Cannabis has a wide array of effects on the body, ranging from making you feel relaxed, to giving you dry mouth and red eyes. One of the more interesting effects is making you feel really hungry. So, what is it that cannabis does to your brain and body that makes you want to keep eating? Let’s look at the science behind what causes the munchies, and some of the best foods to eat after you’ve gotten stoned. 

THC, the psychoactive ingredient in cannabis, modulates specific neurotransmitters, called POMC (proopiomelanocortin) neurons, which control important physiological functions, such as sleep, mood, appetite, and heart rate. POMC neurons typically send out a chemical signal to tell your brain when you’re full. In mice that were given THC, the THC actually turns off adjacent cells that are supposed to tell POMC neurons to slow-down. So, activity of these neurons actually increases. The THC also activates a receptor inside the POMC neurons which signal the brain to produce endorphins, which are responsible for increasing appetite. 

So, to explain it more simply: THC modules an important group of appetite-controlling neurons in the brain, in a way that increases the desire to eat via the release of endorphins. 

Additionally, THC activates and stimulates receptors in the olfactory bulb, which is the part of the brain that registers smell. The heightened sense of smell also corresponds to a heightened sense of taste. These elevated senses are believed to contribute to the desire to eat more food, simply because it is more enjoyable. Anyone who has suffered from an insatiable case of the munchies knows that delving into a craveable snack is especially satisfying while high. As it turns out, the reason it’s more satisfying is because you can literally perceive the scent and flavor of the food better than normal. 

These two effects combine, first prompting hunger by releasing endorphins that induce appetite, and second prolonging appetite increase through heightened sense of taste and smell. POMC neurons cause you to start craving a big bag of Doritos, while the olfactory bulb is what inspires the motivation to finish the entire bag. It’s truly a double-whammy. 

Not all cannabis is equal, however, and some varieties of cannabis can actually suppress appetite. Yup, that’s right. One of the most notorious appetite-suppressing cannabinoids is THCV (tetrahydrocannabivarin). THCV is similar, molecularly, to THC (it even has some of the same psychoactive properties). However, THCV has been shown to suppress appetite in limited research. There haven’t been many studies on the effects of THCV, but preliminary research indicates an appetite-suppressing effect certainly atypical of traditional cannabis. Certain sativa strains are known for their energetic high that seldom accompany a munchie spell. Durban Poison, one of the original (landrace) cannabis strains from Africa, is a pure sativa with unusually high levels of THCV. Sativa strains, especially those like Durban Poison, are excellent choices for preventing the munchies and staving off appetite. 

Want another trick to prevent the munchies? Eat before you get stoned, particularly a filling food that offers sustenance. Anything that will “stick to your gut” so to speak, will help curb your appetite while you’re baked. If you’re already high, distraction is probably your best bet. Another weird trick is to brush your teeth. Brushing your teeth while high is extremely satisfying, and most people won’t want to eat after the feeling of brushing their teeth (it also helps to cure dry mouth). 

Certain foods taste way better when high, so getting stoned is also the perfect time to try healthier snacks that you often don’t like when sober. Vegetables, like a juicy cucumber, can have an especially refreshing crunch when you have dry mouth, and you can feel good about filling your belly with healthy choices.