​​​​​​​Why Does Cannabis Give You Munchies?

Have you ever smoked and then were starving right after? If you said "yes," you've had the munchies. We know that, after lighting up, you didn't intend to consume enough food to last a week. You're not alone, after all. The increase in hunger also referred to as "the munchies," is one of the marijuana side effects that receives the most attention.

What exactly happens to your body—and appetite—when you use marijuana, then?

What makes you get munchies after consuming cannabis?

Although the reason why individuals get the munchies is not fully known, scientists are getting closer to the answer. One of the possibilities is that THC (tetrahydrocannabinol), the chemical that causes the high, may cause an increase in appetite. THC attaches to receptors in the endocannabinoid system in our bodies, influencing appetite. This is because the system regulates a wide range of functions, including hunger. It appears that olfactory cells are affected, boosting odor detection and increasing appetite.

THC fits into receptors in the brain's olfactory bulb, dramatically enhancing the animals' ability to smell food and driving them to eat more of it, according to a study conducted on mice. THC improves the flavor and aroma of the dish.

The study discusses the relationship between THC and the cannabinoid 1 (CB1) receptor. The peripheral cortical glutamatergic neurons that extend to the inhibitory granule cells of the primary olfactory bulb have many of these receptors on their axon terminals (MOB). To put it another way, THC can connect to these cells, heightening the sense of smell and increasing desire and food intake.

Mice were provided with oils to smell throughout this study. Olfactory habituation is how someone becomes accustomed to a scent and stops being interested in it over time. The mice who received THC continued to smell and consumed more food than the other mice. According to the paper, this indicates that the THC increased both appetite and sensitivity to smell.

The researcher reportedly went a step further and provided THC to specific mice genetically altered to lack a cannabinoid receptor in their olfactory bulb before putting them through the same experiment. The mice grew accustomed to the smell, meaning neither their sensitivity nor appetite increased. This emphasizes the function THC has on the olfactory lobe even more.

Another possible reason for munchies after consuming cannabis is the influence of cannabinoids on the messages that the ghrelin molecule sends. Ghrelin is a hunger-related molecule found in the hypothalamus. This implies that cannabinoids cause you to feel hungry because they aid in transmitting that message.

According to one study, cannabinoids trigger alterations in the hypothalamus of mice. The hypothalamus is in charge of many of our innate hunger chemistry in humans.

Marijuana also affects our pleasure reward system, which could explain why we get the munchies. Do you understand that when individuals are high, they favor junk food over healthier options? According to Lift.co, the junk food we eat during the munchies stimulates the release of endorphins, which also make the food pleasurable.

Weed enhances our appreciation of things we already like. Weed boosts our appetite, makes already-good food more enticing, and improves the taste of food when we consume it.

How much food will I want to consume?

How starving you feel is determined by the amount of cannabis consumed and how it was ingested. When you smoke a cannabis joint, your blood THC level rises significantly, resulting in more hunger than if you ate an edible. Because edibles must be digested, whichever food is currently in your system will impede THC absorption until it reaches the brain. Inhalation may take five to ten minutes. However, ingestion can take about 2 hours.

How do I deal with the munchies?

When you get the munchies, marijuana boosts the rewarding aspect of the food you consume. High-calorie fats, salts, and sugars are favorites of our brains. We produce more dopamine in reaction to those foods than to any other. This is why you invariably reach for a bag of chips or a slice of pizza when you get the munchies.

Ideally, you should consume fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. Opt for healthier alternatives containing sweets or salts to fulfill those cannabis-induced cravings.

Consider stocking your fridge with healthy, filling foods that hit those sweet, salty, and calorie-dense regions. Guacamole, nuts, sushi, melons, cherries, hummus with veggie sticks, or nutritious bean burritos are all delicious substitutes for bacon, sundaes, or doughnuts.

When you are high, it may seem impossible to pause wherever your stomach takes you, but experts recommend being proactive and planning your snack alternatives, so you don't eat the unhealthiest foods. When you have a variety of nutritious snacks on hand, you're less likely to go to the convenience store and wipe out the snack aisle.

Another approach for controlling your hunger is to limit your THC consumption. Many goods in state-regulated dispensaries must be lab-tested and marked with the amount of THC and CBD they contain. It would help if you determined the appropriate THC dosage for yourself. You want to find a sweet spot in the quantity that gives you the desired impact without giving you uncontrollable munchies.

You might wish to try THCV and CBD-rich strains. As previously stated, THCV, also known as "diet cannabis," can provide a strong, invigorating high while suppressing hunger.

Final Word on the Munchies

The fascinating and ongoing study of cannabis has led to various hypotheses regarding why we experience the munchies. It appears that THC attaches to our CB1 receptor, heightening our sense of smell and making us hungry. Cannabis use may enhance the flavor and aroma of food, causing us to eat more. Additionally, evidence supports the idea that marijuana use can alter the signals that ghrelin sends, making us feel hungry. Whatever the cause, you don't have to let your munchies rule your life. You can divert your attention, eat a healthier snack, or select a strain that is high in CDB or THCV.

When it's time to get the munchies, choose your favorites from Callie's Menu.