“I carry a few extra pounds and worry that eating weed gummies will make me gain weight. Or can they help me lose weight? I am confused.”
Peter S.
It’s always wise to be a vigilant consumer and question all the choices you make, especially when it comes to medical marijuana. As far as sugar and calories, you don’t have to worry a lot about typical THC-infused gummies. A single piece might only be 20 calories, with 3g of sugar and 4g of carbs. While you might be tempted to eat a lot of non-cannabis candy, gummies with a kick can’t be consumed that way because they’ll make you way too high.
Also keep in mind that it usually takes a while for the marijuana to kick in when indulging in gummies and other edibles, so don’t start gobbling more up until the first one kicks in. So it’s unlikely that marijuana gummies would play a major role in weight gain.
But if you are worried about sugar, then you can take advantage of a trend in healthier weed edibles. Some of the chocolate edibles on the market include fair trade and organic ingredients. At your local dispensary you can often choose from a variety of gluten-free and low-sugar baked goods. Some brands of gummies are naturally sweetened with fruit juices. You also have cannabis-infused savory foods such as crackers and jerky to choose from.
Angelica T.
There’s an article in Forbes that says it all: “These Cannabis Gummies Are Sugar Free.”. It covers the 2019 launch of the first sugar-free gummy on the market, created by Kushy Punch in California.
For its sugar-free cannabis-infused gummy the company turned to lychee. Kushy Punch says on its site:
“The luscious lychee flavor doesn’t lose any sweetness and masks the potent full-spectrum oil, which is rich with cannabinoids, flavonoids, and lipids.
“Our new sugar free gummy is perfect for anyone on a low sugar diet, or those with diabetes or heart disease.”
It is only 2.5 calories per dose and features a low insulin response.
“Finding the right consistency is the hardest part,” said Kushy Punch’s chief scientist Carolina Vasquez Mitchell in the Forbes interview. “It’s not as simple as swapping out our regular syrup for a substitute like stevia. We tried about 20 different recipes and many different ingredients, and we all felt like this was really it.”
Wesley A.
If you are concerned about the ingredients in your weed edibles, you can always start making your own, replacing ingredients of concern with healthier alternatives.
With cannabis, the worry is that the THC will give you the munchies and lead to weight gain. But there is another marijuana cannabinoid, THCV, which is getting increasing attention as an appetite suppressant, leading to new products coming to the market for weight-loss solutions and other health benefits.
Premier gummies maker Wanna Brands, for example, launched in October 2021, its Optimal line of Fit gummies. The company explains:
“These first-of-their kind gummies harness the power of THCV, a rare cannabinoid that can help disrupt unhelpful eating habits and put you back in control of your diet. They won’t make you feel high, so you can take one tropical-punch-flavored gummy every day to experience the full long-term benefits of this remarkable plant-based tool.”
These gummies are also vegan and gluten free, and contain all-natural flavors and colors with no high-fructose corn syrup.
Pam Finn
