Here is why smoking weed gives you the munchies

A new study has confirmed that it isn't just you who has the uncontrollable urge to eat everything in sight after smoking marijuana and explained the reason behind it.

In research published in this month's Nature journal, lead author Tamas Horvath and his colleagues monitored how the drug affects the part of the brain that controls appetite.

"By observing how the appetite centre of the brain responds to marijuana, we were able to see what drives the hunger brought about by cannabis and how that same mechanism that normally turns off feeding becomes a driver of eating," the Yale professor said.

"It's like pressing a car's brakes and accelerating instead. We were surprised to find that the neurons we thought were responsible for shutting down eating, were suddenly being activated and promoting hunger, even when you are full. It fools the brain's central feeding system."

This finding could benefit cancer patients who often lose their appetite during chemotherapy, and if nothing else should make you feel a little better when you demolish your fifth bag of Cheetos.

More: Researchers are working on a new breathalyser for marijuana