Research: Munchies May Aid Those Lacking Appetite

Study finds cannabis use triggers cognitive response to increase food intake, regardless of factors like age, weight or recent eating.

Published on Feb. 27, 2026

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Researchers at Washington State University and the University of Calgary conducted a study that found the "munchies" phenomenon after cannabis use is a real cognitive response, not just an imaginary effect. The study, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, examined both human participants and rats and discovered that cannabis use increased food intake across all groups, regardless of factors like sex, age, weight or recent food consumption.

Why it matters

The findings could provide insights to help people struggling with appetite loss due to conditions like HIV, AIDS or chemotherapy. The study helps explain the physiological mechanisms behind the "munchies" and how cannabis use stimulates the brain's cannabinoid receptors to trigger hunger, even when someone is not actually hungry.

The details

The human clinical trial examined 82 participants aged 21 to 62 who were randomly selected to vape either 20 or 40 milligrams of cannabis or a placebo. Participants who used cannabis consumed significantly more food, with beef jerky and water being among the most popular items. A similar study on rats at the University of Calgary found the same results - rats under the influence of cannabis consistently worked to get access to food, even when they were already full. Researchers determined the "munchies" are mediated by the brain, not the gut, as blocking cannabinoid receptors in the brain curbed appetite in rats but blocking them in the peripheral nervous system did not.

  • The human clinical trial was recently published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS).

The players

Carrie Cuttler

A psychology professor at Washington State University who directs The Health and Cognition (THC) Lab.

Ryan McLaughlin

A professor in the College of Veterinary Medicine at Washington State University who co-led the research.

Matthew Hill

A researcher at the University of Calgary who ran a similar series of studies using a rat model.

Catherine Hume

A researcher at the University of Calgary who ran a similar series of studies using a rat model.

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What they’re saying

“There are a lot of different diseases, conditions and disorders associated with wasting syndromes and lack of appetite, and this study really supports the idea that cannabis can be used medicinally to increase appetite in people who have conditions like HIV, AIDS, or who are on chemotherapy.”

— Carrie Cuttler, psychology professor

“The human study found irrespective of body mass index, time of last food consumption, sex or how much cannabis was consumed, human participants who used cannabis during the trial ate significantly more food.”

— Ryan McLaughlin, professor

“Beef jerky was one of the No. 1 things intoxicated people gravitated toward, which I don't understand. Honestly, I would have thought chocolate, chips, Rice Krispies treats — things like that.”

— Carrie Cuttler, psychology professor

“The sober animals are kind of like, 'I'm full. Why do I care?' They don't put in any effort at all. They barely work in any capacity to get access to food. But you get them stoned again, and even though they're now full and they've eaten, they go right back as if they're starving.”

— Matthew Hill, researcher

“That's what really gives us the opportunity to look at whether this is something brain-mediated or gut-mediated, and this generally shows 'the munchies' are mediated by the brain.”

— Ryan McLaughlin, professor

What’s next

Researchers hope the study can inform future treatments for people experiencing appetite loss, as it provides insights into the physiological mechanisms behind the "munchies" phenomenon.

The takeaway

This study provides scientific evidence that the "munchies" experienced after cannabis use is a real cognitive response, not just an imaginary effect. The findings could have important implications for helping people struggling with appetite loss due to medical conditions or treatments.