If you have ever consumed cannabis, you must be familiar with “the munchies”. It is a phenomenon that causes a lot of cannabis consumers to raid their fridge to find something to eat. This hard-to-control appetite is produced by one of the main cannabinoids of cannabis, THC. THC is also the cannabinoid that causes psychoactivity after consumption. 

There are many conditions that can reduce appetite. Loss of appetite is associated with some conditions that qualify for a medical cannabis card in Rochester. This card allows you to buy and consume medical cannabis for your condition. These conditions may include cancer, HIV, chronic pain, and more. These conditions can suppress the appetite of patients, which can lead to loss of weight. Sometimes, some medications to manage symptoms of certain conditions can also interfere with the appetite of patients. Fortunately, medical cannabis can help in stimulating appetite.

Effects of medical cannabis that are related to hunger stimulation

• Cannabis is known to enhance the sense of smell in people. And the sense of smell is closely connected to taste buds. This increases the flavor of food significantly for the person. This leads to a better eating experience for the person.
• The reason we feel hunger is a hormone produced by the brain called ghrelin. The brain produces ghrelin when the stomach is empty. The same hormone is also produced by the body when the person consumes medical cannabis. This makes the user feel hungry in the same way.
• The brain produces a hormone named dopamine, which gives us a feeling of happiness. When we consume medical cannabis, the same chemical is produced, hence we get the feeling of happiness.

Medical cannabis and loss of appetite

After consuming medical cannabis, THC interacts with your endocannabinoid system. The endocannabinoid system (or ECS) has receptors that are present on the membranes of many cell types throughout the body. The two main receptors of ECS are CB1 and CB2. There are various roles of these receptors. One of them is to control energy homeostasis that influences the central nervous system’s food intake centers. That’s how THC affects the signaling of the central nervous system.

THC activates the CB1 receptors leading to the release of hormones that induce a sense of hunger. This is one of the “side effects” of THC. But this side effect comes with benefits as it can make food feel tastier. 

There are some neurons in the brain that are usually responsible for suppressing appetite. The research shows that the effects of medical cannabis causing appetite stimulation is also driven by the same neurons. Leptin is a hormone that suppresses appetite. But, medical cannabis inhibits the action of this hormone. Also, there are neurons that send signals to the brain that the person’s stomach is full. However, THC slows down these neurons. This helps the patients suffering from the loss of appetite caused by a medical condition. 

Medical cannabis strains for appetite stimulation

There are some cannabis strains that can help in treating loss of appetite. I have prepared a list of some of the best ones for you. So, let’s check them out.

1. OG Kush

OG Kush is one of the most popular cannabis strains around the world. Everyone has heard about this strain, whether it is a veteran or a newbie. Even though this strain is very famous, the origin story of OG Kush is still a mystery. Despite this, OG Kush is known for offering a stunning Indica high that can make you immobile. This amazing strain is a great pick to deal with the loss of appetite. And it comes with pleasant flavors of pine, fruit, and citrus.

2. Royal Cookies

Ah, this strain is surely a mouth-watering strain that will also make your stomach grumble. This Indica dominant hybrid cannabis strain is 80 percent Indica and 20 percent Sativa. Royal Cookies is a great pick for medical purposes as well. And due to the dominance of Indica, it has a stoning nature. It is produced by using the genetics of Forum Cookies S1, which is its parent strain. 

Royal Cookies has high levels of THC that can reach up to 23 percent. This makes it a monster strain that can get you very high. The high starts off warm and makes you feel sleepy by the end. It offers an uplifting high that can put you in a good mood, before making you fall asleep. Once the THC enters your system, it induces the sensation of hunger. This unending appetite can last almost the entire time you are high. Royal Cookies comes with the flavors of sweetness and earth that can further tick your appetite. 

3. Pineapple Kush

Pineapple Kush is another Indica dominant cannabis strain on this list. This amazing strain is produced by crossbreeding two legendary strains, OG Kush and the fruity Pineapple. It has high potency that makes it a masterpiece for inducing appetite. Due to the Indica genetics, Pineapple Kush offers a high that will make your body feel very relaxed. It can reduce muscle tension and mental stress while offering a feeling of optimism and serenity. Pineapple Kush is a great pick to consume after a long and busy day. It will feel relaxed while helping in stimulating the appetite.

4. Critical 

This amazing strain is widely known as a jack of all trades. Critical has the attractive trains of large yields, great flavor, and ease of growth. This all-rounder cannabis strain was produced by crossbreeding Afghani and Skunk. Critical is a slightly Indica dominant strain that is 60 percent Indica and 40 percent Sativa. 

Both your body and mind will feel the effects of the high produced by this strain. It offers stimulating and creative thoughts along with the relaxation to the body. It comes with high levels of THC that reaches about 18 percent.

5. Sour Diesel

One of my personal favorite cannabis strains is Sour Diesel. It is produced by mixing some legendary cannabis strains that include Northern Light, Shiva, Original Diesel, and Hawaiian. Sour Diesel is the only Sativa dominant cannabis strain on this list. It is 70 percent Sativa and 30 percent Indica. Sour Diesel also contains high levels of THC that reaches about 19 percent. Sour Diesel offers a potent and cognitive high while keeping your mind clear. It is a great strain for you if you are also looking for some creativity boost. It has a fuel-like, sour, and herbal taste that will make you crave for food.