The Top Cannabis Strains for Exercise

Everybody needs exercise, whether you're doing it to get fit or start a healthier lifestyle. While some regularly enjoy an intense workout routine, others struggle to make it a habit. We all want to feel more fit and healthy, but sometimes, our mood can get in the way of making progress. When we think that exercising isn't giving us any results or are experiencing post-workout muscle soreness, there is some evidence that points toward the potential benefits of using cannabis along with exercising.

Cannabis and Exercise

Many use cannabis before, during, and after exercising for a variety of reasons. There is evidence that smoking cannabis strains after exercise can help with recovery. Anecdotally, smoking weed after exercising can encourage you to exercise regularly. Looking forward to an excellent high after a workout can make it easier to get to the gym.

Some also smoke cannabis strains as part of their pre-workout routine. Cannabis terpenes like limonene are said to help improve your mood by reducing anxiety as well as increasing serotonin levels. These benefits make you feel more energetic.

Pre-Workout

Terpenes can improve your mood, but a study claims that THC may also help make your workouts more enjoyable by giving a euphoric feeling that resembles a runner’s high. There is a tradeoff since the same study also says that while THC makes exercising enjoyable, it also makes you feel like you’re exerting more effort. 

Post-Workout

Smoking cannabis strains after a workout may help reduce inflammation and alleviate pain. A 2019 study that surveyed cannabis-using athletes reported that THC and CBD made them feel relaxed, which is vital for recovery.

While rest may seem like a no-brainer post-workout, many who routinely hit the gym often forget to give their bodies the proper rest they need. Smoking cannabis can help, as it aids with sleep by reducing symptoms of insomnia and improving sleep quality.

Cannatonic is a hybrid strain that has flowers with a high CBD concentration of 17% and a THC concentration of 6%.

While it won’t give you a runner’s high because of the CBD-to-THC ratio, this post workout recovery strain can help with sore muscles. Its CBD-rich flowers help alleviate inflammation and pain caused by muscle soreness while providing minimal psychoactive effects.

In addition to its high CBD content, Cannatonic is rich in linalool, a terpene found in lavender. Linalool is said to help with inflammatory pain and has other benefits.

Lemon Fresh is one of the best pre-workout strains. A few tokes from this sativa-dominant strain are all you need to get the energy to power through your reps and still have enough motivation to spare for the rest of your to-do list.

Keep in mind that Lemon Fresh does provide a strong head high thanks to its high THC concentration of around 27%. Outside of THC, Lemon Fresh is also rich in myrcene, which a mouse study said has anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving properties. According to this study, high-myrcene strains like Lemon Fresh help alleviate post-workout muscle aches.

There’s no wrong and right cannabis strain for exercise; it all comes down to preference. If you prefer to smoke indica strains, cultivars like Fruity Pebbles are great choices.

This fruity-flavored indica-hybrid is a nice post-workout smoke thanks to its high THC concentration of up to 28%. Its potent flowers leave you feeling euphoric, while its tropical fruit flavor lifts your mood.

Fruity Pebbles’ dominant terpene is myrcene, which is said to have a flavor profile similar to ripe mangoes and provides the fresh scent and taste of hops.

Myrcene is also said to be responsible for increasing the effectiveness of THC’s sedative and analgesic (pain relieving) effects by improving the permeability of your blood-brain barrier, which increases the amount of THC transported to your brain. In short, myrcene may help get you higher.

If you’re looking for a good strain to help your post-workout recovery, look no further than Fruity Pebbles with its relaxing buzz. However, if you want to try the autoflower variant, we have those in our ILGM store as well!

Another great post-workout strain to smoke is Gelato, an indica-hybrid cannabis strain with flowers that promises a potent experience thanks to its high THC concentration of 22%. With just a few tokes, you’ll feel its euphoria-inducing buzz, which can help you forget your post-workout muscle aches.

The dominant terpene in Gelato is beta-caryophyllene, which many studies have said has a potent anti-inflammatory property. Beta-caryophyllene binds to the CB2 receptor, which reduces the inflammatory response in our body. However, research is ongoing, and most reports are from mice studies.

If these studies are anything to go by, they could explain the relief users feel after enjoying a few bowls of Gelato. ILGM has the Gelato strain available in both the photoperiod as the autoflowering version.

Disco Bizkit is one of the best strains for exercise, whether you smoke it before or after your workout. It offers an uplifting buzz that fills you with happy vibes. Disco Bizkit contains limonene, which is known to brighten your mood.

While this strain might have a reputation for leaving you couch-locked after smoking enough of its flowers, its relaxing high can make recovering from a strenuous workout easier.

With its relaxing high, you can rest and recover without worrying about muscle soreness. 

One of the best sativa strains you can include in your pre- or post-workout routine is Chocolope. This sativa-dominant hybrid's energizing high will help you get through your reps with an entirely focused mind. It’s a great strain if you need something to make exercising more enjoyable.

It’s also an excellent post-workout strain to smoke if you need more energy to finish your day. Suppose you’re looking for an energizing sativa-hybrid with your chocolate-flavored protein shake. In that case, Chocolope is the strain for you.

For help getting into the mood for exercise, Orange Bud might be your perfect strain. Not only are its flowers high in limonene, giving this sativa strain its mood-boosting effects, it also carries a THC concentration of 19%.

Typically, sativa and sativa-dominant strains provide more of a mind-stimulating head high. Orange Bud is no different. A few bowls from it will have you feeling energized, which helps get you in the workout mindset—assuming the aroma of orange citrus in its smoke hasn’t already gotten you up and moving.

Power Plant is another great sativa to smoke during your pre-workout. As its name suggests, this sativa-hybrid, with 18% THC, will power you up to go hard in the gym. You could also enjoy Power Plant as part of your post-workout since it has myrcene as its primary terpene.

Why is it a good weed option for exercising? In a mouse study, researchers found that myrcene can reduce inflammation and relieve pain. The other primary terpene in Power Plant is beta-caryophyllene, another terpene said to alleviate post-workout aches.

Pineapple Donut is an excellent strain for smokers who feel invigorated by the scent of citrus. Thanks to its uplifting and energizing effects that also relieve sore muscles, this sativa strain can also be ideal for post-workout smokes.

Pineapple Donut is one of the best sativa-hybrid strains for exercise because you can use it before or after your workout. This sativa dominant hybrid boasts around 28% THC and provides a solid yet clear-headed cerebral high that leaves you feeling uplifted and focused. It's perfect if you need to get into the workout mindset and concentrate on getting through your reps at the gym.

Pineapple Donut may also relieve pain and inflammation since myrcene is its dominant terpene, which is said to have analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties. This sativa-hybrid also has limonene, a known mood-boosting terpene, which gives Pineapple Donut its tropical fruit flavor and aroma.