Ask A Stoner: Can I Smoke Weed And Work Out? HERB CORNER
provides something in the way of connecting with your surroundings,” Ausmus explained. “You’re not going to be bothered for smoking weed discreetly at almost any climbing or skiing area.” Like Calipo, he said the effects of weed on his performance are mostly psychological. “Being a little high just gets me dialed into whatever I’m doing,” he explained, and as far as physiological effects go, “I normally notice more muscle control and fewer jitters.” Except for last week, when he smoked in the middle of a mountain bike ride. “It was great for, like, 90 percent of it. But there was this one super technical area where I said, ‘Nah, not right now.’ and hopped off my bike.” Ausmus doesn’t blame the weed for that, though: “I see that more as me failing to recognize my own limits.” But 22-year-old Bryan Stopak, a cycling instructor from Olney, Maryland, does think cannabis takes a toll on athletic performance and recently decided to take a break from bud. “I love weed, but I have to peace out for a little to get this summer body correct,” Stopak said. After taking up pot in 2020, Stopak said he found it harder to breathe during runs, got exhausted after fewer reps, and had less motivation to work out at all. “The only thing that’s changed is me smoking weed,” Stopak said. While there’s limited research on how smoking weed specifical - ly affects athletic performance, there’s evidence suggesting smok - ing anything can damage the lungs. The American Lung Association warns that cannabis smoke contains some of the same carcinogens and toxins as tobacco smoke that put regular users at risk of chronic
BY MEGHAN THOMPSON
Getting high doesn’t always mean sitting on the couch with a bag of Doritos. Stoners get a reputation for being lazy and inactive, but Mike Tyson credits cannabis for his return to the ring at 55 years old. The boxing legend, who claims he smokes $40,000 worth of weed per month, is just one of many star athletes who toke up on a regular basis. So how does weed affect athletic performance? That depends on who you ask, and for many the answer is “it depends.” The general consensus among cannabis-smoking athletes (and readers who re- sponded to our informal Instagram poll) is that weed’s impact on ath - letic performance varies based on how much you consume when you use it, and your method of consumption. Gigi Calipo, a 27-year-old from Falls Church, Virginia, told The Outlaw Report she smokes before Yoga, never before skateboarding, and never combines exercise with edibles. “Weed before Yoga helps me be more flexible and relax, but I rarely use it before skateboarding because I’m in an open space with people I don’t really know,” said Calipo, citing the paranoia that often comes with being high in public. Calipo said she uses weed for its psychological benefits, explaining “it helps me to relax and enjoy myself more.” She clarified: “It’s only when I eat an edible that I’ll feel really anxious.” For Jack Ausmus, a 22-year-old skier, rock climber, and mountain biker, smoking weed is an integral part of the culture around outdoor sports. “For a ski day or climbing day, smoking is just part of the vibe and
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PATHWAYS—Spring 23—19
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