Cannabis makes you hungry

CANNABIS - People who have ever smoked cannabis may have had the opportunity to see that, in general, a wolf hunger ensues. And in this situation, these people probably threw themselves on any form of food that was in their path.

A study recently published in the journal Nature Neuroscience identified a possible explanation for this phenomenon. By performing tests on mice, a team of researchers at the NeuroCentre Magendie in Bordeaux found that the active ingredient of cannabis, tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), blurs the olfactory and taste receptors of the brain. Smell and taste are stimulated by the absorption of THC and stimulate hunger, even if the person is satiated. Hence the irrepressible need to feed.

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For the experiment, two groups of mice were observed. No narcotic had been absorbed by the first group, while the second received a dose of THC. These two groups were then placed in front of banana oil and almond oil.

It turns out that hovering mice fed much more than sober mice. The same experiment was conducted on genetically modified mice whose cannabinoid receptors were blocked. As a result, without the effect of THC, mice behaved normally in the face of food.

This type of study is conducted to evaluate and understand the effects of cannabis, in particular to better understand its therapeutic use.