How does smoking marijuana make you hungry? Does it speed up the metabolism?

Thanks to http://www.mc.maricopa.edu/other/legend/ARCHIVES/vol38issue13/news8.htm :

Recently, scientists in Italy have discovered more about the mechanisms that make marijuana users hungry, as well as what makes humans hungry in general.

The operative molecules are called endocannabinoids, and they have receptors in the brain that, when activated, increase the appetite of the subject.

The researchers’ results, published in last week’s scientific journal Nature, have potential uses for dieting programs and medications.

"There is tremendous interest in marijuana because of some of the unique physiological effects it has," UW biochemistry professor Dr. T.F. Martin said. "It has been useful in pain killing, glaucoma treatment, etc. and in all of this, it is possible that an appetite-suppressing drug may be found, which is a billion-dollar-a-year industry."

To decipher the effects of endocannabinoids, the researchers genetically altered mice, removing the endocannabinoid receptors in their brains.

Once they had created these "knockout mice" and monitored them, they found that the mice ate less than the control mice.

To further study the effects of endocannabinoids, the researchers also gave ordinary mice a drug that blocked endocannabinoids from acting on the receptors in the brain. These mice also ate less than the control group.

"Marijuana produces a multitude of effects – euphoria, analgesia, etc.," Martin said. "It is believed that the majority of these are produced because delta-nine-tetrahydrocannabinol in marijuana can bind to CB1 receptors in the nervous system and mimic endogenous cannabinoids."

The study also hypothesizes that endocannabinoids are part of the complex neural circuitry controlled by a hormone called leptin, which tells the brain when it is time to lose weight.

"These findings indicate that endocannabinoids in the hypothalamus may tonically activate CB1 receptors to maintain food intake and form part of the neural circuitry regulated by leptin," the study said.

Even though the researchers know what hormone to control to encourage weight loss, it would be difficult to develop a drug based on cannabinoids alone.

"The endocannabinoid receptors such as CB1 are very widespread in the central nervous system," Martin said. "Cannabinoids have effects on memory, cognition, coordination, mood, pain sensation, sleep and appetite.

Since these effects seem to be mediated largely by a common receptor, using a drug to block this receptor may have many consequences." Martin said.

There is no scientific proof that documents whether or not smoking marijuana has an effect on your metabolism, however, it appears that the body processes food similarly when high on marijuna as when sober. Studies have shown, though, that cannabis does trigger an increase in appetite, hence "having the munchies." "The munchies" is usually a desire for sweet and fatty treats, foods that, when not consumed in moderation within a balanced, varied eating and exercise plan, promote weight gain. Studies also show that individuals who regularly smoke pot gain weight over time. The increase in appetite leads to extra caloric intake, contributing to weight gain. In fact, even though the use of marijuana as medicine remains a controversial issue, the appetite-stimulating effects of marijuana have been documented. HIV/AIDS patients who need to gain weight, for example, eat more when they smoke cannabis. Based on what is known, marijuana does not influence metabolism. In other words, what you eat matters just as it would if you were not high on pot.

omg. drugs love us - dont love them or ull be its slave
the first time i tried pot was so awesome, i only wanted more

it wasnt like drinking, it heighted all my senses, slowed time down, and gave me this cool body high. over a period of time, it got the motors in my brain working overtime, like being a guy we have this set out instinct to "recreate" heaven, and pot makes us want it so much more that we start thinking differently/realistically and overally feeling Godly

at first i started coughing like crazy cause i never smoked before - too big of hits will get you like that and drooling (only good bud of course)

there is no denying how good pot really is - being used to treat cancer and sick people take it to feel better

all you need is a couple hits from a bowl, or a joint, and ur good for the most of the day :D

goodluck

Well everyone has a different view on marijuana , people get different affect from smoking then others. Like for me I focus a hell of a lot better when I'm smoking. I have been smoking marijuana for years and I have not had any problems. And its not addictive , that's all in their head , you can easily quit if you truely want to. I know a lot of people that are very successful in life and they smoke marijuana. Like I said everyone views are different on this subject.

I began smoking because of this rumor that it does make you lose weight if you smoke and don't eat when you have the munchies. There is apparently no scientific proof to date that supports this theory, which is highly highly disappointing to me personally. However, if you are a person who can control their munchies (and some people can - everyone has their own unique biochemistry and therefore reacts differently to different drugs) I find smoking a great alternative to drinking. Alcohol only adds calories, and while pot might not burn calories, the act of smoking it it sure as hell doesn't add any, and for those people who can control your munchies you can have a fun night without worrying about burning it off the next day. I would also like to add that intoxicated people also have a tendency to eat more - hasn't anyone ever heard of the "drunken munchies"? This may not be caused by the same chemical reaction but it still convinces you to eat more than you normally might. Alcohol has severe proven negative health effects, you can die from alcohol poisoning from just one night of drinking too much, you cannot overdose on marijuana.

The main active chemical in marijuana is THC (delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol). THC is classified in the catagory of chemicals called cannabinoids.

Molecules called endocannabinoids, present in our own brains, bind with receptors in the brain and activate hunger. These endocannabinoids in the hypothalamus of the brain activate cannabinoid receptors from marijuana and bind to these same receptors and cause "the munchies".

So no. It isn't to do with metabolism at all. It is to do with the stimulation of our "hunger" receptors in the brain instead.

Now you know why most stoners are so damned obese.

yea it does make you hungry i am a very heavy smoker & i get hunry on a regular

Apetite, cognition, mood, and short term memory alterations are pretty obvious if you have ever smoked pot. It is not a matter of discussion if MUNCHIES exist, it does, BELIEVE ME, and every other person who has ever tried marijuana. I once heard a theory that the way you eat is your body's way to tell you it needs fuels to get rid of what you just smoked up that joint.(fatty acids, sweets, usually anything with a good taste and appetite directed food like snacks, chips bla bla bla, but home made goodies are also great) This is all off just common reading of material like this discussion, and smoking pot once in a while. I think the scientists have may not yet found a way to prove all of the effects of marijuana in the human body, but that doesn't mean they aren't there. They are very present, just waiting to be "officialized". Once again this is just based off personal experience, not challenging any views or insulting, just offering a quick and different point of view. What do you think about the theory?

Seems like it was cool & fun the 1st few times but then it gets old & you get "blah" when you get high...if you dont smoke weed, you aint missin nothing!

you would be surpised how much you can eat high and not feel sick, i barely eat normaly i have a small smoch but when the munchies hit ive been knows to eat an extra large pizza and a 1.5 soda and still be hungry

Your brain has receptors for the cannabinoids in cannabis, the receptors control almost everything in your body, one of those things is appetite. Your body also creates chemicals the same as THC and other cannabinoids called anandemides, which bind with the same receptors.

I don't know if any of this is true or not but i enjoy smoking pot everyday,yet do not get the munchies.
It is a mental issue.

It affects different people in different ways, personally it made me feel knumb and I couldn't hold a converstaion cos i kept forgetting what i was talking about! It can make some people agressive, some people are more active on it and some people go knumb on it. But one of my closed friends is addicted to it, so don't listen to anyone who says its not addictive, it is and it has ruined his life, he has smoked it for a long time but seriously it has ruined his life, he cannot go into crowded areas, he cannot be in a room with more than 4-6 people and if he knows there will be somebody there who he doesn't know, he wont come as his paranoia kicks in. This doesnt happen to everyone mind, so before people start commentin that it doesn't do that to them, then either give it time and u will see or mayb your one of the lucky ones, but personally I would never touch the stuff again knowing that there is a chance that it would make me feel like my best friend!

I had a bad experience. I would never try it again.

CUZ U AINT 69ING U DUMB NUGG YOU GOTS TO GET IT IN LIKE I DO WIT MY 69 MILLIMETER COCK FUCK YO COUCH NIGGA

Being a bulimic, my eating patterns are irregular. I don't eat anything all day except for rice and something before bed. On a green day I have a couple of Js and then go crazy on unusual things like bananas rolled in cheese in a tortilla. Sweet and fatty foods I'm terrified with ruin my 105 lbs 5 ft 2 frame.

However I think the reason (if you think there is somehow a reason decided by some higher power) that these endocannabinoids have the effect that they do is because eating these fatty sweet foods helps you sober up the body's way of fixing itself. And making sure that you can be bunning all evening long and be almost sober by the time you get home to the parents.

It makes my wife throw up.
It makes me feel stupid.
Sometimes I like feeling stupid!

awsome

It attaches to fat. It metabolizes the crappy fat. It has a high light value at the cellular level. It is bringing energy into the body that needs to be backed by nutrients from other whole food sources. Man cannot live on marijuana alone. We need munchies too. My body weight is steady and I have no fat. I do not sit on the couch all day like the stigma goes.

It's a stupid waste of time and money.

Years and years ago --70's-80's-- I did several times at parties...but I never found it "all that". At one party, however, the joint must have been laced with something, and my legs went like jelly, the room started spinnin' and I had to do lie down. I didn't like that one little bit...and I had a major MJ hangover the next day, too! I never tried it again.

If I wanna get high, I'll stick with the legal stuff...Stoli on the rocks...but right now, it's too early in the day. Catcha later on it, though. :-)

Marijuana rapidly speeds up your metabolism and can also help you loose weight.