Fact or Fiction: Does Marijuana Increase Metabolism?

Summer is just around the corner and everyone wants to be beach ready – or at least try to look good! In 2022, we generated $76 billion in revenue from weight loss programs, diet sodas and low-calorie frozen foods, gym memberships and more. Everyone wants a silver bullet and their number one choice is Ozempic, the diabetes drug. From the cabbage diet to fasting to the “gut buster,” everyone wants a weight loss trick. But what about marijuana????

It’s clear that alcohol helps you gain weight, but what about cannabis? Does it affect your metabolism and stomach/body size?

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There is evidence that cannabis interacts with cannabinoid receptor 1, which plays a role in metabolism and food intake. High amounts of cannabis appear to increase metabolism and decrease energy storage, resulting in a lower BMI. But like most effective weight loss remedies, it takes time, as opposed to sudden weight loss.

Different strains of cannabis have different effects on these neurons. “THC may increase appetite, but CBD supports carb metabolism, insulin fasting and metabolic function, relieves and curbs cravings—they work synergistically,” says Junella Chin, MD, an integrative medicine physician in New York and California specializing in medical science Cannabis and Osteopathy specializes in Neuromuscular Medicine. “A cannabis formulation with a balanced ratio of THC:CBD or predominantly CBD is helpful in minimizing cravings.”

In 2013, the American Journal of Science published a report noting that the prevalence of obesity among cannabis users is low, despite a wealth of empirical and anecdotal evidence linking marijuana users to a high-calorie diet. According to the study, “the most important finding is that current marijuana users appear to have better carbohydrate metabolism than non-users,” Murray Mittleman, associate professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School and lead author of the study, told Time. “Their fasting insulin levels were lower and they seemed less resistant to the insulin their bodies produce to maintain normal blood sugar levels.

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What about The Munchies, the long-standing connection between weed and snacking?

One study showed an increase in sales of “junk” foods, defined primarily as chips, cookies and ice cream, in US states where cannabis is now legal.

However, you should keep in mind that correlation is not the same as causation. Just because there has been a surge in sales of these edibles where cannabis is legal doesn’t mean cannabis was to blame.

Maintaining the body is a difficult business and you should consult your doctor before beginning any significant weight loss program. Changing your body takes time and you should never expect big changes in a short amount of time. And it’s not healthy for your system. Exercise, healthy eating, and sleep are key factors in maintaining a healthy body.