Cannabis use has long been associated with an increase in appetite, often called “the munchies.” Joking aside, a number of studies done in the 1970s and 1980s showed that subjects given THC had increased intake of food, primarily snack foods if people were given a choice.1,2 Scientific research shows that cannabinoid receptors play a role in food consumption and, by activating these receptors, hunger may result.3,4 Synthetic cannabinoids (such as dronabinol) have been shown in studies to enhance appetite, cause weight gain and stabilize body weight in AIDS patients.5
I have evaluated thousands of patients for the use of medical cannabis and many patients report increased appetite as one of the many benefits, although not every patient feels this effect. Poor appetite may result from cancer treatment, side effects of medication, severe anxiety and/or depression, gastrointestinal conditions and anorexia nervosa. Being able to feel hunger and have an interest in and enjoy food is normal for humans. It can be quite depressing when you can’t eat and enjoy food. Cannabis can restore these feelings and can enhance quality of life for these patients.
In a previous chapter we learned that THC binds to the cannabinoid receptors in our brains, but that CBD does not act directly at these receptors. What I have found in my medical practice is that many who use THC feel hunger and report that food tastes exceptionally good. My patients using CBD do not report the same feelings of hunger with its use. This makes sense because THC and CBD work differently in the brain. However, chronically ill patients, such as those patients with severe epilepsy, report that overall appetite is enhanced when CBD is used on a regular daily schedule. This is thought to be due to the fact that when your endocannabinoid system becomes stabilized, basic human functions, such as sleeping and eating, become more balanced.
If you are a patient who has unwanted hunger with the use of cannabis, there are a few things that you can do to try to avoid or control this effect. The first thing to try is to switch the chemovar of cannabis that you are using as different chemovars can have different effects on hunger. If this doesn’t work, you should assure yourself that you are not really hungry and that the sensation of hunger is just a side effect of the cannabis medication. Drinking water and eating healthy snacks, such as apples or carrots, will help curb your appetite. Some patients have found that adding CBD to their cannabis regimen can lower appetite stimulation. The best advice is to not have unhealthy snacks in your house. If they aren’t there, you can’t eat them!
If you are worried about gaining weight with cannabis use, the results of a study done in 2013 should put your mind at ease. Researchers found that “the prevalence of obesity is paradoxically much lower in cannabis users as compared to non-users, and this difference is not accounted for by tobacco smoking status and is still present after adjusting for variables such as sex and age.”6,7
Hollister LE. Hunger and appetite after single doses of marihuana, alcohol, and dextroamphetamine. Clin Pharmacol Ther 1971; 12: 44–49.
Foltin, Richard W., Marian W. Fischman, and Maryanne F. Byrne. “Effects of smoked marijuana on food intake and body weight of humans living in a residential laboratory.” Appetite 11.1 (1988): 1-14.
Herkenham, M. A. B. L., et al. “Cannabinoid receptor localization in brain.” Proceedings of the national Academy of sciences 87.5 (1990): 1932-1936.
Williams, Claire M., Peter J. Rogers, and Tim C. Kirkham. “Hyperphagia in pre-fed rats following oral Δ 9-THC.” Physiology & Behavior 65.2 (1998): 343-346.
Beal, Jeffrey E., et al. “Dronabinol as a treatment for anorexia associated with weight loss in patients with AIDS.” Journal of pain and symptom management 10.2 (1995): 89-97.
Le Foll, Bernard, et al. “Cannabis and Δ 9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) for weight loss?.” Medical hypotheses 80.5 (2013): 564-567.>
Di Marzo, V. “The endocannabinoid system in obesity and type 2 diabetes.” Diabetologia 51.8 (2008): 1356-1367.