Marijuana users, and likely their waste lines, are very familiar with the so-called “munchies” they experience when under the influence of marijuana. With all the confusion around Hemp, Marijuana, THC, CBD, etc. many people wonder if consuming CBD oil will give them the munchies.

Will CBD give you the munchies? Cannabidiol (CBD) does not stimulate appetite or give you the so-called “munchies”. In fact, a few of the benefits of taking a CBD supplement (reduced stress and anxiety along with fighting insomnia) may actually help curb emotional eating as well as late night snacking while unable to sleep.

What causes the “munchies”

Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is the psycho-active cannabinoid in marijuana responsible for producing increased appetite.  THC accomplishes this in two ways.  First, it increases our ability to smell foods by stimulating the olfactory area of the brain.  This part of the brain is responsible for our sense of smell.  As this area becomes increasingly stimulated and our ability to smell increases, so does our desire to eat foods that smell good to us. 

This isn’t the only way in which THC increases our desire to eat.  Researchers have found that THC interacts with multiple receptors in the brain.  When someone eats food while “high”, the THC in the body interact with a set of receptors located in the nucleus accumbens region of the brain.  These receptors subsequently release the neurotransmitter dopamine. 

Dopamine is often referred to as the “pleasure hormone” or “pleasure chemical”.  Basically, when someone is high and eats food, the THC tells the brain to release dopamine and it feels good.  As a result, when people eat food while using marijuana they tend to have high levels of pleasure. 

A third way in which THC leads to the munchies is by interacting with brain receptors in the hypothalamus.  These are the same types of receptors as mentioned above, except these particular receptors, when influenced by THC, release a hormone called Ghrelin.  Ghrelin is the hormone that makes us feel hungry throughout the day.  The body naturally releases it when we are in need of food and nourishment.  THC, however, causes the hypothalamus to unnecessarily release high levels of ghrelin which can certainly contribute to the munchies. 

If we combine all three of these effects of THC, increased ability to smell, increased pleasure while eating, and increased feeling of hunger, it’s easy to see how THC really does lead to the munchies. 

If my CBD also contains THC then won’t I get the munchies

If your CBD has significant levels of THC then absolutely you can expect to experience the munchies.  There are two sources from which CBD can be produced.  One is marijuana, which will likely have higher levels of THC.  The other source for CBD is hemp, which will have less than 0.3% THC.  This is far below the level needed to provide any kind of euphoria or so-called “high”.

What should I look for when I buy CBD to avoid the munchies

As you start to consider using CBD it’s important to determine what your goals are with it.  If you aren’t interested in getting “high” or “stoned”, then you should be looking for CBD derived from hemp.  This will protect you from having an increased appetite as you experience the benefits of CBD.  The important things to look for when buying CBD is the source from which it is obtained as well as the stated THC content.  Every CBD product sold should state the % THC contained in the product.  Be sure to purchase you CBD from reputable retailers.

Is it possible that CBD could help me lose weight

As with many things relating to CBD, using it for weight loss is still a fairly under-researched topic.  Having said that, there is some research that has been done.  As mentioned above, THC dramatically increases one’s appetite.  It does this by binding to a receptor in the hypothalamus called CB1.  While this article isn’t meant to get too technical, perhaps a little more information about “binding” may be useful.

Think of THC as a square block and think of CB1 as a square hole that is just big enough for the THC block to fit into.  When there are enough THC squares coming close to the CB1 holes in the hypothalamus the squares find their way into square holes of the CB1 receptors.  This represents “binding”.  Once this binding takes place it becomes a signal to the hypothalamus to release ghrelin which makes you hungry.  Now if you go back a few steps and place something in front of the CB1 hole so that the THC blocks can’t get in, then you effectively block the release of ghrelin and delay the onset of hunger.

When this interaction became known it quickly drew the attention of drug companies and one of them actually produced a chemical that was able to block CB1.  However, it also had significant undesirable mental side effects.  These side effects were severe enough that the drug was quickly taken off the market.  Nature, however, has given us CBD which is an effective CB1 blocker without the unintended side effects.

So going back to the question… is it possible that CBD could help me lose weight?  It’s probably safe to say that CBD could provide some help.  However, regular exercise and eating a healthy diet are going to be much more effective at helping you to lose weight.  CBD may just help curb some of your appetite.  We’ll certainly keep our eyes open for additional research and will create a new post specific to this topic when we feel it’s worth your time.

One way CBD could increase appetite… in a good way

One of the many benefits of taking CBD is its ability to reduce nausea associated with medications.  Such nausea is extremely common in people going through chemotherapy as well as people being treated with other strong chemicals for various diseases.  Because these “medications” make people feel sick to their stomachs, it quickly leads to a suppressed appetite.  A low desire to eat can often lead to other complications that over time can decrease one’s health and can ultimately become very serious.  Often times doctors will prescribe yet more drugs to stimulate the patient’s appetite.

Because CBD is able to reduce nausea related to toxic medications, it can help people have an increased desire to consume food.  While this is entirely different than the “munchies”, we thought it was worth mentioning as a possible benefit for consuming CBD.

In conclusion

CBD itself does not give people the munchies.  THC in marijuana is responsible for this phenomenon.  As long as you’re getting your CBD from hemp, which contains very little to no THC, then you don’t have to worry about getting an overwhelming urge to binge eat.  Always purchase your CBD from retailers who are professional and honest.  Occasionally we hear reports of people who go to a dispensary to buy CBD oil with no THC and the employee sells them a product with high levels of THC.  Find a supplier you feel you can trust, but always read the label carefully to make sure you know exactly what you are getting.  CBD can be a very helpful supplement for your health.  It can provide numerous benefits and won’t give you the munchies.