# Marijuana and Changes in Appetite **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [February 21, 2004, 3:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/marijuana-and-changes-in-appetite/230321 "2004-02-21T03:43:44Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![gypsymoth3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/85e7bf/32.png) [@gypsymoth3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gypsymoth3)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2004, 3:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/marijuana-and-changes-in-appetite/230321/1 "2004-02-21T03:43:44Z")
i know the munchies are caused by cannibinoids that affect the brain to trigger hunger, but not all people get the munchies like normal. some people i know actually lose their appetite when high. why is this? or are they just afraid they’re going to go to far with it and blow up like a whale? ---
**Author:** ![Eleusis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f4b2a3/32.png) [@Eleusis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eleusis)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2004, 4:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/marijuana-and-changes-in-appetite/230321/2 "2004-02-21T04:41:21Z")
Doesn’t fully answer your question, but [Cecil discussed the munchies](http://www.straightdope.com/columns/030516.html). ---
**Author:** ![Eleusis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f4b2a3/32.png) [@Eleusis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eleusis)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2004, 5:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/marijuana-and-changes-in-appetite/230321/3 "2004-02-21T05:30:35Z")
I will offer some WAGs, however: Perhaps the people you’ve seen who lose their appetites are inexperienced smokers, and paranoia and/or random thoughts overpower the munchies. If you’re so stoned that you can’t form a coherent thought, Twinkies might not occur to you. If they’ve been drinking alcohol before toking up, they might get _the spins_ which is a sickly feeling not congruent with raiding the kitchen. If someone does a huge bong hit and coughs up their right lung, that might also be a factor. Your hypothesis regarding weight gain could definitely be a factor in some people. I don’t think there’s really going to be a factual answer here because different people will have different reasons for losing their appetite while partaking of the herb. ---
**Author:** ![gypsymoth3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/85e7bf/32.png) [@gypsymoth3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gypsymoth3)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2004, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/marijuana-and-changes-in-appetite/230321/4 "2004-02-21T17:24:08Z")
> [@Eleusis](#): > > I will offer some WAGs, however: > > Perhaps the people you’ve seen who lose their appetites are inexperienced smokers, and paranoia and/or random thoughts overpower the munchies. If you’re so stoned that you can’t form a coherent thought, Twinkies might not occur to you. > > If they’ve been drinking alcohol before toking up, they might get _the spins_ which is a sickly feeling not congruent with raiding the kitchen. > > If someone does a huge bong hit and coughs up their right lung, that might also be a factor. > > Your hypothesis regarding weight gain could definitely be a factor in some people. > I don’t think there’s really going to be a factual answer here because different people will have different reasons for losing their appetite while partaking of the herb. nope, i don’t think any of those are it; but i don’t think it’s purely fear of obesity. my sister was one of those people. she just didn’t like eating while high. maybe drymouth was a factor too. ---
**Author:** ![UselessGit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/74df32/32.png) [@UselessGit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UselessGit)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2004, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/marijuana-and-changes-in-appetite/230321/5 "2004-02-21T18:12:11Z")
Well, I don’t even get thirsty when high and I just get the munchies occasionally. The effects just vary from person to person. I used to get such a dry-mouth that I could hardly speak and munchies like there was no tomorrow but these days I am free of both, so it could be a …thing. …dammit, I had such a good word there… Stay in school, winners don’t use drugs. ---
**Author:** ![ParentalAdvisory](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/53a042/32.png) [@ParentalAdvisory](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ParentalAdvisory)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2004, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/marijuana-and-changes-in-appetite/230321/6 "2004-02-21T18:46:58Z")
Define “winners”. ---
**Author:** ![gypsymoth3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/85e7bf/32.png) [@gypsymoth3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gypsymoth3)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2004, 1:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/marijuana-and-changes-in-appetite/230321/7 "2004-02-22T01:38:37Z")
> [@ParentalAdvisory](#): > > Define “winners”. eh, the only thing weed does is get people addicted. it lowers IQ by 4 points, but what is 4 points? ---
**Author:** ![Eleusis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f4b2a3/32.png) [@Eleusis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eleusis)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2004, 1:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/marijuana-and-changes-in-appetite/230321/8 "2004-02-22T13:48:54Z")
> [@gypsymoth3](#): > > eh, the only thing weed does is get people addicted. Bullshit. Why are you posting soapbox opinions in GQ disguised as factual questions? Actually, it does quite a lot of things. It gets me high, for one. Reduces stress. Increases enjoyment of the arts. Makes everything I say seem profound. But what about increasing appetite in chemotherapy patients? Or reducing intraocular pressure in glaucoma patients? Maybe you should take these gripes to GD or IMHO or the PIT. GQ is not the place for unsubstantiated hysterical rhetoric. > [@](#): > > it lowers IQ by 4 points, but what is 4 points? Cite? ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2004, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/marijuana-and-changes-in-appetite/230321/9 "2004-02-22T14:53:30Z")
After smoking for a while, some people get better at ‘controlling’ the side effects. By the end of college, (well, after the first year or two) my eyes didn’t even turn red anymore. But I could always go for a nice pizza. ---
**Author:** ![gypsymoth3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/85e7bf/32.png) [@gypsymoth3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gypsymoth3)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2004, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/marijuana-and-changes-in-appetite/230321/10 "2004-02-22T18:29:46Z")
**Eleusis** , sorry i didn’t phrase that right. i actually meant that as a pro-weed statement. as in the only negative thing it really does is get people addicted. as for the I.Q. statement, [Google](http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&lr=&ie=ISO-8859-1&q=marijuana%2Blowers%2Biq%2Bpoints) it. ---
**Author:** ![BaldTaco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/47e85d/32.png) [@BaldTaco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BaldTaco)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2004, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/marijuana-and-changes-in-appetite/230321/11 "2004-02-22T20:22:37Z")
I think inexperienced smokers and using weed with alcohol are certainly factors contributing to “missing munchies,” but I also believe there’s another. In my experience, there’s a period of 1-2 hours after smoking where I’m actually less hungry. The munchies tend to occur as the effects begin to wear off. Perhaps it is the physiological process of coming down that triggers the munchies. I’ve got a personal theory that it may even be caused by a chemical released by your body in order to try and purge the intoxicant from your body, rather than by the weed itself. Anyway, that’s just anecdotal. Anyone else noticed the same thing? ---
**Author:** ![Eleusis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f4b2a3/32.png) [@Eleusis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eleusis)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2004, 4:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/marijuana-and-changes-in-appetite/230321/12 "2004-02-23T04:10:44Z")
> [@gypsymoth3](#): > > **Eleusis** , sorry i didn’t phrase that right. i actually meant that as a pro-weed statement. as in the only negative thing it really does is get people addicted. as for the I.Q. statement, [Google](http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&lr=&ie=ISO-8859-1&q=marijuana%2Blowers%2Biq%2Bpoints) it. That’s cool, **gypsymoth3**. I’m also sorry that I flew off the handle. I get a little defensive sometimes regarding the evil death weed 😉 ---
**Author:** ![UselessGit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/74df32/32.png) [@UselessGit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UselessGit)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2004, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/marijuana-and-changes-in-appetite/230321/13 "2004-02-23T15:45:24Z")
> [@BaldTaco](#): > > Anyone else noticed the same thing? By Jove, I think so! I used to be the same, how much?often do you smoke? ---
**Author:** ![pcroughn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/977dab/32.png) [@pcroughn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pcroughn)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2004, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/marijuana-and-changes-in-appetite/230321/14 "2004-02-23T16:08:30Z")
Ummm…Sorry to burst your bubble, but pot’s not addictive. [Link1](http://www.theantidrug.com/drug_info/drugs_marijuana.asp) [Link 2](http://www.usdoj.gov/dea/concern/marijuana_factsheet.html) Ok, none of these say that it’s not addictive. But the point is that none say that it is. The mention that Cocaine, Herion and the like are, but not pot. From [well.com](http://www.well.com/user/woa/fspot.htm) > [@](#): > > What about psychological dependence on marijuana? > Long-term regular users of marijuana may become psychologically dependent. They may have a hard time limiting their use, they may need more of the drug to get the same effect, and they may develop problems with their jobs and personal relationships. The drug can become the most important aspect of their lives. Does that mean it’s addictive? Well, no more than exercise, prayer and soap operas. ---
**Author:** ![Draelin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ce73a5/32.png) [@Draelin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Draelin)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2004, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/marijuana-and-changes-in-appetite/230321/15 "2004-02-23T16:40:58Z")
My old roommate had a very interesting theory on her own munchies: If she smoked on a full stomach, she got _mad_ munchies, and could not stop eating. If she smoked when she was already hungry, the munchies were avoided. She believed that once high, her stomach went on a quest to keep its volume unchanged. Full stomach + getting high = continuing to eat so the stomach stays full. I don’t know how true that was, but I always liked the theory. Personally, once the munchies hit, I often fixate on one particular food, and can’t eat anything else until I have it. Which really sucks when all I’m thinking about is a Grand Slam and the closest Denny’s is an hour away. ---
**Author:** ![BaldTaco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/47e85d/32.png) [@BaldTaco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BaldTaco)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2004, 11:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/marijuana-and-changes-in-appetite/230321/16 "2004-03-02T23:20:19Z")
> [@](#): > > Which really sucks when all I’m thinking about is a Grand Slam and the closest Denny’s is an hour away. Man, I could fast for a week and then smoke a pound of dope, and I still wouldn’t want to eat at Denny’s. Ewwwww. ---
**Author:** ![bookbuster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/b9bd4f/32.png) [@bookbuster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bookbuster)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2004, 2:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/marijuana-and-changes-in-appetite/230321/17 "2004-03-03T02:31:15Z")
> [@BaldTaco](#): > > Anyone else noticed the same thing? > [@UselessGit](#): > > By Jove, I think so! Me three. Maybe we are normal? Or strange wierdos untied by SDMB? What do you think? ---
**Author:** ![bookbuster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/b9bd4f/32.png) [@bookbuster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bookbuster)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2004, 2:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/marijuana-and-changes-in-appetite/230321/18 "2004-03-03T02:35:15Z")
dammit, untied = united /not hungry 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Rilchiam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/2bfe46/32.png) [@Rilchiam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rilchiam)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2004, 3:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/marijuana-and-changes-in-appetite/230321/19 "2004-03-03T03:33:36Z")
> [@Draelin](#): > > My old roommate had a very interesting theory on her own munchies: > > If she smoked on a full stomach, she got _mad_ munchies, and could not stop eating. If she smoked when she was already hungry, the munchies were avoided. She believed that once high, her stomach went on a quest to keep its volume unchanged. Full stomach + getting high = continuing to eat so the stomach stays full. > > I don’t know how true that was, but I always liked the theory. Hm. That kinda parallels with what I was going to say. Tokers often experience inertia. If you start doing something, or were already doing something, you’ll end up doing it until some outside force stops you. But you’re less likely to start a new activity. So if you toke up before a movie, and you normally get popcorn with a movie, that popcorn is going to be the best you ever tasted, and you’ll savor every grain of salt on every kernel, and then head to concessions for another tub (during which you’ll get distracted, because, hey, you never noticed that the lights in the lobby were set up like that!). Conversely, if you’re watching a video at home, and you don’t normally eat while you’re doing that, you’ll keep ignoring your growling tummy because you never realized Adam Sandler was so _deep_, and you don’t want to pause the movie to go to the kitchen. ---
**Author:** ![ComeToTheDarkSideWeHaveCookies](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e9bcb4/32.png) [@ComeToTheDarkSideWeHaveCookies](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ComeToTheDarkSideWeHaveCookies)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2004, 3:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/marijuana-and-changes-in-appetite/230321/20 "2004-03-03T03:59:13Z")
My old roommate 🆒 was one of those “cruncy, salty, sweet” purists. The three munchie food groups.