How’s this for cannabis news? When cannabis can be used to power batteries and potentially rewrite modern energy, using the plant just to get high may prove to be one of its least impressive benefits.

According to engineering professor David Mitlin of Clarkson University in New York, industrial hemp, which is the non-psychoactive cannabis sister to marijuana, can be used to create “extremely efficient batteries” called supercapacitors.

But before all the tech talk ruins your buzz, listen up. It’s actually pretty simple: heating hemp fibers essentially rearranges the plant’s carbon atoms, which creates super thin two-dimensional sheets (nanonsheets), which work like electrodes to conduct electricity. Like, woah, man.

The research follows in the steps of studies on grapheme, which apparently holds the same ability to create nanonsheets and was being looked at to build better solar cells, water filtration systems, touch-screen technology, as well as batteries and supercapacitors. The problem is it’s expensive, the American Chemical Society reported in a press release. But cannabis proved to be not only more efficient than grapheme (a bunch of carbon atoms), but also about 1,000 times less expensive—which is super exciting because that means there’s now more money to buy the other cannabis plant and the ensuing Doritos and Twizzlers.

“Our device’s electrochemical performance is on par with or better than graphene-based devices,” Mitlin said in the ACS press release. “The key advantage is that our electrodes are made from biowaste using a simple process, and therefore, are much cheaper than graphene.”

According to Miltin, hemp supercaps “could largely transform the way electronics are powered going forward.” The technology could mean instant charging abilities—plugging a mobile phone into the wall for mere seconds before it’s completely charged. The thrill of that prospect is enough to get us high and keep us buzzing until the cannabis batteries hit the market.

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There’s a new running aid that’s helping runners perform better. It’s not a sports drink, gel, or powder — it’s weed.

Runners are beginning to use cannabis to prepare them for and get them through their runs. And before you start imagining a scenario where a group of runners are passing around a joint, let us stop you — runners who use weed to run aren’t partaking to get high for the race — they’re using the drug to indirectly help them perform better.

Amanda Feilding, director of The Beckley Foundation, a non-profit in the United Kingdom that examines consciousness and drug policy research, says that many runners are using weed to relax before (as in the night before) or after a race. “Athletes seem motivated to use cannabis due to its effects on anxiety, well-being, and its promotion of better sleep before a race, research finds,” reports R29.

Cannabis also helps runners because it increases impulsive responses. This can allow runners to take more risks on their run without harming their decision making skills. Other studies have revealed that weed can “increase oxygenation of tissues, improve vision and concentration, help athletes forget previous traumatic experiences related to the activity (like falls or injuries), reduce muscle spasms, and aid in pain relief.” Since smoking isn’t the ideal method for runners to get a dose (they’ve got to protect their pristine lungs), many are using edibles, vaporizers, or oral medicine to get the same results.

While all the above sounds pretty amazing, it should be noted that the research in this field is very limited. And weed affects everyone different, so a person needs to do their research (and possibly consult a physician) before they toke and run. Also of note on the con side of running with weed: it’s banned by the World Anti-Doping Agency. So, professional runners: We don’t suggest using this method to encourage a chill run just yet.

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