304. Can Cannabis Make Exercise Easier?

304. Can Cannabis Make Exercise Easier?

From How to Do the Pot by Ellen Scanlon

September 2, 2025 · 17 min

About this episode

This episode explores how cannabis may help make exercise easier, particularly for women dealing with pain and anxiety.

Can cannabis actually make exercise easier? In this episode, host Ellen Scanlon is joined by journalist Hilary Achauer, who explored that very question in The New York Times. What she found challenges stereotypes and reveals how cannabis can lower barriers to movement — especially for women. Hilary shares stories of women who discovered that cannabis helped them ease chronic pain, quiet anxiety, and even reframe exercise from punishment into joy. Read “Can Weed Improve a Workout” by Hilary Achauer In this episode: Why cannabis consumers may actually be more active than the general population. How cannabis can help women move through pain and anxiety. The connection between cannabis, body image, and exercise recovery. The surprising science behind the “runner’s high” and your endocannabinoid system. Hosted by Ellen Scanlon Sign up for Ellen’s newsletter on Substack at or at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠dothepot.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow on IG: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@dothepot⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ / FB: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@dothepot⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

People in this episode

Host: Ellen Scanlon

Guest: Hilary Achauer

Topics covered

  • cannabis
  • exercise
  • women's health
  • chronic pain
  • anxiety
  • body image
  • runner's high

Keywords

  • cannabis
  • exercise
  • women
  • chronic pain
  • anxiety
  • runner's high
  • body image

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: The New York Times

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