As marijuana continues its battle for legalization all over the world, more and more athletes are becoming aware of the fact that smoking marijuana has an extensive list of health advantages that can be used as a training aid. While there are a lot of regulations regarding the use of marijuana, there are still lingering questions like how effective is it as part of the training regimen and how long does weed stay in the system of an athlete?
Since marijuana is known to cause stress relief and improve mood among other things, it comes as no surprise that many athletes are turning to this wonder weed to help them with their training regimen. Hardcore athletes are starting to welcome different methods to enhance their performance whether through smoking or the use of vapors, edibles, and energy bars laced with cannabis extract.
Advantages of Ingesting Marijuana as an Athlete
Consuming marijuana as an athlete differs from consuming weed recreationally. Athletes who turn to smoke or ingesting weed will have their dosages regulated to a certain level so that it will not fully affect their performance. A high dose of cannabis in their system would ultimately mean impaired performance and reduced motor skills. Studies have shown that smoking marijuana decreases blood flow into the brain but it has also shown that it divers the blood flow to a different area of the brain that controls decision-making, emotion, and perception.
With this study, athletes who indulge in sports about quick and complex decision-making are more likely to do well. This would still depend on the type of marijuana you would be smoking.
Athletes of high-risk sports train in different ways and sometimes these regimens can be very difficult for the body. One of the best things that marijuana can do for the athlete is its ability to reduce chronic pain. Athletes who endure pain during their training period will never have to worry about pain if they can manage it with the help of marijuana. As part of their pain management protocol, this also reduces the amount of time they need to rest and healing. It counteracts the effects of THC by inducing mental clarity but still provide the miraculous pain-relieving effect.ย
Another great reason why athletes turn to marijuana for better performance is that it allows proper rest. The anxiolytic effect of cannabis allows for better sleep and rest for many athletes. We all know how rest affects healing and performance for athletes. By achieving a good night’s sleep, athletes heal faster and perform better when they need to. All of these are key to athletes who train to become successful in their chosen field.
How Long Does Weed Stay In The System Of An Athlete?
Since marijuana is still a regulated substance in the US, there is still a certain level of fear and stigma that can cause an athlete to drop the use of marijuana in their training regimen. The question now is how long does weed stay in the system of an athlete before he takes a test. This should allow time for the athlete to prepare themselves and ace the test.
Smoking marijuana is one of the most common ways to experience its cannabinoids effectively. It quickly enters the bloodstream through the lungs and the cannabinoids are distributed throughout the body through the endocannabinoid system.
Chronic marijuana users will need more time to break down the THC in the system. While low-dose users with lesser frequency have a rapid decrease in THC concentration their blood, chronic users who have saturated THC in the tissues will have elevated levels in their blood causing more time for a proper breakdown. This can even take several more days if the dose is high and depends on the strain consumed.
Understanding Testing for Marijuana
To test for THC and other marijuana-related use, testers usually incorporate two categories that will help determine the levels of cannabis in the system.
Understanding testing for marijuana is key to remaining undetected for marijuana use. Another good way is to exercise. Cannabis contains fat-soluble substances which means that they are stored in human fat. Exercise causes the reduction of body fat which also helps get rid of the cannabinoids found in your body. While these may be effective, the best way to pass the test is to avoid using it days or weeks before your scheduled test.
Conclusion
Cannabis use is still a debatable issue in the United States. Whether it helps your training regimen better as an athlete or help reduce the discomforts that would affect you as an athlete, it is still all up to you.ย Knowing how long does weed stay in the system of an athlete is key to staying undetected for marijuana use.ย
