Introduction
Interest in the use of cannabinoids among athletes is increasing. In a recent meta-analysis of > 46,000 athletes, ~23% had used cannabis and/or cannabinoids in the past year [Cannabidiol (CBD) is a non-intoxicating cannabinoid that is commonly found in products promoting recovery. CBD acts through multiple mechanisms, and the extent of its molecular targets continues to be investigated. CBD is not a primary ligand of cannabinoid type 1 or type 2 receptors but may influence their signaling by modifying endocannabinoid tone [Cannabigerol (CBG) is another cannabinoid that is increasingly found in products promoting recovery but, to our knowledge, has not been investigated in clinical studies. CBG could have anti-inflammatory properties because of its effects on adrenergic, 5-HT, TRPV, and cannabinoid receptors [While scientific data on the anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties of CBD and CBG are accumulating, new products containing these hemp-derived cannabinoids are already being developed and sold. One strategy to optimize the effect on recovery of products containing CBD and CBG is to include other, commercially available, compounds that have recovery-enhancing properties. For example, beta caryophyllene (BCP) is a sesquiterpene (a type of terpene, or aromatic compound) found in cannabis and other plants that could have beneficial effects on recovery due to its anti-inflammatory effects, and its analgesic effects when combined with CBD [