This Pullman-based study using real cannabisโnot synthetic THCโprovides the most realistic evidence yet that cannabis appetite effects can be translated into treatments for seriously ill patients. WSU’s official press release on the PNAS munchies study. Prof.
Study Challenges Negative Cannabis Stereotypes, Claiming Link to Brain Benefits
Researchers confirmed that cannabis universally increases appetite regardless of your body type, gender, or how recently you ateโknowledge that could help develop better treatments for patients who can’t eat due to illness. Researchers at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus analyzed cannabis usage, brain scans, and cognitive test results for over 26,000 adults ages 40-77 using UK Biobank data. Moderate lifetime cannabis users showed larger volumes in brain regions rich in CB1 receptorsโareas involved in memory, information processing, and emotion regulation.
Teenage Cannabis Users Twice as Likely as Non-Users to Develop Psychosis
A large study found that moderate cannabis use in adults over 40 was linked to larger brain volumes and better cognitive function, though experts caution more research is needed before drawing conclusions. A landmark longitudinal study published in JAMA Health Forum followed 463,396 adolescents ages 13-17 through age 26. Past-year cannabis use during adolescence was associated with a doubled risk of developing psychotic and bipolar disorders, plus elevated risks for depression and anxiety.
Satiety Bypass: How Cannabis Overrides the Brain’s ‘I’m Full’ Signal
A massive study tracking over 460,000 teens found that cannabis use during adolescence doubled the risk of psychotic and bipolar disorders, underscoring why age restrictions and youth prevention are critical. Neuroscience News deep-dive into the WSU/Calgary PNAS study on cannabis-induced appetite. THC activates CB1 receptors in the hypothalamus to override natural satiety signals, creating a feeling of starvation even in recently fed subjects.
Cannabis: What Is the Profile of Adults at Low Risk of Dependence?
Scientists have mapped exactly how THC tricks your brain into feeling starving even when you’re full, which opens the door to developing appetite-boosting medications without the psychoactive high. A University of Montreal study published in the Journal of Cannabis Research found that among Quebec adults in their mid-30s who used cannabis in the past year, 63% were at low risk for cannabis use disorder (CUD). Lower-risk users tended to use cannabis occasionally and in social contexts, and were more likely to be women or to co-use cannabis with alcohol rather than tobacco.
Medical Cannabis Improves Sleep for Insomnia Patients
Most cannabis usersโ63%โare at low risk for developing dependence, which means public health policy should acknowledge that the majority of adults use cannabis without developing a problem. NORML reports on data from the UK Medical Cannabis Registry showing that insomnia patients who consume cannabis-based medicinal products (CBMPs) report sustained improvements in sleep quality over 18 months. Among 124 patients assessed at multiple intervals, cannabis use was associated with better sleep, reduced anxiety, and improved health-related quality of life.
Cannabis-Related ‘Munchies’ Are Real, and Could Help People with AIDS, Cancer
If you struggle with insomnia, this data shows medical cannabis provided sustained sleep improvement for 18 months, with nearly 40% of patients reducing or quitting their prescription sleep medications. A collaborative study by WSU and University of Calgary, published in PNAS, confirms ‘the munchies’ are a real cognitive response that occurs regardless of sex, age, weight, or recent food consumption. In a randomized clinical trial of 82 volunteers who vaped 20 or 40mg of cannabis or placebo, intoxicated participants ate significantly more food within the first 30 minutes.
When Legalization Meets Reality: High-THC Cannabis and Psychosis Risk
Scientists have proven that cannabis-triggered appetite is a real brain responseโnot just a stereotypeโwhich could lead to life-saving treatments for patients with HIV/AIDS and cancer who can’t eat. Psychology Today analysis examines the tension between cannabis legalization and emerging mental health research. THC potency has risen dramatically since the 1990s, with vape cartridges now near-pure levels.
Study: Minor Cannabinoids CBDV and CBG Show Powerful Anti-Inflammatory Effects When Combined
If you or someone you love uses high-potency cannabis products regularly, this research suggests the mental health risks are realโespecially for younger users whose brains are still developing. A study published in the Journal of Ethnopharmacology found that 10 non-psychotropic phytocannabinoidsโparticularly CBDV and CBGโdemonstrated meaningful anti-inflammatory effects. Researchers from the University of Chemistry and Technology and the Czech Academy of Sciences found that CBDV significantly reduced IL-6 and TNF-ฮฑ production and inhibited NF-ฮบB activation.
United Center Becomes First Major US Arena to Partner with Cannabis Drink Brands
New research shows that combining lesser-known cannabinoids like CBDV and CBG produces stronger anti-inflammatory effects than any single compound alone, supporting the value of full-spectrum hemp products. Chicago’s United Center, the largest entertainment arena in the US, has entered a historic partnership with cannabis drink brands, establishing the first-ever official THC sponsorship at a major American venue. The deal with RYTHM Inc.