Appetite - Cannabis as a remedy

Aside from euphoria, probably the most common effect of cannabis is - to avoid using a medical term - the munchies. The substance has shown good results in treating patients suffering from wasting diseases, such as AIDS, by reducing nausea and increasing appetite. It has promising potential in treating anorexia nervosa, one of the most common and dangerous eating disorders, but it is not a cure and the science is not complete.

Anorexia is a mental illness. It kills more than 12% of the sick and 6% commits suicide. Psychotherapy is the usual treatment as there are no approved drugs to combat it.

But this may be why some patients report that cannabis helps. Anxiety and depression are commonly associated with the disease. It could be the anti-anxiety effect of cannabis that helps more than its appetite-stimulating properties.

Most states that allow the use of medical cannabis do not consider anorexia a qualifying condition. New Mexico considers it suitable only for "Severe Anorexia" which has no medical definition.

As with many proposed medical uses for Cannabis, the actual clinical testing of its application in anorexia sufferers has been hampered by its Schedule I drug status. In addition to being legal, the designation means that it has no medical use.

This is despite the fact that at least one study has shown that moderate cannabis users have lower obesity rates than those who never use it. Complicating the weed and appetite problem is the drug Rimonabant. Dubbed "Anti-THC," large doses of it have suppressed appetite, with some users reporting that their weight loss programs are three times more effective. It was never allowed in the United States and European authorities withdrew it from the market after being linked to depression and suicide.

Sources: thefreshtoast