Can Cannabis Help You Lose Weight?

The pairing of cannabis and food is well-established amongst even those who have never even touched the plant. And it’s doubtful that the medical marijuana movement of the ‘80s and ‘90s would have ever taken off without cannabis’s appetite-stimulating properties, which helped, for example, HIV-positive patients immensely. However, regardless of “the munchies,” researchers have noted an odd association between cannabis and lower body mass index. And aside from the occasional sugary cannabis edible, there’s no calories in cannabis psychoactive components, which has given rise to a host of cannabis beverages. It’s led rise to the release of products, such as SkinnyWeed and Wana Optimals Fit Gummies, which are designed to curb appetite as well, pointing to the endless diversity of the plant’s uses.

WHAT KEEPS WEIGHT-CURBING CANNABIS PRODUCTS FIT?

Indeed, considering cultural stereotypes of the lazy cannabis consumer, the relative lack of obese cannabis consumers may seem counterintuitive. But study after study shows this connection:

• A 15-year longitudinal study entitled the Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults examined over 3500 young adults and broke them down in part between non-cannabis users and those with prior or current histories. The study found that while the cannabis consumers took in more calories than the non-consumers, their body mass index did not increase alongside of it.
• An examination of data from two studies, the National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions and the National Comorbidity Replication Study, found that in both studies, adjusted prevalence rates of obesity for those who had used cannabis at least three times a week in the preceding 12 months were eight percentage points less than those who had not consumed at all.
• Data from the Third National Health and Nutrition Survey, which surveyed over 10,000 people, found again that while cannabis users consumed more calories, their body mass index was lower, than those who haven’t.
• A 21-year longitudinal study in Australia examining the relationship of cannabis and body weight tracked over 2500 young adults, again finding less obesity in the cannabis users.

So what accounts for these results consistently observed by several different research teams across time and continent? So far, there’s basically speculation. Some suggest that cannabis consumers may also consume other drugs, and this might account for lower BMIs and obesity. Others consider a difference between chronic versus acute use — in other words, if you’re using over longer periods of time, say, around 15-21 years, you might see a general difference in your body weight compared to non-users or even occasional users. But others wonder if it may have something to do with the cannabinoids themselves. That’s where we’ve seen new products come into play.

THE ARRIVAL OF THE CANNABIS DIETARY SUPPLEMENTS

Back in 2015, reality TV star Bethenny Frankel, who had created a line of Skinnygirl cocktails, announced her interest in creating a psychoactive cannabis strain that would not give people the munchies. While we’re still waiting on this product, there are still products such as Skinnyweed, a hemp-CBD capsule which claims that its users will lose 2-3 pounds a week due to its product’s ability to support blood sugar regulation and “brown” white adipose tissue. In addition, Wana Brands in October, 2021 announced a partnership with ECS Brands to market a line of THCV-rich gummies called The Fit. In a press release, VP of Innovation Mike Hennesy contrasted the metabolic activity of the Fit with how weight loss is thought to work with cannabis. When the body’s CB1 neural receptors are triggered, or agonized, by THC, it’s thought to speed up the body’s metabolism and lower energy storage, thereby reducing body mass index. THCV, on the other hand, acts as a neutral antagonist of CB1, which may end up curbing appetite. Similar to SkinnyWeed, Wana also uses nano-encapsulation to speed up cannabinoid absorption in the bloodstream. Strains such as Durban Poison, Green Crack and Super Silver Haze also contain relatively high levels of THCV as well.

Either way, whether it’s speeding up the metabolism or actually curbing appetite, cannabis just may be the solution for maintaining optimal body weight over time.