Marijuana & Muscles: The Bodybuilding Benefits of Marijuana Supplementation*
By Ross Erstling
I've been supplementing with a remarkable medicinal herb called Cannabis, most commonly known as Marijuana, for the past 10 years. The leaves and flowers of the herb are dried and ground up in to a fine preparation, to be rolled in a cigarette paper as a "joint"(or cigar, which is known as a "blunt") or to be consumed via a pipe or bong.
The effects are strong and very enjoyable. I feel relaxed yet ENERGETIC, creative, focused, philosophical/thoughtful, and a general feeling of well-being and even euphoria. My body feels pleasant and my senses seem to be stimulated(enhanced), so general activities are significantly more gratifying. In addition, activities that are already pleasure-inducing such as sex(and even working out) are even more pleasurable while under the influence of Marijuana.
The PRIMARY psychoactive is THC(Tetrahydrocannabinol), although Marijuana contains HUNDREDS of other powerful psychoactive chemicals that are classified as "cannabinoids". However, because these other psychoactives have significantly lower burning temperatures, it is primarily THC only that is absorbed in the body. Furthermore, It has been shown that the primary active component of cannabis, Δ9-THC, is converted to the more psychoactive 11-hydroxy-THC by the liver. Titration to the desired effect by ingestion is more difficult than through inhalation, due to the long onset time for the effects.
For me, Marijuana is a medical herb that has benefits that extend far beyond the scope of bodybuilding; I'm talking about QUALITY OF LIFE! It has numerous benefits on both, mental and physical health, all of which drastically outweigh the small potentially negative effects. In this thread however, I want to discuss how it benefits me as a BODYBUILDER, and why I think everyone should incorporate Marijuana in to their supplement regimen...
Using Marijuana before your workout will increase athletic performance, which was recently proven in a study that I'm trying to find right now as I write this(high). The study concluded that Marijuana "puts you in the 'zone'", most likely as a result of increased creativity, decreased levels of stress and anxiety, and a general feeling of well-being or euphoria. In addition, the MIND-MUSCLE connection is extremely strong, most likely due to dual hemisphere brain activation which only occurs while you are "high". In other words, when you're high, your brain activity changes, and regions of the brain that are normally inactive are now active, and other parts which are not usually SIMULTANEOUSLY active, now are. Essentially, you are experiencing enhanced cognitive abilities, which allows you to experience a greater awareness/perception of the connection between MIND AND BODY.
I also like to smoke post-workout in order to relax, reduce stress(and cortisol), while stimulating my appetite. After I consume a large meal, I will usually wait a few hours and then smoke again so that I can experience a HIGH QUALITY SLEEP. The better(and more) you sleep, the faster your muscles can recover and grow. I work out at night and always have, for this precise reason.
If you have not yet tried Marijuana, I can not stress enough the importance of experimenting for yourself. There are copious misconceptions of Marijuana that still affect some people's perception of the herb and it's use, which is rather unfortunate. Much like Anabolic Steroids, those who have not tried Marijuana will most likely have a general misunderstanding of this remarkable medical gift from nature.
