Why Does Cannabis Make You Hungry

We all have that Harold and Kumar moment when we get hungry after smoking weed. Even after our bodies are full, we still have a craving for snacks. This isn’t all our fault, there is a science behind why weed makes us hungry. We’ll look at why weed makes us hungry and what that means for you.

What Is Cannabis?

Cannabis is a plant species in the family Cannabaceae. It includes three primary subspecies: Cannabis sativa, Cannabis indica, and Cannabis ruderalis. Cannabis has been used for a variety of purposes, including for its medicinal and recreational effects. It is also known for its psychoactive compounds, such as tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD).

What Is THC?

Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is a psychoactive compound found in the cannabis plant. It is responsible for the “high” commonly associated with cannabis use. THC acts on the cannabinoid receptors in the brain, which are involved in the regulation of mood, appetite, and other cognitive functions. The amount of THC in cannabis varies depending on the strain, with some strains having higher levels of THC than others.

What Is CBD?

CBD stands for cannabidiol, which is a naturally occurring compound found in the cannabis plant. CBD is one of many compounds, known as cannabinoids, that are found in the cannabis plant. Unlike the more well-known compound tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), CBD is non-psychoactive, meaning it does not produce the “high” commonly associated with cannabis use.

CBD has become increasingly popular in recent years as a natural remedy for a variety of health conditions, including anxiety, pain, and insomnia. It is also used to manage symptoms of conditions such as multiple sclerosis and help with epilepsy. CBD is available in a variety of forms, including oils, capsules, and topical creams.

Why Do We Get Hungry?

We all experience hunger in different ways, depending on how our bodies are storing energy. When the body senses an excess of energy, the ghrelin hormone is released. Ghrelin then stimulates the brains hypothalamus, which then increases the feeling of hunger in the body. When your body has too little energy, the fat body cells release the leptin hormone. Leptin then stimulates the hypothalamus, which inhibits hunger and affects both the VTA and dopamine release. The more leptin the body produces, the less hungry we feel.

Why Does Marijuana Make You Hungry?

There are a variety of reasons why smoking cannabis can make you hungry. Certain cannabinoids in the herb can affect the brain, leading to messages that tell the body to eat more. In addition, THC can bind to receptors in the brain that are specifically responsible for sensing food smells and flavors. When you consume cannabis, your brain pays more attention to these stimuli, making them seem more intense and causing you to become ravenous.

The chemical THC increases dopamine levels in the brain, just as alcohol does. This can lead to decreased inhibitions and a tendency to make questionable food choices when high. It also encourages overeating, which we always regret later.

Cannabis doesn’t just stop there, it also increases the ghrelin in our brain, which tells the brain that an organism is hungry, and this in turn causes the brain to tell the body to be hungry when it doesn’t need to be. Another part of the brain THC interacts with to cause hunger are the POMC neurons. The hypothalamus is a part of the brain which connects the nervous system with the endocrine system, and it plays a role in hunger, thirst, body temperature, sleep and circadian rhythm. The hypothalamic pro-opiomelanocortin neuron (POMC) are the neurons that provide the sensation of satiety, which when cannabis is smoked changes their purpose and becomes responsible for the sensation of hunger. Instead of promoting a hormone that provides the sensation of being full, it begins to promote another hormone which stimulates appetite, leading to cannabis causing the brain to tell the body to be hungry when it doesn’t need to be.

Marijuana As An Appetite Stimulant

When considering why weed makes you hungry when you’re sick, it has been well documented that cannabis increases one’s appetite. This has led to cannabis being used medicinally for those who suffer from the inability to eat due to illness. Those suffering from things such as cancer, anorexia or wasting syndrome have all found success using marijuana to help with a suppressed appetite.

Studies have shown that cancer patients who use marijuana to help with appetite experience significant improvements in their quality of life. A specific study showed that those patients who took THC pills for 18 days experienced a 73% increase in appreciation for food and 64% reported an increase in overall appetite. This suggests that cannabis can be a valuable tool for improving the lives of those suffering from cancer symptoms.

Cannabis can help patients who suffer from wasting syndrome regain weight, which is often a sign of cancer or AIDS. Studies have shown that cannabis can help the body burn more calories, which can help patients eat the necessary amount of calories and sometimes gain weight which the body needs to survive during diseases. This makes cannabis one of the few options for patients suffering from such conditions to be able to eat without any harsh side effects.

Does CBD Make You Hungry

Unlike THC, CBD does not cause the “munchies.” CBD interacts with various areas of the brain and endocannabinoid system differently than THC does, but that doesn’t mean it doesn’t have an impact on helping the body increase appetite in other ways.

CBD is one of the most powerful tools for relieving pain and reducing stress, which can lead to feeling healthier and having a stronger appetite. When we take CBD, it can help with relieving nausea and also calming the nervous system down during times of panic or stress. When you are feeling less sick or aren’t as stressed after taking CBD, you are more likely to regain those sensations of wanting to eat to help restore energy and balance out your hormones. CBD’s ability to release tension can directly effect the body’s desire to consume food, giving the digestive system a chance to revive itself after being bogged down by discomfort. This allows for CBD users to be able to consume food on a more regular basis.