Your medical cannabis journey simplified: find partnered dispensaries, explore pricing options, earn rewards, and get answers to FAQs, all in one spot.
June 3, 2020 10:42 am ETEstimated Read Time: 4 Minutes
We’re all familiar with it: the munchies. The desire, after smoking a joint, to settle down with a bag of chips or a favorite snack and just go to town. The munchies are an extremely common side effect of cannabis use, and for many users, an enjoyable one. It’s fun to snack! And, of course, snacking pairs well with TV watching, something else many of us love to do after we light up.
The problem with the munchies? A desire to keep on snacking whether your body is actually hungry or not. As we all know, that’s not necessarily the most healthy choice, and you might find yourself paying for it later. Plus, you could ruin your appetite for a real meal.
So what’s the solution? How can you enjoy cannabis without falling prey to the munchies?
Why Do We Get The Munchies?
If you’ve ever had the munchies yourself, you know how irrepressible they can be. The urge to go and get a snack is overpowering, even though you may not be hungry at all.
That’s because, scientifically, your body thinks it’s starving.
You don’t feel like you’re starving. There’s none of the weakness or frailty that would accompany actual starvation. But THC acts on the neural pathways in the brain to increase our sensitivity to taste and smell, something that also happens when the body is in a starvation state. That’s why food is so overwhelmingly appealing when you’re high, and it’s also why people with nausea caused by chemotherapy or with eating disorders have found such success using cannabis to stimulate their appetites.
There is no known way to completely eliminate the possibility of getting the munchies. But there are several steps that you can take to mitigate your own response to them, and the effect cannabis has on you as a whole.
Apply For Your Medical Marijuana Card Today
Veriheal has satisfied hundreds of thousands of patients nationwide
Get approved or your money back
Appointments available on-demand
Customer support available 24/7
Choose A Strain With High CBD or THCV
We’re still only beginning to learn about CBD and to unlock its potential, but we do know that it has a tendency to counteract many of the effects of THC. It’s even been suggested as a potential treatment for obesity.
THCV is a recently discovered cannabinoid that is known to suppress the appetite. This makes it a great supplement for weight loss and controlling the munchies effect.
Generally, it’s THC that causes the munchies when cannabis is consumed. So you can make an effort to offset this effect by choosing a cannabis strain with a high ratio of CBD to THC. Ask your local budtender to help you make a selection that’s right for you.
If you can’t find a suitable strain, another option is to partake in CBD alongside your THC. Try starting with a CBD edible and moving on to smoking THC after the edible has had time to kick in.
Prepare Yourself For The Munchies
When the munchies do hit, you can manage them if you’re well prepared.
Plan what you’re going to eat beforehand. If you’re trying to stay away from less nutritious options, set yourself up with some crackers or raw fruits or veggies to snack on. The crunch will feel satisfying, and you can enjoy a lot of your snack without worrying about overindulging. Our advice? Raw carrot sticks and apple slices, maybe with a bit of peanut butter.
Get a flavor going in your mouth without eating. Chewing gum or sucking on mints is a great way to do this. It’s also a good idea to hydrate when you’ve been consuming cannabis. Stock up on a variety of drinks to sip.
You can also plan out what you’re going to do. You’re definitely more likely to fall victim to the munchies if you’re sitting around in front of the TV. Consider doing something that requires you to use your hands, like playing a video game. You might also try getting out of the house and going for a walk—as long as you do so safely!
Kat Helgeson comes from a ten year career in social media marketing and content creation. She takes pride in her ability to communicate the culture and values of an organization via the written word. Kat is also the author of numerous books for young adults. Her titles have received the Junior Library Guild Award, the Bank Street College of Education Best Books of the Year Distinction, and been featured on the Illinois Reads selection list. Her work has been translated into Dutch and German.
Blunts: What are they exactly, and how do they affect your body? If you’re interested in smoking blunts—or already smoke them—this guide is for you. We’ll cover everything you need to know about this popular cannabis intake method, including how they’re made, how they differ from spliffs and joints, risks of use, and alternative intake…
“Stoned,” “high,” “tripping,” and “baked,” are all terms engrained in the cannabis community. These metaphorical descriptions contribute to how we perceive, interpret, and learn from the experiences produced by cannabis consumption. Cannabis experiences, of course, are unique and highly variable. Specific plant strains, the presence of other cannabinoids, different delivery methods, and a user’s individual…
Thanks to the growing wave of legalization, more consumers than ever can grow their own cannabis right at home. Growing essentials that used to be secretive are now bought and sold freely. This includes items, like grow tents, nutrients, LED lighting, HPS lighting, ventilation, and more. Keeping all these items straight is hard enough, but…
Skin diseases plague millions of individuals, inflicting both physical discomforts in addition to mental and social stress. Thankfully, there is no shortage of skin treatment options available on the market. That said, this established market may soon be in for a major shake-up if recent cannabis research is any indication. Traditionally, cannabis research focused on studying…
As more states move toward legalization, accurately detecting impaired driving is of the utmost importance. Field Sobriety Tests (FSTs) have long been the go-to method for law enforcement to assess driver impairment caused by substances like alcohol. However, a recent 2023 study published in JAMA Psychiatry raises serious questions about the accuracy of these tests…
We use our own as well as third party cookies to improve your site experience and the services we make available. You can learn more about our use of cookies in our Privacy Policy.
Content Disclamer
The statements made regarding cannabis products on this website have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Cannabis is not an FDA-approved substance and is still illegal under federal law. The information provided on this website is intended for educational purposes only and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. It is not intended as medical advice and should not be considered as a substitute for advice from a healthcare professional. We strongly recommend that you consult with a physician or other qualified healthcare provider before using any cannabis products. The use of any information provided on this website is solely at your own risk.