Uhhh… Um, I, like, had a question a minute ago but I, uh, forgot. huh huh huh heh heh huh
…
Yeah.
Dude, quite hoggin all the ranch doritos!
mmmmmmmmmm…pie.
Hopefully whoever knows the answer to this question would also know why if pot can INCREASE appetite is there a chemical that can DECREASE appetite?
If there is why don’t they make a pill out of it and make a billion bucks? And if there isn’t why not?
my mom is really into reading books on how drugs affect the brain, and her best friend works in a detox center. anyways, my mom says that the reason people get addicted to things such as weed is the body stops producing the natural chemicals meant to have the affects (porbably weaker ones) that the drug has. for example, the brain produces less of the chemicals that make you happy. i cannot for the life of me remember what they’re called.
anyways, could this be why potheads lose their appetite when they’re straight? does the body stop or slow down production of the natural appetite-inducing chemicals?
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How does marijuana cause “the munchies?” (16-May-2003 )
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There are pills that decrease appetite. Unfortunately, they include things like ephedrine. Ephedrine is chemically related to methamphetamine (“speed”) and other phenethylamines (including amphetamines), which tend to decrease appetite, too. Obviously, there are side effects related to these drugs, and I suppose it depends on your point of view whether they’re desireable or not
Endorphins.
There is no chemical that acts like the reverse of the things in pot without side effects?
It seems they understand how marijuana affects appetite why can’t they reverse that process to make a diet drug?
The key words is “it seems.” As Cecil even indicates, scientists don’t know for certain what causes the munchies, he just presents the latest theories on it.
Ack. I am so bad about putting all my thoughts in one post… anyway, about addiction… different drugs cause addiction in different ways… for example, cocaine gives you such a high, but you “crash” lower than your “base” feeling, so you have to take increasingly higher amounts to get the same level of high.
Actually, I’ve heard that marijuana is not very addictive at all (don’t really have any scientific evidence to back this up and I don’t know from personal experience, so maybe someone else can enlighten us)… most people really can stop any time. Of course, the problem is when the high from pot gets boring and you start getting into harder drugs…
Marijuana is not physically or chemically addictive in the way that many harder drugs are. It is addictive in the sense that it is habit forming. (ie. psychological cravings)
A person would not suffer physical withdrawl symptoms that could be life threatening. They might however suffer from emotional and/or mood swings and some minor physical changes.
“Until recently, the munchies were a relative mystery. However, a recent study by Italian scientists may explain what happens to increase appetite in marijuana users. Molecules called endocannabinoids bind with receptors in the brain and activate hunger.”
All the scientific BS aside…all I know speaking for myself is that it used to make ME sleepy, hungry, lazy, stupid, paranoid and fat.
I failed to mention BROKE, (as in NO $$$) weed ain’t cheap no more.
Heck w/ it, I’d rather drink Cuervo anyway…
There is no chemical which does anything at all without side effects. If someone ever tries to sell you some sort of “medicine” without side effects, then be warned that it doesn’t have a “front effect”, either.
Perhaps a better question: Does there exist a chemical which effectively inhibits appetite without particularly bad side effects?
Especially if they call it “All Natural, 100% goodness”. Then you know they’re full of shit.
If anyone implies to you that natural means good for you, remind them of strychnine, poison ivy, rattlesnake venom, nicotine,…
don’t forget digitalis and belladonna
So does this mean that fat people are indeed jolly, 'cause their body chemicals, in addition to increasing their appetite, give them a perpetual natural high? Hmmm…it would help explain why dieting makes you irritable & depressed, too.
:dubious:
Does the presence of cannabinoid receptors in the brain suggest a natural cannabinoid substance being produced by the body, just as the presence of opioid receptors in the brain indicates the existence of the natural opiate molecule endorphin? [The following anecdotal statement has no attached source available, so is not intended to convey established fact as yet.] I read somewhere online that there is just such a natural cannabinoid substance, produced in extremely small amounts, for what purpose no one knows. Further data would be appreciated.
The lining of the stomach contains a number of cells whose function is to produce a hunger-stimulating hormone called ghrelin, which scientists discovered in 1999. Eating causes the cells to shut off the grhelin production for a while. Stomach bypass (“stapling”) surgery shuts them off permanently–ironically by depriving them of contact with any food at all. This is the reason for the Carnie Wilsons of the world losing so much weight–it’s not just that the stomach is reduced to the size of a lemon; but producing almost no ghrelin, they lose forever all appetite for food (DESIRE to eat). Food itself as a form of gratification is off the list. They eat enough to nourish the body, but they feel full ALL the time.
So it’s all ghrelin’s fault. (Too bad for the guy suing McDonald’s over his weight problem.) I wouldn’t be surprised if cannabinol somehow stimulated the stomach to produce excessive amounts of ghrelin, leading to the increased level of appetite. Note that this is merely a hypothesis, which is worthy of further scientific studies. Presumably an adequate number of research volunteers would be available to create a statistically significant sample size.
I also wouldn’t be a bit surprised to see the multi-billion-dollar jackpot hit with the pharmaceutical ghrelin antagonist very soon. That stock might be good to have. It’s already being worked on feverishly, as this is truly the motherlode. No ghrelin > No appetite > No eat > No weight gain. (No muscle tone either eventually as the body consumes its own hard muscle tissue to satisfy complete protein demands, but never mind. ECA stack is too dangerous.)
Short answer, yes… but apparently it’s not really clear what they are Cannabinoid Receptors