Cannabis Science, CBD

Does Weed Have Calories?

person on scale

If you’ve ever consumed weed and wondered if it has calories, you’re not alone. Maybe you wondered after you bit into a delicious edible or maybe it was one of your musings `while high. There isn’t a lot of information on the nutritional value of weed outside of hemp. There also isn’t a huge difference between hemp and weed. Hemp refers to cannabis with less than 0.3% THC. So does hemp have calories? Does weed have calories?

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Does Weed Have Calories? 

Yes, but we don’t know how much exactly. We do know that hemp seeds and their derivatives have a low-calorie count. Since weed and hemp are pretty much the same plants, we can assume that weed has calories too and that it’s low. However, until scientists can investigate and let us know just how many calories are found in weed stems or flowers, then we can’t give you a definitive answer. 

It’s worth noting that you won’t consume any calories by smoking weed from a bong or dab rig.

You would consume calories eating weed raw, eating edibles, or having hemp-derived products. 

How Many Calories Are in Hemp Seeds?

According to Web MD, three tablespoons of raw hemp seeds have 166 calories. They’re also a great source of fiber, protein, and fat. 

Hemp seeds are also full of omega 3 fatty acids and omega 6 fatty acids. Web MD says, “these fatty acids help to support healthy cholesterol levels, immune system function, and may help regulate your metabolism.”

How Many Calories Are in Hemp Milk?

Hemp milk, which is often used as a dairy milk substitute, is another healthy hemp product. Hemp milk is made from hemp seeds.

According to a journal article from the University of Florida, one serving of hemp milk has 60 calories. 

In comparison to cow’s milk, hemp milk has fewer calories and more monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats. In addition to that, unsweetened hemp milk has no carbs. According to the journal articles, if you opt for sweetened hemp milk, there can be more than 20 grams of sugar per serving. 

The downside to hemp milk as an alternative to cow’s milk is that it doesn’t have as much protein. 

How Many Calories Are in Hemp Oil?

Hemp oil, a derivative of hemp seeds, also has calories. According to Web MD, three tablespoons of hemp oil have 170 calories. The same serving has 12 grams of fat and 10 grams of protein.

Hempseed oil may be great for heart health and has many of the same benefits as hemp seeds. If you’re thinking of adding hemp oil to your diet, Web MD suggests you start with a small amount. That’s because some CBD oils may cause stomach upset. Starting with a small amount helps you to see how CBD-containing oils affect you.

Does Smoking Weed Burn Calories?

You may have heard that stoners lose weight and tend to weigh less than non stoners. This probably seems super contradictory since weed can stimulate appetite and make people eat more. 

According to a 2011 review, “even if cannabis consumption increases appetite, people using cannabis are less likely to be obese than people who do not use cannabis.” 

Is it because smoking weed is actually helping them to burn calories?

It might. According to Healthline, “High amounts of cannabis appear to increase metabolism and reduce energy storage, resulting in a lower BMI.” This makes sense because we know that weed binds to endocannabinoid receptors that play a role in our metabolism. 

More research is definitely needed in this area. In addition to that, there are other reasons why weed may be associated with lower weight such as: 

  • Increase activity levels
  • Lower alcohol consumption
  • Allevate sleep issues
  • Speed up metabolism

Does Smoking Cigarettes Burn Calories?

Interestingly, there is evidence that smoking cigarettes directly affects your metabolism. According to Cynthia Purcell, MS, a nutritionist, and smoking cessation therapist, cigarettes activate your metabolism. Purcell was quoted in Web MD saying, “You burn about 250 calories if you smoke a pack a day”. 

The National Health Service (NHS) also echoes that sentiment. Their article said that smoking speeds up your metabolism and so you burn calories quicker. 

That’s why many people notice that when they quit smoking they gain weight. 

Of course, smoking cigarettes isn’t a great addition to any weight loss plan. Eating healthy and exercising are always the better, safer options. 

Conclusion

Weed has calories but outside of hemp products, we don’t know how much. Research is needed to confirm how many calories are in the buds, stems, and other parts of the plant. We suspect that weed is probably low in calories because hemp products are low in calories. We also don’t know if calorie count differs with strains. While we don’t know how many calories are in weed, there is evidence that smoking weed may help you burn calories. Weed binds to the endocannabinoid receptors which play a role in our metabolism. However, there are other reasons why weed may result in lower weight.

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About Trevann

Trevann is Stoner Rotation’s Jamaica-based lead writer for the Science section of our cannabis blog. She graduated with honors receiving her Bachelor of Science degree in Molecular Biology from the University of West Indies, Mona. For the last three years, she has covered some of the biggest questions around cannabis and health underpinned with research from supporting studies, medical journals and scholarly articles. Got something on your mind? You can reach her at [email protected].