas School of Public Health, the University of Michigan, Texas A&M-Commerce, Louisiana State University Health Science Center, the Georgia Institute of Technology, and the University of Colorado Boulder—the study analyzed the daily behaviors of 98 adults over a four-week period. Here’s how it worked: Each participant, who had used cannabis at least once during that month, completed smartphone-based surveys about their day-to-day physical activity. The data revealed a same-day association between cannabis use and increased time spent engaging in exercise—findings that fly in the face of lingering stereotypes about cannabis users being inherently lazy.

How the Study Worked

Participants & Data Collection

For inclusion in the study, participants had to be at least 18 years old and must have used cannabis on at least one day out of the 28-day tracking period. By focusing on people who already incorporate cannabis into their lifestyles, the researchers were able to observe how usage correlated with other behaviors within the same individuals. This approach reduces the possibility that preexisting lifestyle differences between cannabis users and non-users would skew the results.

The team employed a method called Ecological Momentary Assessment (EMA), which uses smartphone-based surveys to collect data in near real-time. Instead of asking participants to remember their habits for the entire past month, the study pinged them on a daily basis, capturing more accurate, detailed snapshots of their behavior. Participants were asked:

Whether they had used cannabis in the previous 24 hours.

How many minutes of vigorous physical activity they had engaged in during that same period.

By comparing data from days when participants reported using cannabis to days they did not, the study was able to isolate a same-day correlation between cannabis consumption and changes in exercise levels.

 

Busting the “Lazy Stoner” Myth

Positive Association with Exercise

The headline takeaway is straightforward: cannabis use was linked with higher levels of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity. When participants consumed marijuana, they also recorded more minutes spent on activities like running, aerobics, or other forms of intense exercise. This complements research showing that certain cannabis consumers—far from being sedentary—often exhibit equal or higher activity levels than their non-using counterparts.

The authors wrote that their findings “aligned with our hypothesis and prior cross-sectional observations that people who use cannabis (vs. non-users) tend to report more minutes of weekly [physical activity, or PA] and have higher accelerometer-measured light PA and MVPA.” Put simply, these results reinforce the emerging scientific consensus that cannabis consumers can be just as active—and in some cases more active—than the general population.

Potential Reasons Behind the Trend

While the study didn’t strive to prove precisely why cannabis users might exercise more, it highlights a few theoretical mechanisms. For one, cannabis interacts with the body’s endocannabinoid and dopaminergic systems, potentially increasing the sense of psychological reward from activities like running or weightlifting. Users often report that cannabis can:

Increase Enjoyment – A tough workout might feel more pleasurable, helping people push through routines they might otherwise avoid.

Enhance Motivation – The elevated mood and focus some strains provide could help users stay consistent with their exercise goals.

Facilitate Recovery – Many athletes cite cannabis as a tool for easing soreness, reducing inflammation, or simply promoting relaxation after a strenuous session.

These mechanisms remain theoretical, and more targeted studies are needed to confirm them. Still, they offer plausible explanations for why an individual might lace up their sneakers more readily on cannabis-use days.

Supporting Evidence from Other Research

This new study isn’t the only piece of evidence upending the lazy stoner myth. Multiple papers over the past few years have shown similar links between cannabis use and physical activity:

Medical Cannabis and Chronic Conditions
Research on medical marijuana patients with conditions like arthritis or chronic pain suggests that cannabis can reduce discomfort, enabling them to move or exercise more frequently.


Population Surveys
Large-scale surveys in regions with legal medical or recreational cannabis often reveal populations that are at least as active—if not more active—than those in jurisdictions where cannabis remains prohibited.


Accelerometer Data
Wrist-worn accelerometers, used in certain studies, show that cannabis users do not necessarily become more sedentary. In fact, some data indicate a modest increase in light or moderate physical activity after consumption.

These findings collectively challenge long-standing views on cannabis, demonstrating that its impact can vary widely, often shaped by individual physiology and context.

 

A Note on Alcohol and Cigarettes

While this study’s standout message is that cannabis was linked to more exercise, it also found that participants who used cannabis on a given day tended to use alcohol or cigarettes more often. From an OFFFIELD perspective—where the focus is on movement, wellness, and community—this aspect is less central to our mission. However, if you or someone you know suffers from alcohol or tobacco addiction, it may be worthwhile to consult the full study or seek professional guidance to understand how these factors might intersect.

What’s Next: The Future of Cannabis and Exercise Research

As legalization expands, researchers have more opportunities to examine cannabis’s broader impacts. With stigma receding, participants are more open to discussing their use, leading to deeper insights on how cannabis might complement daily movement and fitness.

Detailed Comparisons
Future work could compare active cannabis users to people who never consume cannabis, determining whether adopting cannabis can spur a more active lifestyle or if those who are already active simply gravitate toward it.

Refining Dose and Strain
 Researchers could look at which strains or THC/CBD ratios are most conducive to movement or recovery. Pinpointing these details might help people make more informed decisions about integrating cannabis into their exercise routines.

Technological Integration
With wearable tech becoming the norm, studies can leverage real-time biometrics to examine how cannabis influences performance, recovery time, and sleep quality.

Long-Term Outcomes
 Does day-to-day motivation translate into tangible health benefits over months or years? Investigating the cumulative effects of cannabis on fitness and wellness is a crucial next step.

Conclusion

The takeaway is clear: cannabis use and an active lifestyle can absolutely go hand in hand. This new research delivers a powerful message that cannabis consumers are not necessarily chained to their couches. Instead, many are hitting the gym, tackling trails, and upending the myth that a puff of smoke equals a day of inactivity.

For those curious about exploring cannabis as part of their fitness journey, the best approach is to stay informed, start low and slow, and pay attention to personal responses. As research accelerates, the old stereotypes are fading, replaced by a more nuanced understanding of how cannabis can intersect with (and sometimes enhance) a healthy, active life.

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Tracking Your Enjoyment

A study titled “Enjoyment as a Predictor of Exercise Habit, Intention to Continue Exercising, and Exercise Frequency” emphasizes the critical role of exercise enjoyment in promoting long-term adherence to fitness routines. It found that when individuals engage in exercise that aligns with their preferred intensity, they experience higher levels of enjoyment, leading to stronger exercise habits, more frequent workouts, and a greater intention to continue exercising. 

Enjoyment acts as a motivating factor, reinforcing positive feelings and commitment to regular exercise. Tailoring workouts to match individual preferences for intensity can enhance the pleasure of exercise, ultimately fostering better engagement and sustainability in health club settings.

Another study found that cannabis may be a primary motivator for people to exercise more often because it elevates their enjoyment. This is a key factor for OFFFIELD, as we are endurance athletes in every sense of the word. We’re not just focused on getting to the finish line quicker in our next marathon, but also getting to the finish line way slower when it comes to life.

All of our products are formulated to activate your Endocannabinoid System, responsible for regulating mood during exercise. Our High Performance line of products, including Energy Gummies and Sports Drinks specifically focus on enjoyment as a key contributor to overall performance enhancement.

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The Bliss Molecule

Have you ever heard of a molecule, Anandamide? It's a special chemical in your body known as the “bliss molecule,” that helps you feel happy and relaxed.

When you run or do lots of exercise, sometimes you get a great feeling afterward or during longer duration training. This is called the Runner's High (you may have noticed we’re obsessed with it). Scientists used to think this was only because of endorphins, which are like natural painkillers. But now they know anandamide, a cannabinoid we produce in our body, is also the primary reason for the effects in both mind and body.

Anandamide works by fitting into receptors throughout your body, kind of like a key fitting into a lock. When this happens, it makes you feel good… real good. Funny enough, these receptors are the same ones that react to the chemicals in cannabis, or phyto-cannabinoids. Although similar, Anandamide is created by your own body.

So next time you're out running and start to feel amazing, you can thank anandamide. And if you want to hit it a little earlier, you can try our products designed to mimic our best buddy Anandamide. You don’t have to thank us, but we do accept compliments.

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