Why does cannabis give people the munchies?

Most people who have experienced an increase in appetite at some point. Not all strains give you this effect and some even act as an appetite suppressant, but why?

To understand why our body reacts like this, we must first start to understand the Endocannabinoid system (ECS), specifically the receptors. ECS exists in every person, wether they partake in cannabis or not and scientist are just beginning to explore why. The ENS is broken up into three parts. The endocannabinoids, endocannabinoid receptors, and enzymes. The receptors can be found all over our body and are usually categorized into two main parts: CB1 and CB2. The activated compound tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is one of the main reasons we can experience this appetite inducing effect cannabis brings on. THC binds to CB1, which can be found in the stomach (increasing levels of ghrelin) and different parts of the brain (Basal Ganglia, Limbric Forebrain, Hypothalamus, and Rhombencephalon) that help regulate food intake and increase eating pleasure.

Can cannabis cause weight gain?

There is conflicting research on wether or not cannabis make us gain/loss weight but I think a lot of it has to do with what habits a person has. Theres a rabbit hole of information we can get into there too but as a long-time cannabis user I have found the quality matters the most when picking a food to chow down on. If our brain associates junk food with munchies and we eat too much heavily processed &/or calorie dense food, we’ll inevitably see a negative impact to our health. However, if we decide to fill our munchie cravings with nutrient rich foods, we can just as satisfied without the side effects! I personally love a balance, and I find many times after I get lifted I tend to want foods that will nourish me rather than make me sick because the cannabis helps me think about it deeper.

Snack List

Everyones snack-attack list is very unique, so when the munchies hit, it’s really your chance to get creative in the kitchen. Some of the best recipes come from cleaning out the kitchen fridge, and the creative spark cannabis induces helps us play with flavor and try new things. All of the recipes I share on my page are just as yummy without the infusion so feel free to explore and try out some of those! However, if you’re looking for a quick snack when the munchies and the indica has you in a coach lock, this ones for you. These are also great for after you’ve put in the work to make a beautiful infused dinner! Whatever it is, these easy-to-make nourishing snacks take less than a minute to create and will help satisfy those cravings!

An ever-growing list of non-infused foods to make when the munchies hit:

• Rice Crispy Cereal with milk of choice, agave syrup, and cinnamon (basically cinnamon toast crunch)
• Vanilla yogurt with blueberries, honey, almond butter, and cinnamon
• Grilled Cheese with Avocado and Tomato Soup
• Avocado toast w/ salt, black pepper, and turmeric. Optional lemon zest or kimchi
• Toast, cream cheese, and kimchi. Garnish with turmeric and black pepper
• Crustini w/ spread and veg of choice
• Warm Tea
• Hummus without the infusion
• French bread, brie cheese, and berries or fig
• Toasted peanut butter, honey, and banana sandwich (add bacon if you’re feeling frisky)
• Udon noodles with mushrooms, soy sauce, garlic and ginger
• Buttered noodles with parmesan cheese, salt, and pepper
• Literally anything you can put hot sauce on
• Hear me out – Toaster Grilled Cheese or “Pizza” – Add you ingredient to the inside of the bread- either press and seal the sides or simply fold it in half- then stick it in the toaster. Truly a snack on the go or for the lazy late night chef!
• Oatmeal, Nut butter, Honey, Fruit &/or Chocolate Chips