A study published in the Journal of Cannabis Research and accessible online via the U.S. National Library of Medicine investigated the association between cannabis use and physical activity in the United States.
The research, conducted by researchers from Brigham Young University, examined how cannabis legalization and health status influenced this relationship, using data from the Behavior Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) between 2016 and 2022.
The study found that physical activity among adults increased from 73.16% in 2016 to 75.72% in 2022, while cannabis use rose sharply from 7.48% to 14.71% over the same period. Notably, cannabis use was higher in areas with legalized recreational marijuana (6.5% higher) and legal medical marijuana (0.7% higher) compared to regions where cannabis remained illegal.
After adjusting for factors such as age, sex, race/ethnicity, and health conditions, the odds of being physically active were 24% higher among cannabis users. In states where recreational cannabis was legal, this association was even stronger, with a 47% higher likelihood of physical activity. In contrast, areas with only legalized medical marijuana saw a smaller increase in physical activity, with an odds ratio of 1.05.
The study also highlighted that individuals with chronic medical conditions were generally less likely to be physically active. However, among those who used cannabis, the negative impact of these medical conditions on physical activity was significantly diminished.
These findings suggest that cannabis legalization, particularly for recreational use, may positively influence physical activity, especially for those without chronic medical conditions.
For more information on this study, click here.
