Real question...why does marijuana make people hungry?

Answer 1

This is a good question - and no one really understands it completely, to be honest with you.

However, it does do this. So, a legal medication has been developed that takes advantage of this - it is called Dronabinol, or Marinol.

It can help stimulate appetite and help prevent nausea, and is often used to help cancer patients who are on chemotherapy.

Again, the mechanism of action is unknown. But there are some possible theories that suggest that marijuana (and the similar medicine) inhibits endorphins in the emetic center of the brain, suppress prostaglandin synthesis, and/or inhibition of medullary activity through some cortical action. (This from Lexi-Comp)

Probably more than you wanted, but suffice it to say that marijuana does something in the brain that stimulates appetite!

Well...there is your answer.

Hope it was helpful!


To be honest with you, doctors/scientists, etc. don't know how or why a lot of drugs (legal and illegal) work...they only have theories. They typically observe an effect and then apply it. Many drugs used for depression or other things were once used for other purposes and then found to have a unintended "side effect". Later, they are used more for the side effect than their original intended use!