Increased Appetite After Quitting Weed: The Rebound Effect

First you couldn’t eat anything. Now you cannot stop eating. The appetite rebound is a less-discussed phase of cannabis recovery that catches many people off guard.

Why It Happens

During early withdrawal, appetite drops because your hypothalamic CB1 receptors are depleted. Around weeks 2–4, those receptors begin recovering — and they temporarily overshoot. Your hunger signaling system goes from suppressed to hyperactive.

Additionally, your body may be genuinely calorie-depleted from the initial loss-of-appetite phase. Your brain detects the energy deficit and drives increased food-seeking behavior to compensate.

Emotional eating also plays a role. With emotions returning and the coping mechanism of cannabis gone, food becomes a substitute reward source for your dopamine-depleted brain.

Timeline

• Onset: Days 10–14 (as initial appetite suppression resolves)
• Peak: Days 21–35
• Resolution: Days 35–45 as appetite regulation normalizes

What Helps

1. Eat Regular, Balanced Meals

Prevent extreme hunger by eating consistent meals with protein, fat, and complex carbs. Skipping meals triggers binge eating.

2. Stay Hydrated

Thirst is often misinterpreted as hunger. Drink a glass of water before eating and reassess.

3. Allow It (Within Reason)

Your body is recovering. It needs fuel. If you are eating mostly healthy food and are genuinely hungry (not boredom-eating), increased appetite is a sign of recovery, not a problem.

4. Find Non-Food Rewards

If eating is replacing cannabis as your dopamine source, intentionally cultivate other rewards: exercise, social connection, creative activities, music.

When to Seek Help

• Binge eating feels out of control
• Significant weight gain is causing health concerns
• Eating patterns suggest an eating disorder developing