“The munchies” are one of the most well-known (and widely joked about) effects of cannabis, with users craving salty, sweet, or carb-heavy foods in the midst of a high. But beyond the predictable jokes in stoner comedies and the snack collections you dutifully gather when your buddies come around for a session, how much do we really know about the munchies?
Who gets them the most? What kinds of food do people actually reach for? How much do they spend? And are there patterns in how users try to manage — or embrace — their cravings?
To dig deeper into this classic phenomenon, CBD Oracle surveyed 1,000 cannabis users across the U.S., uncovering everything from the timing of cravings to the most popular snacks — and the truly bizarre food combinations people swear by while high.
What we found paints a very different picture than the typical “stoner and fast food” stereotype, revealing a culture of cannabis consumers who are often trying to be more mindful about what they eat when they get high (but not always being successful).
Key Insights
- Stoners are more health-conscious than you think: Almost two-thirds of respondents (63%) said they always or sometimes try to choose healthy munchies, and around a quarter (24%) crave fresh fruit, salads, and smoothies over salty or sweet snacks.
- The munchies cost consumers $10 per session: The average consumer spends about $10 per session on munchie food, and around 14% of people spend over $20 a time.
- Post-munchie guilt is real: Over four in ten users (43.4%) feel guilty after getting the munchies, and over half (53.2%) say it makes it harder to meet their weight and nutrition goals.
- Daily users get the munchies more often: 75% of daily cannabis users say they always or often get the munchies when they consume, compared to just 31% of people who use less than once a month. The more you smoke, the more you munch.
- People love eating weird foods while high: Sweet-savory boundaries are obliterated as high people combine pickles with frosting, ice cream, and peanut butter, and dip French fries into ice cream.
Munchies Are the Norm, Not the Exception
If you feel like you can’t get high without a bag of chips by your side, you’re not alone — it happens to almost everyone!
According to CBD Oracle’s survey, based on 1,000 U.S. cannabis users:
- Six out of seven tokers get the munchies at least occasionally (86.3%, based on the survey)
- One in five get them every time they consume (20.6%)
- An additional one in three (35.5%) get them “often.”
- Just one in seven “rarely” or “never” get them (13.7%)
Key Takeaway: Over half of cannabis users get the munchies frequently, and six out of seven get them at least sometimes.
This means that even if you don’t get the munchies, you’ll probably be consuming with someone who does, so make sure you stock up.
Digging deeper into the data revealed a minor gender imbalance — women are slightly less “munchy” when they get high:
- 88.5% of men get the munchies at least occasionally
- Compared to 84.2% of women.
- Notably, women were more likely to say they “never” get the munchies (5.8% vs. 2.3%)
The Munchies Hit Hardest at Night
The munchies mostly come at night… mostly. So get your snacks ready by sundown.
According to CBD Oracle’s survey, around 3 in 4 cannabis users say the munchies hit between 5 pm and 2 am, with most people’s cravings peaking after 9 pm.
The full breakdown makes the pattern crystal clear:
- Just over two out of five cannabis users (41.5%) hit “peak munchie” in the late night (between 9 pm and 2 am)
- A third (33%) are evening snackers (5 pm to 9 pm)
- One in nine (11.2%) munch in the afternoon (12 pm to 5 pm)
- Just 3.2% hit the chips hardest overnight (2 am to 6 am)
- And one in a hundred (1%) wake, bake, and munch in the morning (6 am to 12 pm).
- The remaining 10.1% say that their munchies vary too much to put a time on it.
Takeaway: The “midnight munchies” is a real phenomenon, but evening snackers are almost just as common — it depends on when you start smoking.
Netflix and Snack? Most Munchies Happen While Alone, Zoned Out and Streaming
Cannabis users hit the snacks hardest when most people do: when they’re alone, chilling on the couch and streaming.
According to the survey, nine in ten cannabis users say they’re likely to snack when alone and the same number said they get the munchies when there’s a movie or show on.
The survey found that streaming beats boredom for inspiring the munchies:
- 90.3% said they’re “somewhat” or “very likely” to get the munchies while streaming shows or movies, making this the biggest trigger for snacking.
- Over half (57.8%) said they’re “very likely” to snack while streaming, with less than half (43.5%) saying the same when they’re bored.
It also showed that people snack more alone than with friends:
- 89.9% are “somewhat” or “very likely” to snack when flying solo.
- Over half (53%) are “very likely” to dig into the chips alone, compared to a third (33.9%) when they’re hanging out with friends.
TL;DR: Cannabis users snack the most when there’s something on TV and when there’s nobody there to split the snacks with (or be judged by).
Americans Spend About $10 Per Munchie Session
Cannabis users spend about enough for a couple of party-sized bags of chips in an average munchie session, but some spend over $40 per time.
According to CBD Oracle’s survey:
- A third of cannabis users (33.6%) spend between $11 and $20 on munchies per session.
- Slightly fewer (29.3%) limit their spending to $6 to $10.
- One in ten (10.3%) push it further, spending between $20 and $40 per session.
At the extremes:
- 3.5% typically spend over $40 per session.
- Almost a quarter (23.3%) keep it cheap, spending $5 or less on the munchies.
Key Insight: The figures peak at around $10 per session, putting the average munchie bill at about $70 a week for someone who uses cannabis every day.
Smoked Flower Triggers the Strongest Munchies
Smoking a joint beats out eating a gummy or hitting a vape for producing the munchies, according to the survey.
The results show:
- Over a third (38.4%) of users said that smoked cannabis flower gives them the strongest munchies.
- 28.1% said edibles make the munchies hit the hardest, the second most popular answer.
- Almost a quarter (23.6%) said that it didn’t make a difference how they consume.
- Just 8.6% said they get the munchies the most after taking delta-8 THC or other alternative THCs.
When you break down the results to focus on the people who always get the munchies, the differences get more pronounced:
- Over half (52.7%) point to smoked flower as the biggest driver of munchies.
- Four in ten (39.7%) get stronger munchies from edibles.
- Over a quarter (27%) say vapes give stronger munchies.
- The number saying delta-8 THC (and other alt THCs) gives the strongest munchies doubles (up to 17.5%).
- Fewer respondents (17%) say there’s no difference by product type.
Bottom line: Smoked cannabis flower has the strongest association with munchies, and the link is even stronger in people prone to the munchies.
Half of Cannabis Users Plan Their Highs Around Food
Stoners know they’re going to get the munchies when they indulge, and about half of them plan their consumption around it.
The survey showed that:
- 47.1% said they “regularly” or “occasionally” plan their cannabis use around food, either pairing weed with meals or pre-prepping snacks.
- Only 27.8% said they “never” plan their use around food.
The cannabis users who occasionally or regularly plan their meals differ from others in some important ways:
- 44.2% use cannabis daily (vs. 23.5% of less frequent planners).
- Over three quarters (76.6%) often or always get the munchies (vs. 38%)
- 72.4% say they try to choose healthier snacks (vs. 54.5%)
Takeaway: Food forms a core part of the “ritual” of cannabis for about half of users, who are twice as likely to get the munchies when they smoke.
Salty Beats Sweet When the Munchies Hit
Cannabis users tend to choose salty over sweet when the munchies set in — but that doesn’t mean they’d turn down some chocolate!
According to CBD Oracle’s survey:
- Two-thirds (66.2%) crave salty foods like chips, fries or popcorn.
- 56.6% get a sweet tooth when they toke; opting for candy, chocolate or baked goods.
- Just under half (48.1%) hit savory foods like pizzas, burgers and tacos.
- 46.5% focus on texture, choosing crunchy foods like pretzels, chips and cereal.
- Slightly fewer (46%) choose the convenience of fast food.
- Almost a third (31.7%) prefer something cold and creamy (e.g. ice cream or milkshake).
- Just over a quarter (25.2%) want something home-cooked.
- Another quarter (25.1%) choose fresh food (fruits, salads and smoothies).
While most of these patterns held across the whole U.S., there were a few differences it’s worth noting:
- In the Northeast, crunchy and fast foods are more popular than savory, and people prefer fruits, salads, and fresh foods to home-cooked meals while they’re high.
- In the Midwest, fast food is more popular than crunchy food, and again people prefer fresh food to home-cooking.
- Crunchy also ranks behind fast food for stoners in the South.
And finally, one extremely relatable person in the “Other” section wrote in “All food,” which speaks to all of us at one point or another.
Takeaway: Cannabis users are more likely to dip into a bag of chips than gorge on cookies and chocolate, but, when it comes down to it, would probably accept both.
Around a Quarter of Stoners Crave Fruit, Salads, and Smoothies
A surprising number of cannabis users out there leave the chips on the shelves and opt for a smoothie or a salad when the munchies hit.
According to the survey, about a quarter (24.1%) of cannabis users choose fresh fruit, salads and smoothies as their go-to munchie snacks.
While still a minority, the fact that about one in four people, high out of their minds, would choose a banana over a brownie or burger flies in the face of the junk-food-loving “stoner” stereotype.
Since the survey let people choose multiple food types, it’s likely that many of these people would also crave salty, sweet and other more “typical” stoner fare, but healthy food is still on the menu more than you might think.
Takeaway: Some stoners are more health conscious than you think, and some munchie missions end at the salad bar rather than McDonalds.
The Weirdest Things People Eat While High (Pickles… So Many Pickles)
After reviewing 1,000 open-text responses on what people eat while high, one thing is abundantly clear:
People will eat anything when they’re high — but especially pickles.
Pickles were by far the most frequently mentioned weird food, and they showed up in some truly unhinged pairings:
Popular Pickle Combos:
- Pickles with cream cheese, peanut butter, or ice cream
- Fried pickles, chocolate-covered pickles, and pickle cereal
- A whole jar of pickles, eaten solo — mentioned by at least five people
- Other appearances: frosting, cheese, yogurt, whipped cream, chocolate syrup, pizza, and pickle juice cocktails (yes, plural)
Two respondents even made pickle sandwiches on brown bread, and one chased it with a mix of orange juice and pickle juice — like a twisted wine pairing.
Ice Cream Crimes:
Pickles may lead the weird food parade, but ice cream wasn’t far behind — showing up with:
- Tomatoes, peanut butter, cheese, and BBQ sauce
- Sardines, eggs, and even fried chicken
- And yes, at least three people dipped french fries into it (still weird, but maybe genius?)
Munchie Madness, Unfiltered:
Beyond the usual suspects, here are some of the most unforgettable combos:
- A Big Mac dipped in Baja Blast
- Popcorn with mayo
- Tuna salad and strawberry jam sandwich
- Raw pasta, oatmeal, and potatoes (thankfully not together)
- Spaghetti with chocolate sauce and candy
And then there’s this gem, shared without shame:
I once ate a candy bar (Reggie bar) that was over 30 years old when I was high, and my friend’s dad was pissed when he found out as it was a collectible and Reggie Jackson was his favorite player.
The takeaway: When you’re high enough, everything starts to look edible — especially pickles.
Most Cannabis Users Try to Snack Healthier — Even If They Don’t Always Succeed
Despite the stereotypes in movies like Harold and Kumar Go to White Castle, most people try to choose healthier snacks over the drive-thru when they’re high.
The survey revealed that:
- Almost two-thirds (63%) of respondents said they “always” or “sometimes” try to choose healthier snacks when they get the munchies.
- Although more said “sometimes” (51.7%), people have a clear intent to eat healthier munchies.
At the other end of the spectrum:
- Just 13.7% said they “never” try to choose healthier options.
- Almost one in four (23.3%) only “rarely” opt for healthier snacks.
Takeaway: Stoner comedies miss the mark when it comes to accuracy — most cannabis users are trying to make their munchies healthier.
But Over Half Say They Buy More Junk Food or Takeout Because of Cannabis
Despite their good intentions, people still buy more junk food when they’re high.
According to CBD Oracle’s survey:
- Almost a quarter (24.6%) say they buy more junk and snack foods because of cannabis.
- Three in ten (30.5%) make more shopping trips and food delivery orders.
- So overall, more than half (55.1%) say cannabis increases their food spending.
However, around four in ten (39.5%) say that cannabis has no effect on their purchasing. These people differ from the others in two crucial ways:
- Only 35.6% of them “always” or “often” get the munchies (compared to 72.7% of those who buy more).
- Just 30% of them use cannabis daily (vs. 36.8% of those who buy more)
Takeaway: People prone to the munchies are more likely to make late-night food orders, but about a third of users are less likely to feel the cravings and find it easier to control their spending.
Over Half Say the Munchies Make It Harder to Stick to Nutrition Goals
Getting the munchies often eats away at the progress people make with their weight and nutrition, according to the survey.
When you put aside the people who said they were “not sure” and those who don’t have weight or nutrition goals, the survey showed:
- Over half (53.2%) said that getting the munchies makes their nutrition goals harder to meet.
- More than one in three (34.6%) said that it was a minor obstacle, while 18.6% said it made it “much harder.”
- 46.8% said it didn’t affect their weight or nutrition goals.
What it means: Even though most cannabis users try to eat healthier, most people struggle to maintain their weight and nutrition goals when the munchies hit.
Four in Ten Cannabis Users Feel Guilty About Their Food Choices After Getting High
After a munchie-induced binge on pizza, cookies and (apparently) pickles, more than four out of ten (43.4%) of cannabis users feel guilty about their food choices, at least sometimes.
According to the survey:
- 8.4% feel guilty every time they get the munchies.
- Around a third (35%) sometimes feel guilty.
- 24.3% rarely feel guilty.
- Almost a third (32.2%) never feel guilty.
The people who rarely or never feel guilty have some key differences that reduce their level of guilt:
- They’re over five times more likely to never get the munchies at all.
- They’re almost three times less likely to say getting the munchies affects their weight goals.
- They’re over eight times more likely to have no weight or nutrition goals at all.
Takeaway: Guilt comes from both behavior and expectations: some users avoid it by having no nutritional expectations and some avoid it because they just don’t get the munchies that often.
The More You Smoke; The More You Munch
There’s a clear relationship between how often people use cannabis and how often they get the munchies:
| Frequency of Use | % Who “Always” or “Often” Get Munchies |
|---|---|
| Daily | 75.1% |
| A few times/week | 61.2% |
| A few times/month | 45.3% |
| Once or twice | 31.2% |
Based on this, it seems as though more frequent exposure to THC increases the munchie response. This is likely because when people use cannabis regularly, their blood has elevated THC even after a period of abstinence (even in non-daily users), and blood THC is correlated with the level of ghrelin, the “hunger hormone.”
Takeaway: The more often you consume, the more likely you are to feel the munchie effect — both physiologically and behaviorally.
Daily Users Face More Consequences — and Try Harder to Manage Them
Daily cannabis users get the munchies the most, but they also do more to try to stay in control of their cravings.
Compared to occasional users (a few times a month or less), daily users are:
- Over twice as likely to plan their high around food (62.7% vs. 28.1%).
- Slightly more likely to spend over $10 per session (48.7% vs. 39.9%).
- Over a third more likely to try to choose healthy munchies (70.6% vs. 52.2%).
- More likely to buy more food because of the munchies (60.8% vs. 42.5%).
These statistics are closely linked to the previous section, daily users get more cravings, and the survey shows that people who always get the munchies are:
- More than twice as likely to feel guilty after (56.1% vs. 25.1%).
- More likely to try to eat healthier munchie food (64.9% vs. 57.9%).
What it means: Daily cannabis users get the munchies more and snack more, but crucially, they think more about how to manage it. For them, munchies aren’t just an occasional craving, they’re a habit they have to plan for and work around.
Conclusion: The Munchies Are Part of Cannabis, So Learn to Manage Them
The munchies aren’t going anywhere. If you use cannabis regularly, cravings are part of the experience — but they don’t have to derail your health goals.
The takeaway from this survey is clear: most users want to snack better, and daily users are already trying to build better habits around their munchies.
Take a leaf out of the book of the daily smokers: enjoy your munchies but plan your food ahead of time and try to choose sensible and healthy snacks over junk food and takeout, at least some of the time.
You don’t have to cut the foods you love. But if you’re getting high a lot, you should make sure it doesn’t take its toll on your health in the long term.
Survey Methodology
This survey was conducted by CBD Oracle on March 31, 2025, with the aim of looking at the relationship between food and cannabis, especially the phenomenon colloquially called “the munchies.”
The survey was conducted via Pollfish, using a nationally-representative sample of adults aged 21 and older who live in the United States. Participants were screened so that only people who had used cannabis (including hemp-derived alternative THCs like delta-8) at least once in the past six months. This ensured that the responses reflected recent, real-life experiences with the munchies — not distant memories.
The survey covered a range of topics, including common triggers for the munchies, the types of food people crave, spending habits, the emotional responses to “munchie” eating (e.g. guilt) and how getting the munchies impacts weight and nutrition goals. Some questions were included to enable subgroup analysis, such as frequency of use or the types of cannabis products used. Some questions allowed participants to choose multiple responses, so totals don’t always sum to 100%.
The raw data from the survey was broadly representative of the US adult population, but the data was further stratified according to gender and age range to make the results more reflective of the whole country. However, it is worth noting that stratification was not possible by income, and there was a slight skew towards users from the Midwest (22.6%) and Northeast (25.2%), compared to Census data.
Responses were collected anonymously, and the dataset was cleaned to remove incomplete or irrelevant entries. Descriptive statistics and segmentation analyses were used to identify behavioral patterns by frequency of cannabis use, gender, generation, geographic region, product type, and typical munchie spend level.
This study was designed to support both public understanding and media reporting around consumer behavior in the cannabis space, particularly as it intersects with food, health, and lifestyle choices.