I believe that one's body has the desire to eat when high because eating will restore the balance in your body; it will bring you down from your high. There will be a particular craving for sweet or fatty foods, because that is what will bring your high down the fastest. There is no scientific data I can find to support this belief, just lots of first hand experience. I only get the munchies when I have smoked a considerable amount. I find if I smoke just a little, I have a functional "high", which is a state where I will do other activities and the marijuana has a relaxing and beneficial effect. If I smoke a lot, then I feel a bit overwhelmed and out of it, I get food cravings, and after eating, feel better.

It is all relative. Each person will react differently and have different levels of tolerance. Nevertheless, craving food is a common effect.

Finally, marijuana, especially the strains of genetically modified and enhanced marijuana available since the early 1990s, is very addictive to people predisposed to addictive behavior. It is a psychological addiction with some minor uncomfortable physiological effects from withdrawal. Don't let the "psychological addiction" confuse you- it is a real addiction.

The main issue with marijuana addiction is that it isn't devastating. It just makes you function at a lower level. It can reduce anxiety, tension and pain, but it also makes you a bit dumber and slower- which is relative. I know many people who smoke and are still high earning educated professionals- but they are really intelligent- they have the brain cells to spare. Being dumber for them is still way above average. Be careful of such people- they can mislead you into believing you can do the same. Most chronic smokers (not occasional or casual smokers, I am referring to people who smoke every day) who are past college age are idiots- harmless and even funny at times- but idiots nonetheless.