It is well known that cannabis causes the so-called “munchies,” a strong desire to eat whether you are hungry or not. Now the effect has also been scientifically proven.
The study involved 82 volunteers aged 21 to 62. Participants were randomly assigned to either vape 20 or 40 milligrams of cannabis, or a placebo.
Regardless of how long it had been since they last ate, and regardless of gender, BMI, or dose, participants who received cannabis ate significantly more than those who received the placebo.
Rats were also tested
In parallel, a series of studies were conducted on rats. Just like humans, the rats were exposed to cannabis. To get food, they had to press a lever. The cannabis-exposed rats consistently pressed the lever, regardless of whether they had just eaten or not and regardless of the type of food available. The "sober" rats were not nearly as eager to press the lever.
The researchers believe that the study, which is published in the journal PNAS, shows the physiological mechanisms behind appetite stimulation and that the acute food craving is controlled by the brain, not the stomach.
The researchers hope that this knowledge will lead to treatments for people with severe appetite loss. In certain conditions or among some elderly people, lack of appetite can be a major challenge.
Unexpected favorite
“The study supports the idea that cannabis can be used medicinally to increase appetite in people with conditions such as HIV, AIDS, or who are undergoing chemotherapy,” said Carrie Cuttler, a professor of psychology at Washington State University and one of the researchers behind the study, in a press release.
The participants in the human study happily ate carbohydrates, proteins, and snacks. But the most popular was dried meat.
"Beef jerky was one of the things that the participants were most drawn to. I thought it would be chocolate, chips or sweets," Cuttler said, adding that water was also high on the list.
