Ever wondered why some people get the munchies when they smoke pot? That's because the body thinks it is starving.

According to research in Nature Neuroscience, marijuana's tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) - the stuff that makes you high as a kite, targets your brain's olfactory bulbs and makes you smell and taste more than usual. These heightened senses stimulate your appetite.

The research was conducted on mice, but it seems to have a similar effect on humans too, (from observation).

Scientists believe that the same process is at play in humans who smoke pot too. The specific receptors at play are part of the brain's endocannabinoid system that controls emotions, pain sensitivity, memory, and appetite, although marijuana affects other parts of the brain as well.

[Motherboard via Nature]