Why Does Weed Give You The Munchies?

What are The Munchies?

One of the most common side effects of smoking Marijuana is something called ‘The Munchies’. This is a process where after consuming cannabis the user will get an insatiable feeling of hunger, even if the person is full. THC increases our sensitivity to scents and flavours by opening naturally occurring neural networks.

Why do the Munchies Happen?

The cannabinoids that are found in cannabis interact with naturally occurring endocannabinoid receptors in your body. These endocannabinoids are responsible for things like hunger, your metabolism and hormones. When you consume marijuana your receptors become activated which releases hormones triggering the feeling of hunger. Essentially, the receptors being activated sends out ‘the hunger signal’ to the brain.

Strains that Increase Appetite

THC is the active ingredient that increases a consumer’s desire for lots of food when they’re high. The cannabinoids in THC activate the brains central feeding system. Both Indica and Sativa strains can create feelings of hunger after consumption, one of the most popular strains being Purple Kush. If you’re looking for immediate relief you can try Kosher Kush as well!

Strains that can Decrease Appetite

A new trend emerging in the cannabis community is called the ‘marijuana diet’. There is a stigma surrounding cannabis users always being hungry and one would imagine that this would lead to overeating and subsequently, weight gain. Frequent cannabis users produce less insulin which can lead to less glucose being absorbed into the body, resulting in less weight loss. There are certain strains that can actually suppress appetite. If someone is trying to actively lose weight and they’re dealing with a strong food craving they can also get immediate relief by using a concentrate like Girl Scout Cookies.