What Causes the Munchies? Scientists Discover Why You Eat with Marijuana Use

When people use marijuana, they sometimes encounter the "munchies," an uncontrollable urge to eat. But what exactly causes the munchies to occur? Scientists have taken a closer look at the phenomenon, and have found that it all has to do with neurons in the brain.

Researchers have long known that using marijuana is associated with increased appetite even when you're full. It's also well known that activating the cannabinoid receptor 1 (BC1R) can contribute to overeating. In fact, a group of nerve cells called pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC) neurons are considered key drivers of reducing eating when full.

"By observing how the appetite center of the brain responds to marijuana, we were able to see what drives the hunger brought about by cannabis and how that same mechanism that normally turns off feeding becomes a driver of eating," said Tamas Horvath, one of the researchers, in a news release. "It's like pressing a car's breaks and accelerating instead. We were surprised to find that the neurons we thought were responsible for shutting down eating were suddenly being activated and promoting hunger, even when you are full. It fools the brain's central feeding system."

The findings don't just tell researchers what causes the munchies for those who use marijuana, though. The research could also provide other benefits, like helping cancer patients who lose their appetite during treatment.

"This even is key to cannabinoid-receptor-driven eating," said Horvath. "More research is needed to validate the findings."

The researchers hope to find out whether this mechanism is also key to getting "high" on cannabis. Research is still ongoing.

The findings are published in the journal Nature.

For more great science stories and general news, please visit our sister site, Headlines and Global News (HNGN).