Does Weed Have Calories? You Might Be Surprised

Written by Joshua Sosin

When we talk about cannabis, we’re usually chatting about strains, potency, and effects, but calories? That’s not a question most cannabis enthusiasts are asking.

Still, it’s a good one: Does weed have calories? And could cannabis consumption play any kind of role in your calorie intake, weight gain, or even weight loss goals?

Let’s break it down. Whether you’re smoking weed, hitting a vape, or reaching for your favorite cannabis edibles, here’s what to know about calorie content, caloric intake, and how it all ties into your dietary choices.

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Table of Contents

• Does Weed Have Calories?

• Calories in Flower, Edibles, and Concentrates

• Does Smoking Cannabis or Vaping Cannabis Add Calories?

• Eating Weed and Caloric Intake

• Tinctures, Capsules, and Infused Beverages: Do They Contribute Significant Calories?

• Do Cannabinoids or Terpenes Have Calories?

• Cannabis Use, Appetite, and Weight Management

• The Bottom Line on Cannabis Consumption and Calories

Does Weed Have Calories?

So, does weed have calories? Yes… But probably not in the way you're thinking.

Like any plant material, the cannabis plant contains organic compounds. These include small amounts of fats, proteins, and carbs — the stuff that makes up the caloric content of foods. But unless you’re literally eating raw cannabis or the industrial hemp plant components themselves, you’re not really adding calories through most typical cannabis consumption methods.

If you’ve been wondering how many calories might come from your pre-roll, dab, or vape session, the answer is almost always very few calories — or none at all.

Calories in Flower, Edibles, and Concentrates

Here’s how calorie count breaks down across different consumption methods:

• Cannabis flower: Minimal calorie content unless you’re eating weed raw (which, let’s be honest, most people aren’t). Smoking or vaping doesn’t add measurable calories.

• Cannabis edibles: Definitely contain calories, but not because of the cannabinoids. The additional calories come from the other ingredients, like sugar, butter, coconut oil, or chocolate. Think brownies, gummies, chocolates, or infused beverages.

• Concentrates like wax, shatter, or live resin: These have trace amounts of lipids, but the cannabinoid concentrations are so small that they don’t contribute significant calories in typical use.

So while the cannabis plant does contain active compounds like THC and CBD, they’re not meaningfully affecting your caloric intake unless you’re consuming your cannabis in edible or oil form.

Does Smoking Cannabis or Vaping Cannabis Add Calories?

Nope. Whether you’re smoking weed, vaping cannabis, or enjoying a good old-fashioned pre-roll, you’re not introducing any additional calories.

Cannabis smoke and vapor don’t contain the fats, carbs, or proteins that add to your calorie consumption. When you light up or vape, you’re inhaling psychoactive compounds and flavorful terpenes — not nutrients.

That means neither smoked hemp nor vaping is going to impact your energy balance, weight management, or body weight directly through caloric content.

Of course, research suggests that certain cannabinoids may stimulate appetite — we all know the munchies are real. But the food intake part is on you, not the weed.

Eating Weed and Caloric Intake

The story changes when you’re eating weed — or more specifically, when you’re enjoying cannabis edibles.

In edibles, cannabinoids like THC need a fat-based carrier for effective absorption. This is why many edibles use coconut oil, butter, or other fats. Those carriers bring calories to the party, not the cannabinoids themselves.

For example:

• A gummy might be around 10 to 30 calories per piece.

• A cannabis-infused brownie could easily run over 150 calories.

• Infused beverages might vary widely depending on sugar content.

The cannabinoids themselves — even though they’re chemically classified as lipids — aren’t adding meaningful calories in these forms. The calorie content comes from the rest of the recipe.

So if you’re mindful of your weight management or overall caloric intake, just keep an eye on the label like you would with any other treat.

Tinctures, Capsules, and Infused Beverages: Do They Contribute Significant Calories?

The caloric intake from tinctures, capsules, and infused beverages is usually low, but not always zero.

• Alcohol-based tinctures: Basically calorie-free.

• Oil-based tinctures (like those using MCT or coconut oil): Around 8 to 10 calories per dropper.

• Capsules: A small amount of oil, so minimal calorie count.

• Infused beverages: These can range from fewer calories (in low-sugar drinks) to more calories if they’re sweetened.

Again, the key isn’t the cannabis — it’s the carrier oils, sweeteners, and other ingredients.

Do Cannabinoids or Terpenes Have Calories?

Technically, yes — but practically, no.

THC, CBD, and other cannabinoids are considered lipids, which means they could provide calories if consumed in large amounts. But cannabinoid concentrations in most products are tiny. The caloric content from these compounds doesn’t meaningfully affect your overall caloric intake.

Same goes for terpenes — they’re aromatic compounds, not a source of significant calories.

So when people ask, "Does weed have calories?" the honest answer is yes — but not in the way that impacts your regular diet.

Cannabis Use, Appetite, and Weight Management

Now, here’s where it gets interesting.

While smoking cannabis or vaping cannabis doesn’t add calories directly, both medical marijuana and recreational cannabis have long been associated with appetite regulation and increased appetite. (Hello, munchies.)

That’s why some medical marijuana cardholders use certain products as part of their care plans, but let’s be clear: we’re not here to talk health benefits or give any kind of medical advice. Always talk to healthcare professionals about your situation.

When it comes to weight gain or weight loss, the key factor is still your food intake, portion control, and regular exercise, not your cannabis use.

If your goal is to burn calories, support nutrient absorption, or maintain overall health, it’s really about how cannabis fits into your healthy diet and lifestyle.

The Bottom Line on Cannabis Consumption and Calories

Back to the big question: Does weed have calories?

• Smoking weed, vaping cannabis, or enjoying cannabis smoke won’t affect your calorie count.

• Cannabis edibles, oils, tinctures, and infused beverages can introduce additional calories, but those mostly come from carrier oils and other ingredients — not from the psychoactive compounds themselves.

• The caloric intake from the cannabinoids in cannabis products is too small to meaningfully impact your energy balance.

• Whether your goal is weight loss, weight management, or just staying mindful of dietary choices, the real focus should be on what you’re eating alongside your cannabis, not the weed itself.

In other words? If you’re worried about calorie consumption from your pre-roll or vape cart — you’re good.

Just maybe go easy on the snack run afterward. Or don’t. We’re not here to judge.