What topics does this cannabis study cover?

This study covers research on: THC, Appetite, Endocannabinoid.

Scientific illustration for Cannabis produces acute hyperphagia in humans and rodents via increased reward valuation for, and motivation to, acquire food.

THC Appetite Endocannabinoid

Cannabis produces acute hyperphagia in humans and rodents via increased reward valuation for, and motivation to, acquire food.

Q: Where was this research published?

Published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America on December 30, 2025.

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America • December 30, 2025 • Highly Relevant

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AI Summary

This study investigated why cannabis use is commonly associated with increased appetite and food consumption—a phenomenon many users call "the munchies." Researchers gave either cannabis vapor or a placebo to human participants and rats, then measured how much they ate and what types of food they chose. The key finding was that cannabis rapidly increased how much people and animals ate within the first 30-60 minutes of having access to food, regardless of the dose, biological sex, or the type of food available.

The researchers discovered that cannabis doesn't simply make people hungrier through hormonal changes in the stomach or blood. Instead, it works in the brain by affecting a specific receptor called CB1R (cannabinoid 1 receptor), which essentially changes how the brain values food rewards and increases the motivation to eat. Importantly, cannabis didn't change which types of foods people preferred—it just made them want to eat more of whatever was available. The effects were so strong that in rats, cannabis even eliminated their normal preference for certain nutrients they typically choose when hungry, suggesting that the drug overrides the brain's natural appetite control mechanisms.

This research has practical implications for cannabis users who may experience unwanted weight gain or changes in eating patterns, as well as potential medical applications for patients with appetite loss due to illness or medication. The findings suggest that the appetite-stimulating effects of cannabis work through central brain mechanisms rather than the stomach or digestive system, which could guide future therapeutic strategies for either enhancing appetite in medical patients or managing it in recreational users.

💡 Key Findings

Cannabis vapor acutely and robustly increased energy intake in both humans and rats within 30-60 minutes of food access, regardless of dose, sex, or food type

High

95%

Cannabis increases appetite by enhancing reward valuation of food and motivation to eat, rather than by changing hunger hormones in the bloodstream

High

90%

The appetite-stimulating effects of cannabis are mediated by central (brain) CB1 receptors, not peripheral receptors in the body

High

85%

Cannabis overrides homeostatic appetite regulation by reducing food reward devaluation, meaning the brain continues to perceive food as highly desirable even when satiated

High

85%

Cannabis does not alter the proportion of macronutrients consumed in humans, but eliminates normal macronutrient preferences in rats, suggesting it disrupts selective appetite mechanisms

High

80%

📄 Original Abstract

With approximately 4% of the world's population using cannabis, there is a need to better understand its physiological effects. Cannabis consumption acutely promotes food intake ("the munchies") via delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol-mediated activation of cannabinoid 1 receptors (CB1R); however, these appetitive effects have not been well characterized. We examined effects of cannabis vapor inhalation on energy and macronutrient intake patterns in human participants and then validated these findings in a translational rat model through which we explored behavioral and physiological mechanisms subserving this response. Vaporized cannabis acutely and robustly increased energy intake. In humans, this occurred in the first 30 min of snack and beverage access, irrespective of dose or gender. In rats, these effects were observed in the first 60 min of food access, irrespective of macronutrient content, satiation, or sex, and were a result of cannabis vapor reducing latency to eat and increasing feeding bout number. Also, cannabis vapor did not change the proportion of macronutrients consumed by human participants and abolished preexisting macronutrient-specific food preferences in rats. Our rat data indicate that cannabis vapor may override homeostatic appetite regulation by increasing motivation to eat and reducing food reward devaluation to promote energy intake. Finally, cannabis vapor did not alter circulating appetite-associated hormones, and these feeding effects were mediated by central, but not peripheral, CB1Rs. This study complements and builds upon previous literature to characterize the appetitive effects of vaporized cannabis and uses a translational approach to examine cannabis-driven energy and macronutrient intake patterns in humans and rodents.

Paper Type

📄 Research

Publication

Journal: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
Published: December 30, 2025
PMID: 41439716
DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2518863122

Authors (6)

Catherine Hume Department of Cell Biology and Anatomy, Psychiatry, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 4N1, Canada.
Carrie Cuttler Department of Psychology, Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99163.
Samantha L Baglot Department of Cell Biology and Anatomy, Psychiatry, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 4N1, Canada.
Lucia Javorcikova Department of Cell Biology and Anatomy, Psychiatry, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 4N1, Canada.
Ryan J McLaughlin Department of Integrative Physiology and Neuroscience, Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99614.
+1 more authors