Contrary to the popular stereotype, US researchers have discovered cannabis can help reduce fatigue among users.
A team from the University of Mexico used the Releaf app to measure the effects of cannabis flower products on fatigue levels in real-time.
Data from almost 4,000 self-administrated cannabis sessions was collected from 1,224 people, with 91% of respondents who used cannabis to treat fatigue reporting symptom improvement.
Those who smoked the flower reported greater symptom relief than those using pipes or vaporisers.
In previous studies, people with chronic pain, cancer, Parkinson’s disease and multiple sclerosis have reported increased energy levels after consuming medicinal cannabis.
Published in the journal Medical Cannabis and Cannabinoids, the study found that using cannabis resulted in an immediate improvement in energy levels for the majority of users.
On average, they experienced a 3.5 point improvement in feelings of fatigue on a 0-10 scale.
Co-author associate professor Jacob Miguel Vigil said: “Despite the conventional beliefs that frequent cannabis use may result in decreased behavioural activity, goal-pursuit, and competitiveness… people tend to actually experience an immediate boost in their energy levels immediately after consuming cannabis.”
Co-author associate professor Sarah Stith added: “One of the most surprising outcomes of this study is that cannabis, in general, yielded improvements in symptoms of fatigue, rather than just a subset of products, such as those with higher THC or CBD levels or products characterised as sativa rather than indica.”
