Hungry? Well, you might be experiencing one of the most delectable effects of cannabis: the munchies. This phenomenon accelerates hunger and enhances the marijuana experience. A fun ritual for many consumers who will pair their favorite foods to enjoy after getting stoned. Whether carbs, sweets or salty treats, people have their own unique go-to’s.
It turns out that extreme hunger is perfectly normal according to science. A study from Yale University found that when activated by cannabis, the neurons in your brain that normally suppress appetite fool it into feeling hungry. Tamas Horvath, researcher and professor of comparative medicine at Yale, says: “cells that would normally promote your fullness became the drivers of hunger… cannabinoids flipped the brain circuit.”
The cannabinoids bond with CB1 receptors in our brain, enhancing smell and effectively stimulating taste and boosting dopamine. Like aromatherapy, the terpenes in cannabis are “essential oils” that can help tie munchies to certain satiating foods. Indica, which has more of a body high, seems to prompt heavier snacking. Sativa strains, inducing terpenes with a sweeter sensation, could lead to munchies that crave something more savory (the opposite). One who normally has a sweet tooth might prefer salty snacks like chips after consuming edibles.
Research shows cannabis stimulates the production of ghrelin, the hunger hormone. While this exists in both men and women, women usually have more of it than men. Oddly, according to research from Margaret Haney, a neurobiology professor at Columbia University Medical Center, munchies actually affect men more than women. In trials, males showed more hunger sensitivity than women - more stimulated appetites across the board. Changes in food intake are part of “the myriad of effects associated with cannabis” according to Haney, and that extra chromosome justifies another scoop of ice cream.
.png)
