How many calories are in cannabis?

Everything that we eat or drink contains calories — including cannabis. In particular, cannabis edibles like gummies and baked goods can be high in calories. And tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) may trigger the release of a hunger-stimulating hormone called ghrelin, which can increase appetite and calorie consumption.

However, it’s easy to be calorie-conscious when consuming cannabis. Smoking or vaping allows you to experience the benefits without increasing your caloric intake.

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How many calories are in cannabis?

The exact number of calories in cannabis is unknown. However, we do know that 1 gram of carbohydrates contains 4 calories. Because cannabis is a plant, the number of calories it contains is probably similar, or even slightly lower.

That said, most people don’t eat the raw cannabis plant. Instead, they smoke it, vaporize it, put it under their tongue (tincture), or ingest edibles that contain other potentially high-calorie ingredients.

In fact, depending on the recipe, edible brownies, gummies, and cookies can contain a significant amount of calories.

So the number of calories you consume with cannabis can vary depending on how you’re using it.

Does smoking weed have any calories?

You don’t consume any calories when you smoke cannabis. When you inhale cannabis smoke, the very small number of calories the plant contains do not translate to caloric intake.

But, THC is known to increase your appetite. This can indirectly cause you to consume more calories than you normally would.

High-THC cannabis strains in particular may cause the “munchies,” or a sudden spike in appetite that tends to last for the duration of the “high.”

The effects that THC has on your appetite are the result of an increase in the hunger hormone ghrelin. THC can also increase levels of dopamine, the “happy” hormone. This can heighten your sense of smell and taste and increase the pleasure you feel when you eat.

The good news? You might only feel these hunger-inducing effects when you consume high doses of THC. Research shows that low doses of cannabis do not seem to increase food intake at all.

Despite THC’s appetite-boosting effects, cannabis use doesn’t necessarily cause weight gain. In fact, researchers have found that people who use cannabis tend to have a lower body mass index (BMI) compared to those who don’t. According to some studies, using cannabis increases metabolism, which causes the body to burn calories more quickly than usual.

How many calories do edibles have?

The amount of calories an edible may contain can vary depending on the recipe and serving size. For example, a single cannabis gummy might only contain 20 calories, while a “weed brownie” may contain around 200 calories.

But any cannabis product you ingest has calories — not just sugary edibles. The carrier oils used in tinctures, for example, can have varying amounts of calories. The same goes for flavored cannabis beverages.

When consuming cannabis edibles, check nutrition labels to review the ingredients used and check how many calories the product contains.

The bottom line: Choosing the right cannabis products can help you be a calorie-conscious consumer

The cannabis plant is extremely low in calories. As a result, smoking or vaping does not increase your caloric intake. However, edibles can be high in calories — but the exact number can vary based on the recipe.

Consuming a high dose of THC can also cause the munchies, leading you to eat more than you normally would. Still, research shows that most cannabis users have a lower BMI compared to the general population.

If you’re concerned about your calorie intake, you can consider limiting high-calorie edibles. But at the end of the day, cannabis is unlikely to have a significant effect one way or the other.

Resources

• A pilot study of the effects of cannabis on appetite hormones in HIV-infected adult men. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6200580/
• Behavioral analysis of marijuana effects on food intake in humans. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/3774823/
• Cannabinoids and appetite: Food craving and pleasure. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19367510/
• Food and nutrition information center (FNIC). https://www.nal.usda.gov/programs/fnic#:~:text=Frequently%20Asked%20Questions%20(FAQs),provides%209%20calories%20per%20gram.
• Marijuana and body weight. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4204468/
• Nutrient concentrations, digestibility, and cannabinoid concentrations of industrial hemp plant components. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2590286520300859
• Seeds, hemp seeds, hulled. https://fdc.nal.usda.gov/food-details/170148/nutrients
• The effects of smoked marijuana on metabolism and respiratory control. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/367234/
• Theoretical explanation for reduced body mass index and obesity rates in Cannabis users. https://www.liebertpub.com/doi/10.1089/can.2018.0045

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