Cannabis, Cycling & Performance: Exploring Athletic Benefits with OFFFIELD's Tony Fur
Six years ago, my life revolved around alcohol. My career was my only focus, but in reality, everything I did was just a way to justify drinking that day. Quitting alcohol became one of the most transformative decisions of my life—and strangely enough, cannabis played a huge role in making it possible.
I first heard about using cannabis to treat alcohol dependence on one of Paul Churchill's Recovery Elevator podcasts. The story was about a clinic somewhere in Scandinavia that was seeing success using it to help people break the cycle of addiction. That idea stuck with me, and sure enough, cannabis helped me slow down, become more self-aware, and recognize my patterns. Low doses became a ritual, something that eased anxiety and helped me stay present. It allowed me to function, not as an escape, but as a tool for balance. The key, I quickly learned, was dosage—the benefits aren't the same when cannabis is just a party drug.
Fast-forward a few years and my life looks completely different. My family and I now live on Vancouver Island—my bike has become one of the most important things in my life. Early on, I started noticing how cannabis improved my cycling experience. It wasn't just about feeling more relaxed and enjoying the ride—over time, I saw real performance benefits. Less pain meant I could push harder. Longer. Recover faster.
If you tell most people that cannabis is an athletic performance enhancer, they'll laugh. The couch-potato stereotype is so ingrained in society that the idea of using THC or CBD for endurance sports seems completely ridiculous. But I knew what I was experiencing was real. Every time I combined low-dose cannabis with a hard workout—whether it was a 100k gravel ride or a 5k trail run—I finished feeling like a new person.
So when I stumbled upon OFFFIELD, a cannabis brand from Los Angeles making products specifically for runners, I was floored. Finally, someone else was speaking the language I'd been trying to articulate for years. Not only does OFFFIELD make gummies (both psychoactive and non-psychoactive) for athletes, but they're also working to dismantle the myths around cannabis and performance.
This isn't a product review—I wasn't able to try their gummies firsthand. But I did have an incredible conversation with OFFFIELD founder Tony Fur about cannabis, THC, and what they mean for endurance sports. Here's our chat.
How did OFFFIELD become a thing?
After suffering a back injury from the lamest reason possible—sitting at a desk for too many years. I was told that I will not be able to run again and will have to get surgery in the coming year. I was laid out on the floor with a newborn I couldn't play with, a prescription for opioids I refused to take, and clients demanding my attention, you could say I was pretty miserable. When I got back on my feet, I told Todd Hunter, my business partner of 13 years at the time, I needed to make some changes in my life. He looked at me and said “That's great, but can I do it with you? I don't think you've noticed but I've put on 80 pounds and my doctor is also concerned.” So we took it on together. A few things were happening that all came together for us:
At the time, we ran an advertising agency representing brands like Nike, Chipotle, and ABInBev. A big part of our success was our ability to immerse ourselves in the industries we represented; company history, market trends, and their influence in culture. We were also big advocates for the future of cannabis. Being based in California and having worked in the alcohol industry, the post-prohibition era was exciting for us.
While working with Nike, consulting for our first cannabis brand, and discussing how we would improve our health, we came across a new body of research connecting the “Runner's High” to the Endocannabinoid System. This intrigued us, so we began learning more, experimenting on ourselves, and in the process, changed our lives.
Since then, Todd lost over 80 pounds and became an avid tennis player. I never took a single opioid, nor did I have surgery. Better yet, I proved my doctor wrong after completing a triathlon and marathon on our journey building OFFFIELD.
How do you describe OFFFIELD?
We believe an open mind and an active life is a better prescription for self-care. The foundation of our company is based on groundbreaking research in the intersection of cannabinoids and human performance. By being able to regulate both mind and body through a plant-based approach, we have discovered more adults can enjoy being more physically active. We are not under any impression that our products alone will change lives, but we are confident that improving the level of enjoyment of exercise will.
Can cyclists enjoy the benefits of your products as much as runners do?
Absolutely! Our products are formulated for strength and endurance training across all disciplines. Runners were the first to notice the effect and coined the term 'Runner's High' which we see referenced in pop culture. In truth, it should be titled an Exercise High as it is biologically the same. In this case, a Cycling High!
There's growing evidence connecting cannabinoids to the runner's high. Can you explain the science?
The Exercise High has two distinct markers: a sense of euphoria and reduction of inflammation in the joints. For endurance sports, mental fatigue can overwhelm the athlete, making something enjoyable feel miserable. Cannabinoids can regulate mood just as the body naturally does, allowing you to elevate your experience mentally. Physically, managing inflammation is key for pain relief and volume training. The Endocannabinoid System is one of many ways your body regulates inflammation, but it is a powerful one.
How do you see THC improving the enjoyment of cycling, similar to the runner's high?
THC is only one cannabinoid that gets a lot of attention. Which it should! But too much THC can downregulate your ECS, resulting in less ability for your natural system. It's important not to ignore the other cannabinoids that help manage pain without downregulating, like a high quality CBD and CBG. THC however, is the cannabinoid known for euphoric effects. This requires a precise dose which changes for each individual. Much like caffeine, we don't know exactly how much coffee to drink when first starting. We recommend that people start low and work their way up when it comes to cannabinoid supplementation. There is no risk in trying too little with no effect. So, start with a low dose and with each training session add more until you find your sweet spot. Once you do, you're good to go. We've found that on average it takes about 2-3 tries, with the majority of our customers preferring a dose of THC between 2-5mg.
Recovery is key for cyclists—how do your products support faster recovery and reduce muscle soreness?
Inflammation management and improved sleep quality. If you can improve those two markers alone, you'll do great. The Endocannabinoid System (ECS) has receptors throughout our body. One of the key responsibilities of the ECS is to manage inflammation. It has been found that CBD and CBG are two of the best cannabinoids at lowering inflammation, which means reduced muscle soreness—letting you get out there more often.
Could you share more about how cannabis might increase focus, concentration, and mind-body awareness?
The Endocannabinoid System (ECS) connects our brain and body (mind and muscle). It's a complex biological system discovered in the early 1990s while studying THC's effects. It regulates homeostasis, mood, appetite, inflammation and other functions through cannabinoid receptors (CB1 and CB2). These receptors bind with cannabinoids to trigger cellular responses, maintaining balance and supporting overall physiological processes. By lowering anxiety and stress, you can improve performance. Overthinking can be a huge difference in calorie consumption. Your brain is only 2% of your body but takes 20% of your energy. Many people don't realize this—thinking burns calories. Being locked in or zoned out—whatever you want to call it—improves calorie management.
What are the biggest misconceptions athletes and the public have about THC for performance and recovery?
Many people can't believe it was illegal to research cannabis and its effects during prohibition. That means modern science in the US has not yet gotten their hands on it as it is still classified as a Schedule 1 controlled substance. Only in the last decade has real research been taking place in international universities. Much of what we learned about cannabis from previous generations was based on policy—not research. In truth, athletes are more familiar with the benefits of THC than the general public or the general medical establishment. They understand their bodies and can feel what works and what doesn't. They know that when applied responsibly, it is another tool in their toolbox for performance and recovery, with far fewer negative side effects than those accepted by the general public.
How do you envision the future of cannabis in sports, especially for endurance activities like cycling and running?
I see cannabis in the same way as my caffeine intake. I know exactly how much I need to take to perform my best. If I take too much, I don't feel well. If I take too little, it has no effect. But once I know what works for me, I perform my best.
Are there plans for cycling-specific products or collaborations in the future?
Our products are already designed for cyclists. Since we are a small company focused on research and development, we don't have the luxury of marketing across all sports, however, we plan to! For now, running is a great form of conditioning for all athletes, including cyclists. We see running as the entry point for many people to find what they love doing. It might continue to be running. It might be cycling. It might be rock climbing.
