Runners High: Cannabis, Physical Activity, and Mental Health

New Mexico—land of enchantment, and home to some of the most physically active people in the nation. Here, getting outdoors isn’t just a weekend plan; it’s part of life itself. Maybe it’s the endless hiking trails, the towering Sandia Mountains, or the high-altitude air that forces you to breathe a little deeper. New Mexicans move, and they move often. But there’s an unexpected twist in this story—a surprising partnership taking shape between physical activity and cannabis.

Enter Dr. Jonathon Lisano, a Colorado-born researcher with a Ph.D. in Integrative Physiology. Since 2015, he’s been knee-deep in understanding how cannabis affects health, from immune function to pain relief, going far beyond your average stoner lore. Today, he’s based at CUChange Lab, where he’s asking a bold question: Could physical activity actually shift how cannabis impacts mental health? And if so, is there a magic mix between the two that might ease stress and boost well-being?

Let’s take a step back. Lisano’s study is no average cannabis experiment. He gathered participants with mild anxiety, stress, and even a bit of depression—folks who turn to cannabis to take the edge off—and tossed in an extra variable: physical activity. His study didn’t just observe them in clinical isolation; it looked at how cannabis functioned for people breaking a sweat or those barely moving from the couch. This was real life, a glimpse at how lifestyle might change the way cannabis does its thing.

Now, here’s where it gets interesting. Turns out, every participant using cannabis saw some reduction in anxiety and stress—but not all strains worked the same way. For those reaching for CBD-heavy products, there was good news: it provided steady mental health boosts across all activity levels, benefiting both fitness fanatics and couch surfers alike. But THC had a mind of its own, throwing a curveball: the biggest mental lift was for the less active participants, possibly because they had more room for improvement in their mental health. As for the THC-CBD blend, it hit the sweet spot for those clocking in moderate activity levels—those logging some steps but not exactly training for triathlons.

In New Mexico, this should come as no surprise. Physical activity isn’t just an option here; it’s practically a way of life. The mountains, the desert trails, the endless outdoor playground—being active feels like a requirement. In 2023, Albuquerque ranked among the top 50 most active cities in the U.S. according to a WalletHub survey, and the state’s dynamic lifestyle could mean that New Mexicans are tapping into something extraordinary by blending an active lifestyle with mindful cannabis use.

Lisano’s work measured progress with a combination of psychological and physiological assessments, giving hard data to what’s often only anecdotal in cannabis discussions. Participants’ anxiety, depression, and stress levels were tracked using standardized scales like the Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7) and the Depression Anxiety Stress Scales (DASS-21), which gave clear metrics on mental health. Physical activity was tracked with accelerometers, recording daily movement intensity to categorize each participant as sedentary, moderately active, or highly active. And, of course, they documented cannabis use itself, recording type, frequency, and any perceived changes in symptoms.

So, what’s the takeaway? Cannabis alone won’t solve everything. But cannabis and movement, together, could be a perfect pre-workout, but is it a good idea to move around while under the influence? Cannabis, particularly THC, tends to impair hand-eye coordination and motor skills by affecting brain regions responsible for movement control, resulting in slowed reaction times and reduced precision. While physical activity generally supports motor function, it’s unclear if it offsets these THC-related effects. In therapeutic contexts, cannabis has shown temporary benefits for motor issues in Parkinson’s patients, though this is generally specific to symptom relief rather than enhancement of baseline coordination​

Lisano’s research is still carving out the path. What if frequent cannabis use actually fuels our desire to move more? Could a small hit help someone begin their fitness journey or put us in the headspace to tackle the next big lift? In New Mexico, where active lives meet a culture that’s opening its doors to cannabis, we just might have the perfect testing ground to find out.