The earliest known reference to cannabis in human history dates back to 26999 BC. Since then, our ancient ancestors are known to have used marijuana as commercial crops, medicinal herbs, in clothing, and even in pottery. Despite the prehistoric nature of hemp over the course of history, it took scientists until 2015 to pinpoint why smoking might be giving you the serious munchies.
The Science Behind the Munchies
Whether it’s sweet snacks or savory nibbles, the secret to those incurable cravings boils down to the way marijuana effects the receptors in your brain. Even if you’re completely full, cannabis can trick the mind into thinking you’re actually starving.
How? It’s all about the cannabinoids in our brains. These lipids (fatty compounds) are involved in our appetite control. When we consume marijuana, the THC in the drug attaches to these brain receptors and activates a hunger response. So even if we’re full, the cannabis makes our brain neurons tell us we’re hungry.
On top of that, studies have shown that cannabis also affects receptors in our olfactory bulb – making food smell and taste more intense.
The result of all this brain activity? Munchies.
Is Cannabis Good for Your Gut?
We know consuming cannabis makes our brains think we’re hungry, but is it doing anything to our stomachs, too? Researchers are looking into it. What we know so far is that there does seem to be some affect on our gut bacteria. Studies indicate that cannabis consumption can influence the complex microorganisms that are found in our guts, which may affect our health.
What researchers aren’t sure about is the specific effects. Since our gut bacteria varies so much – affected by diet, genetics, and lifestyle – these variations in our gut bacteria can impact how cannabis affects medical conditions, such as cancer. Still, experts are investigating how cannabis may be able to play a role in personalized medicine for treatments of various medical conditions.
The Growing Popularity of Edibles
Once we recognize the connection between food cravings and marijuana, we can start to understand why the edibles market has flourished. Adult-use cannabis edibles sales reached $3.6 billion in 2021. The market value of this industry hit $12.3 billion in 20224, and researchers expect it to continue to rise, hitting $54 billion by 2034. In fact, this market is one of the fastest growing sectors of the cannabis industry. In Colorado alone, 5 million units of edible cannabis products sold in 2024.
Among the most popular items nationwide are gummies, which account for nearly 75% of edible sales in the country. Chocolate, chews, and taffy also see significant sales.
Legal and Illegal Snacks
In recent years, lawmakers have been re-examining the classification of cannabis as a Schedule I substance. Many are pushing to move cannabis to a Schedule III substance, alongside drugs like ketamine and Tylenol with codeine. On a more local level, many states have already legalized marijuana for recreational and medicinal use.
These shifts in policies have made marijuana and products such as edibles more accessible. Dispensaries are popping up in many areas, and the cannabis market continues to grow. However, varying regulations are in place regarding cannabis products. For example, the percentage of THC allowable in gummies can vary by state. So the potency of a snack purchased in Missouri may be very different from another edible eaten in Montana. Specific brands can also vary, so even similar products within the same state may pack different potency.
Can Munchies Lead to Sugar Addiction?
With these trends in consuming more edibles, using marijuana, and having access to more products, it’s possible users could get into a cycle of addiction to both the drug and the sweets.
Research suggests the salty nature of most chips can make it harder to stop eating once you’ve started, and high-sodium treats are often linked to obesity and excessive calorie consumption.
Research also suggests Americans may be consuming as much as five times the amount of sugar needed to maintain a healthy diet, and too many sweet treats can literally become an addiction in some cases. As with smoking too much, consuming too much sugar has been linked to impaired memory, learning skills, and cognitive capacity. So when it comes to indulging in dessert – moderation is key.
Finding Help for Addiction
Like foods that are either too sweet, salty, or fatty, the long-term effects of marijuana use can pose serious health concerns. Marijuana addiction can also pave the road to other dangerous substances that can turn deadly for some.
If you or someone you love is battling drug abuse, help is here for you. At Addictions.com we believe in helping you find a treatment program that works from the initial intervention to rehab and recovery. Don’t wait until it’s too late. Visit our rehab centers page to learn how to get free addiction treatment.