A customer asked me, laughing, whether his evening hunger after smoking his CBD flower really came from the product, or whether he was just looking for an easy excuse. The question comes up fairly often, and the answer is more nuanced than a simple yes or no.
What causes hunger with regular cannabis
The famous munchies effect associated with cannabis mainly comes from THC, which acts on receptors linked to appetite and taste perception. It's a fairly well-documented mechanism, specific to THC and its psychoactive action.
Why CBD doesn't have the same effect
CBD acts on different receptors and doesn't stimulate appetite in the same way. Some studies even suggest a rather neutral or slightly opposite effect depending on the case, without it being possible to generalise to everyone.
So where does that hungry feeling come from?
For some users, the relaxation CBD brings in the evening simply comes with more attention to the body's sensations, including hunger, which may have gone unnoticed before because of the day's stress. It's not the product making you hungry – it's more that your attention is freed up.
"I thought I was hungrier because of my CBD flower. Thinking about it, I just eat more calmly in the evening since I've been less stressed – I don't think it has anything to do with the product itself."
If you notice a change in appetite with your CBD routine, it's probably not a direct effect of the product. Come and talk about it if the subject intrigues you.
