Cannabis and Eating Disorder Recovery

Seven years ago, I decided to start recovering from anorexia nervosa and excessive exercise addiction. After years of suffering in silence with severe weight loss, I’d finally had enough—but I was completely lost when it came to knowing where to begin. 

I was severely underweight at the time. While I knew gaining weight was crucial for my recovery, the thought of it filled me with fear. Recovery seemed like a distant, unreachable goal. But I was determined to find a way to make it possible—to recover and to stay recovered.  

Cannabis and eating disorders

I’ve always believed life has a funny way of giving us exactly what we need when we need it the most. Shortly after committing to recover from my eating disorder, I landed my first job out of college after a long season of mass applying: a public relations gig at Weedmaps. 

At the time, I had only dabbled in the stoner lifestyle at the rare party or social gathering. At Weedmaps, I fully immersed myself in the world of recreational and medical cannabis—well, okay, no one forced the plant into my lungs, but the office had a “smoke room” at the time, which was pretty difficult to turn down. I also figured if I was going to work in the industry, I needed to understand the plant and as much of the science behind it as I could find. I dove headfirst into a lifestyle centered on conscious consumption. 

As I became more familiar with the plant, I noticed something incredible starting to happen when it came to the intersection of weed and anorexia: I was eating, and I wasn’t shitting my pants with anxiety over it. I’m not just talking about getting the munchies—though those were definitely real and present. Rather, being high seemed to reduce the stress I had around eating and the concept of gaining weight. Something I’d been agonizing over for months suddenly became easier, almost intuitive. 

From that point, cannabis became a critical part of my recovery journey. It gave me the strength to keep going at times when forward motion felt impossible. As I would later learn, this emotional and physical relief was bigger than my personal perception. Cannabis was being studied as a powerful tool to help people across the nation recover from eating disorders—a lede that was buried under more mainstream therapeutic headlines about chronic pain and autoimmune diseases, but a lede nonetheless.

Weed and eating disorders: How cannabis can aid eating disorder recovery

Cannabis has shown promise in helping people recover from anorexia and other eating disorders (like bulimia, orthorexia, or binge eating disorders), particularly through its effects on appetite stimulation and mood regulation. 

Here are a few of the most widely recognized ways cannabis has been shown to soothe the pain of emotional and physical recovery associated with eating disorders:

Weed for eating disorders: Appetite stimulation for higher food intake

THC is well-known for appetite stimulation. This effect, often referred to as “the munchies,” can be especially beneficial for those recovering from anorexia who are struggling with a lack of hunger or a severe aversion to food. Cannabis interacts with the body’s endocannabinoid system and cannabinoid receptors, which regulate appetite, mood, and energy balance, encouraging the desire to eat and making it much more appealing to someone who’s been training their body and brain to ignore this fundamental need for survival. 

Anxiety and depression management

Many individuals with anorexia (and bulimia) experience anxiety and depression, which is unfortunately both a symptom of the condition and a function of exacerbation. Certain cannabinoids, most notably CBD, have anxiolytic and antidepressant properties that may help alleviate these symptoms. This relief, in turn, can make it easier to engage in healthy eating behaviors—something I certainly experienced in my early days of recovery.

Body image and self-perception

The psychoactive effects of cannabis can help people detach from the plague of body dysmorphia and obsessiveness around body weight—or at least help offer new perspectives on self-image through mind expansion. This shift in perception can be part of a broader therapeutic strategy in recovery: one that addresses one of the deepest-rooted sources of eating disorder behavior.

Improving sleep

Good sleep is crucial for mental health and recovery, which takes a major toll on the mental and physical body. Cannabis is recognized for its potential to improve sleep quality, which in turn helps to reduce anxiety and improve overall mood.

Weed for anorexia: A more holistic approach to recovery

While cannabis shouldn’t be used as a standalone treatment for eating disorders, it can complement other therapeutic approaches and treatment options like cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), nutritional counseling, and medical treatment in a holistic recovery plan.

Supporting a loved one in recovery

If you have a loved one recovering from an eating disorder and/or accompanying psychiatric disorders, your support can make a powerful difference in their experience. 

Here are some ways you can help someone in your life make their way through this difficult but worthwhile journey:

Educate yourself

Take the time to understand eating disorders as a mental health condition, the genetic factors that might be at play, and the unique challenges your loved one is facing. 

If cannabis is part of their recovery, learn how it works and what its potential benefits and side effects might look like. Knowledge is a power loved ones can use to provide informed, empathetic support.

Be there for them emotionally

One of the most powerful ways to support someone in recovery is by listening without judgment. Recovery is an emotional rollercoaster, and your loved one needs a safe space to express their fears, frustrations, and triumphs. Celebrate small victories in their recovery, no matter how minor they may seem, and lend a listening ear on the harder days when they just need to vent. 

Promote healthy habits

Encourage balanced eating and a healthy lifestyle. Join them in planning and preparing meals, and support activities that promote wellbeing, like yoga, meditation, or nature walks. However, it’s important to be intuitive here. If you get too aggressive with your wellness encouragement, you might push them away. Be gentle and patient with what they’re willing to try, and remember that supporting them is your number one priority.

Respect their boundaries

Be careful to give your loved one space when they need it, and try to avoid pressuring them into doing anything that makes them feel uncomfortable. Recovery is a personal journey, and it’s important to let people progress at their own pace.

Be patient

Recovery from an eating disorder is often a long, non-linear process, and your loved one might experience the occasional setback. Your continued patience and unwavering support can make all the difference in the world. Celebrate the progress, no matter how small, and remind people in recovery that each step forward is a move toward a healthier and happier future.