Project Title
Does Marijuana Affect Exercise Frequency
Faculty Mentor(s) Name(s)
Brooke Conaway
Abstract
Over the previous 10 years, legal access to marijuana has increased; currently, 21 states permit the drug's recreational use. If marijuana use is increasing, this may have opposing effects on one of the primary determinants of health - exercise. If marijuana use increases “laziness,” it may reduce the frequency of exercise. Alternatively, exercise frequency may increase if people use it for recovery and stamina. I use the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health (Add Health), 1994-2018, Wave IV: In-Home Questionnaire to test whether marijuana use affects exercise frequency. Using an ordinary least squares regression technique and controlling for other relevant factors, I find that marijuana use increases one’s likelihood of engaging in physical exercise that breaks a sweat. This result is valuable because it goes against the previous literature and suggests marijuana could have unintended benefits.
Does Marijuana Affect Exercise Frequency
Over the previous 10 years, legal access to marijuana has increased; currently, 21 states permit the drug's recreational use. If marijuana use is increasing, this may have opposing effects on one of the primary determinants of health - exercise. If marijuana use increases “laziness,” it may reduce the frequency of exercise. Alternatively, exercise frequency may increase if people use it for recovery and stamina. I use the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health (Add Health), 1994-2018, Wave IV: In-Home Questionnaire to test whether marijuana use affects exercise frequency. Using an ordinary least squares regression technique and controlling for other relevant factors, I find that marijuana use increases one’s likelihood of engaging in physical exercise that breaks a sweat. This result is valuable because it goes against the previous literature and suggests marijuana could have unintended benefits.