Why Weed Gives You the Munchies (Scientists Found the Switch)

You just ate. You’re not even hungry. And yet, 20 minutes after a session, you’re standing in front of the fridge eating cereal out of the box. The munchies aren’t in your head, or rather, they are, just not the way you think. Scientists have found the actual switch THC flips in your brain. Here’s how it works, and how to play it smart.

1. THC flips your brain’s “I’m full” switch

Deep in the brain, a group of nerve cells called POMC neurons normally tell you to stop eating once you’re full. In a 2015 study in mice, Yale researchers found that when cannabinoids activate the CB1 receptor, those same neurons flip and start promoting hunger instead of shutting it down (Nature news on Koch et al., 2015).

Translation: the part of your brain that should be saying “you’re full” starts saying “keep going.”

2. Your sense of smell gets turned up

An earlier study in mice, led by researchers in Bordeaux, found that the brain’s cannabinoid receptors in its smell center made hungry animals more sensitive to food odors, and they ate more as a result (Soria-Gómez et al., Nature Neuroscience, 2014, via CORDIS). If pizza smells unreasonably good after a session, that’s why.

3. Food just hits different

Cannabinoids are also active in the brain’s reward system, which is part of why snacks taste better and feel more satisfying while you’re high. Put all three together: you feel hungry, food smells stronger and it tastes better. That’s the munchies.

The munchies game plan

• Prep before you light up. Put out the snacks you actually want to eat, so you’re not raiding the pantry at 1 a.m.
• Drink water. Cottonmouth can feel like hunger.
• Portion it out. Pour a bowl instead of eating out of the bag.
• Stock something fresh. Fruit and cold drinks hit just as hard when your senses are turned up.

Strains that taste like dessert

If you’re going to have the munchies anyway, make the session taste like the snack. On the menu right now:

Mondays: 7g gets you 1g free

Every Monday is Monday Madness. Get 7 grams of flower, any strains mixed, and 1 gram comes free. Two eighths of dessert strains from the table above does it. Going bigger? 14g of flower gets 2g free, and 28g gets 3.5g free, any day of the week. You get the biggest gift you qualify for, and the gift screen before checkout shows it. Details in how our daily deals work.

See today’s flower menu.

FAQ

Why does weed make you hungry?

Research in mice suggests THC flips fullness neurons into hunger mode and makes the brain more sensitive to food smells. Cannabinoids also affect the brain’s reward system, making food more enjoyable.

Do some strains give you more munchies than others?

Everyone reacts differently, and there isn’t solid research ranking strains by appetite. Dose and THC level matter more than the label.

How do I avoid overeating when high?

Prep snacks ahead of time, drink water and portion food out instead of eating from the package.

For adults 21+ only. This article is for general information, not medical advice. Menu, THC levels and availability can change. Please consume responsibly and never drive under the influence.