Does CBD make you hungry? Surprisingly, there isn’t a clear, authoritative answer to this question.
Some of the effects of CBD are still under research. So far, there are some signs that CBD may cause a reduced appetite. However, other studies indicate a potential increase in appetite related to CBD use.
CBD is often used to treat a specific medical condition or symptoms of a condition. Early evidence shows CBD may help treat conditions like anxiety and chronic pain, Harvard Health Publishing explains. If that condition impacts appetite and CBD reduces its symptoms, CBD may indirectly boost appetite.
Let’s take a closer look at CBD and its effects on appetite.
What is CBD?
CBD is the common name for cannabidiol, a chemical found in hemp and cannabis plants. Specifically, CBD is a cannabinoid. That means CBD acts on the cannabinoid receptors found in the human body.
Along with Delta 9 THC, CBD is one of the most well-known cannabinoids. However, their effects on users are very different.
Delta 9 and similar cannabinoids (like Delta 8 and HHC) tend to cause elevated mood and an altered sense of perception. In other words, they’re intoxicating. They create the “high” that many recreational users are looking for.
CBD, on the other hand, is not intoxicating. It doesn’t produce a high in the vast majority of users. Instead, it can cause a sense of relaxation and calmness, as well as potentially treat issues like anxiety and chronic pain.
CBD also has some side effects, although they’re generally mild. These include dry mouth, fatigue, and drowsiness.
Is CBD Legal?
When CBD comes from hemp plants containing no more than 0.3% Delta 9 THC, it’s legal at the federal level. That’s thanks to the 2018 Farm Bill, which set that THC threshold as part of legalizing commercial hemp production.
A few states, namely Idaho and Nebraska, have stricter rules related to CBD, as Leafwell explains. However, CBD is still available in those states.
Does CBD Make You Hungry?
You might be wondering “Does CBD oil make you hungry?” or “Does full-spectrum CBD make you hungry?”
The short answer is “maybe.” Research conducted to this point indicates that CBD may influence appetite. What’s less clear is how CBD can change appetite, whether increasing or decreasing it.
If you’re wondering “Does THC or CBD make you hungry?”, we can at least answer part of that question. The peer-reviewed journal Nature explains that THC use stimulates appetite. There’s a clearer relationship between THC and appetite compared to CBD and appetite.
Reviewing the Research on CBD, Appetite, and Hunger
Healthline offers a review of a variety of appetite- and weight-related, peer-reviewed CBD studies. These studies, involving test subjects like rats as well as test-tube-based results, show somewhat conflicting results
One such study, published in the peer-reviewed journal Neuroscience Letters, found rats lost weight while on a CBD regimen. The rats receiving a higher dose had a higher level of weight loss.
However, Healthline notes that more research is needed. One distinction to keep in mind is that the test animals were injected with CBD. People tend to vape or eat CBD products. This difference in how CBD is ingested may have an effect on the results.
Additionally, there are not enough human trials to clearly indicate if CBD is effective for weight loss in people. While studies start with individual cells and test animals, they need to be replicated in humans. This is the crucial progression from laboratory research to clinical research.
While this question isn’t yet resolved, research into CBD and appetite is ongoing. As more results emerge from scientific research, there will likely be a clearer answer.
CBD and Treating Conditions That Affect Appetite
CBD has shown promise in treating issues like depression and chronic pain, among others.
Chronic pain is associated with obesity through a complex relationship of many factors, the peer-revied Journal of Pain Research explains. While the exact nature of their connection isn’t clear, evidence suggests that they’re related.
Depression can cause both weight loss and weight gain. The symptoms of this mental health condition differ from person to person, but both weight-related issues are related to it.
We know CBD may help to address the symptoms of these issues. That means it may also indirectly affect appetite.
For example, CBD may enable people suffering from chronic pain to reduce inflammation and have a higher quality of sleep. Those symptoms may be related to the weight gain sometimes tied to chronic pain. In a purely theoretical sense, CBD may lead to a healthier appetite in this context.
THC, CBD and Appetite
Some CBD products also contain various forms of THC (including but not limited to Delta 9 THC). There are many product types and ratios available, from gummies to flower.
We know that THC can stimulate people’s appetite. A systematic review published in the peer-reviewed journal Clinical Drug Investigation noted a few key findings:
- Many pieces of existing research indicate CBD has an appetite-suppressing effect
- The reviewers found many of those same pieces of research contained potential bias, and more research is needed
- THC is known to have an appetite-stimulating effect
On an anecdotal level, we know that many people using THC and CBD together will mention an increase in appetite. However, the relationship between CBD, THC in relation to appetite is still unclear.
Finding the Very Best CBD Products
The jury is still out when it comes to CBD and appetite, but other benefits of this cannabinoid are clearer. There is promising research indicating CBD may address a variety of common and potentially serious issues. Individual reports from users are also broadly positive in this context.
While we won’t recommend CBD for weight loss or weight gain, there are many other reasons to use it. And when you use CBD, you deserve to get it from a source you can count on.
At Delta 8 Resellers, we only work with the leading brands in the industry to supply consistently high-quality CBD. Check out the results of independent lab testing on our products to see for yourself!
