[paul.fr]

It's well known that cannabis gives you the munchies, so could anorexics be prescribed it to help them put weight on?

[JnA]

I don't think it's as simple as that.. anorexia nervosa isn't just about the not eating.. you have to change their mindset.

[neilep]

But isn't that what cannabis does ?...it instills appetite where before there was none !

[that mad man]

But isn't that what cannabis does ?...it instills appetite where before there was none !

That's true but you then you get stoned and cant be assed to cook or do much so you end up eating sweets and biscuits etc that just gives a quick fix. The trouble then is that you don't get a proper diet. Just look at some pictures of hippies in the past and you will notice that most were fairly slim.  


But seriously, I know some one who has Crohns disease and uses it for just that, to stimulate the appetite. I have also read that THC (the main active ingredient in cannabis) interacts with cannabinoid receptors in the brain to produce these effects.
Seems like our brains have evolved to react favourably to its use so maybe our distant ancestors put it to good use, after all it is a quick growing weed.


I'm not sure if the "active" ingredient that gives the munchies has been isolated from the raw drug yet. The pain relief one has and is used to good effect.

[thelastman]

That's a terrible idea:  Out of the pan into the fire.  Pot is definitely not good for you and becomes addictive and creates all sorts of problems.  The solution to anorexia is a loving dad (mom too whatever) who supports, nurtures, strengthens and empowers his daughter's life (boys too I guess but I don't see many skinny ones of them).  That though takes time and the wisdom to know and believe in it; all the while most parents ill-equipped to deal with adolescence while their little diamonds shatter before them.

[Brinna]

Why do you say Pot is not good for you? On what do you base that assertion? Frankly, since cannabis fights cancer, is anti-microbial, is an anti-oxidant and a neuroprotectant, and is useful in the prevention and treatment of a wide variety of diseases including stroke, trauma, auto-immune disorders, HIV dementia, Parkinson's and Alzheimer's (as clearly stated in the patent (#6,630,507) that the US Govt itself holds on medical cannabis) I would say that Pot is good for you. I would love to hear someone debate this who actually has looked at the unbiased studies. I recommend that all who read this start thinking for themselves, and question why they have bought the Federal government's propaganda campaign hook line and sinker. As they say: the truth is out there.

Oh, and, by the way, cannabis is already being used as a treatment for anorexia. Just google cannabis and anorexia, and you will see.

[thelastman]

Alright, I did even though I'm deeply skeptical of such.  This is one cite:

http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,22355749-2,00.html [nofollow]

an excerpt:

"But his findings, which are not yet published, have been questioned by some eating disorder groups who believe it could cause more harm than good."

Pot is not good for you; it's mind-altering, addictive, and grossly detrimental to the lungs.  It will cause more harm than good; I don't care how stoned they get, that won't cure the underlying problems girls face in (American) culture:  I got a hunch that some/many anorexic girls who are deluded into such a program would see that indeed, pot makes them hungry and hey, they'll do just what you expect:  "hey, I ain't gettin' high if this stuff makes me eat", or even worst:  an anorexic drug addict.

[Brinna]

Lastman, I am glad that you did take the time to follow up on links to cannabis and anorexia. With regard to lung damage, as you know recent studies by NIDA (Donald Tashkin) have determined that even long-term chronic smokers of cannabis have NO increased risk of lung, head or throat cancers. In addition, use of a vaporizer greatly reduces the impact on lungs. It is probable that Sativex, the oromucosal cannabis spray developed by GW pharmaceuticals would have the same appetite-increasing properties of cannabis. And of course, cannabis can be ingested (which would catch two birds with one stone -- pardon the pun).

I also seriously question your use of the word "drug-addict" to describe someone who uses cannabis. Cannabis is a.) not a drug, and b.) not addictive. When you compare the serious ongoing physical damage and life-threatening consequences of anorexia to the mild "high" of cannabis, which would you choose for your daughter?

[ukmicky]

Pot is definitely not good for you and becomes addictive

Its very easy to stop smoking pot but almost impossible to give up the tobacco its mixed with

[JnA]

Alright, I did even though I'm deeply skeptical of such.  This is one cite:

http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,22355749-2,00.html

an excerpt:

"But his findings, which are not yet published, have been questioned by some eating disorder groups who believe it could cause more harm than good."

Pot is not good for you; it's mind-altering, addictive, and grossly detrimental to the lungs.  It will cause more harm than good; I don't care how stoned they get, that won't cure the underlying problems girls face in (American) culture:  I got a hunch that some/many anorexic girls who are deluded into such a program would see that indeed, pot makes them hungry and hey, they'll do just what you expect:  "hey, I ain't gettin' high if this stuff makes me eat", or even worst:  an anorexic drug addict.

I had read this and it's what led me to my first comment.

There is also some evidence that over time the 'munchies' phenon diminishes with regular pot use.

[JnA]

Cannabis is a.) not a drug,

Oh really?  *raises eyebrow*

[thelastman]

Brinna . . . forget about the pot ok.  It's only going to make things worst.  It is addictive. It is a drug. Most people smoke it to get high.  Think about it for a moment:  I wish to  prescribe a loving father who begins teaching his jewel about the perils of girl-hood while he can still rock her to sleep and you wish to prescribe a mild-altering, addictive, respiratory irritant.  Ask the girls around you (not necessarily anorexic) which one would they prefer?

[BenV]

Actually, I don't think there is any evidence for cannabis being addictive, but as many smokers use it with tobacco (in the UK at least), we know that tobacco is both addictive and damaging to the lungs.

However, we do know that cannabis is related to an increased incidence of schizophrenia - whether or not this is because people with latent schizophrenia are more likely to use cannabis, or that the cannabis causes schizophrenia, we don't know.  This would suggest that giving it to people with a known psychological problem (such as anorexia) wouldn't be a good idea.

It is possible that the appetite stimulating effects, in tandem with other therapies, may be beneficial - If you can treat the root cause of anorexia, and at the same time increase appetite chemically, it may speed recovery.  But, as That Mad Man pointed out, I don't know if the appetite stimulating chemicals have been isolated.

Sadly, thelastman, a loving family can't be prescribed.

[thelastman]

Hi Ben.

I wish to stay on topic:  pot and "treatment" for anorexia.  However let me quickly defend by "prevention" therapy since you challenged it:  Certainly I can prescribe my therapy. Unfortunately, it's often left on the table unfilled or parents just don't know where (how) to fill it.  And oh what a therapy that would be:  she wouldn't do it just for him.  Ok back to topic:

I believe pot is addictive if addiction is defined appropriately:  If defined as the physiological effects normally associated with withdrawal, for example from heroin, then cessation from pot has few physical effects so in that regards is not addictive.  However, if defined as the behavior surrounding its use, such as cravings, extreme preoccupation with thinking about it, acquiring and consuming it, having difficulty functioning in society without it, and neglect of other responsibilities at the expense of involving oneself in it's use, then pot, I believe, is most certainly addictive.

[BenV]

I certainly agree that a supportive family would be of great help to prevent and treat anorexia. It's a shame that not everyone is guaranteed a good family.

With regards the 'gateway drug' argument - I think that alcohol and tobacco are much more powerful gateway drugs - I've seen no convincing evidence that use of cannabis leads on to harder drugs.  I think it's much more likely that alcohol & tobacco can make someone more likely to use cannabis, and they can also lead on to the use of harder drugs.  It seems strange to pick on cannabis as the 'gateway', is it because it's often the first illegal drug people use?