THC interacts with receptors in our brain that regulate emotions, pain and our sense of smell and taste,” said Janice Newell Bissex, a registered dietitian. “It can also promote the release of the hormone ghrelin, which stimulates hunger.”
Other research has revealed that neurons that normally turn off when eating actually stimulate more eating when marijuana is used. “The neurons that typically control our level of satiety can be usurped when marijuana is consumed,” Wenk said.
THC also increases the release of dopamine, which enhances the pleasure of eating, explained Bissex. In addition to making food more enjoyable, dopamine – a brain chemical that helps to control the brain’s reward and pleasure centers – can lower inhibitions, Hultin explained.