Why Weed Might Be the Next Ozempic

Key Points:

• A study by University of California, Riverside found that obese mice given THC, marijuana’s primary psychoactive compound, for 30 days showed reduced body weight and fat mass, suggesting potential for weight loss and diabetes treatment.
• Mice treated with concentrated cannabis oil containing THC and other cannabis compounds exhibited improved metabolic function, unlike those given THC alone, indicating that multiple cannabis components may contribute to health benefits.
• Despite marijuana’s known effect of increasing appetite ("the munchies"), chronic cannabis use has been inversely correlated with body weight, and this study is among the first to explore a causal relationship.
• Researchers caution that these findings are preliminary and based on animal studies; more research is needed before cannabis can be recommended for weight or diabetes management in humans.
• Some companies have begun marketing THC products as energy boosters or weight-loss aids, but experts warn against self-medicating until further scientific evidence is available.