Title: Hunger from Cannabis | Medical Marijuana Side Effects
Headings: Hunger
Hunger
Why Does Marijuana Make You Hungry
What Causes Pot Induced Hunger?
Are There Negative Side Effects to Getting the Munchies?
How Do I Alleviate the Munchies?
Talk to Your Marijuana Doctor
Doctors Near You
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Content: When your stomach is empty, your body secretes a hormone called ghrelin. Also called “the hunger hormone,” ghrelin induces your appetite and prepares your body for food intake. The reason marijuana can affect the body in these ways is because our endocannabinoid system (ECS) reacts strongly to the cannabinoids found in cannabis, specifically THC. The ECS acts as a bridge between our mind and body because it contains many receptor sites throughout our nervous system. It regulates certain physiological functions, like emotions, sensations of pain and hunger. Cannabinoids like THC mimic the ECS and bind themselves to receptor sites. Leptin is a hormone released by fat cells that tells your body to stop eating, specifically when you’ve had enough to eat. It also counteracts another neurotransmitter that induces hunger, anandamide. THC binds itself to the same receptor sites as anandamide, increasing appetite. With all these hormones and neurotransmitters getting released, you’re left with a very clear thought — “I’m starving.”