Sleep is essential for maintaining our mental and physical health, but it eludes many adults. So if you’re having trouble getting a sound sleep, you’re not alone.

With so many people experiencing sleep disorders, interest has grown in a controversial cure: marijuana. Many in the medical marijuana community refer to cannabis as an effective treatment, with few or no side effects, for a range of sleep disorders.

Whether you have a sleep disorder or are having trouble sleeping after a stressful day, using marijuana may be an option for you. The analgesic properties of marijuana can relieve those suffering from chronic pain, while the anxiolytic properties can calm a stressed mind and body.

Does marijuana help to sleep?

There are different strains of marijuana. Some are more energetic, and others are calming and sedative, depending on the balance of different cannabinoids. So, to help you understand it all a little better we’ll give you a brief explanation of the science behind marijuana.

This herb works because it contains different cannabinoids, two of which you will see most often:

• Cannabidiol (CBD). CBD has several health benefits and is non-psychoactive, meaning it doesn’t make you feel “high”.
• Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). THC, a psychoactive cannabinoid, is primarily responsible for that “high” feeling.

And what else is THC responsible for? Inducing sleep. So you want a strain that contains more THC than CBD.

According to a 2008 study, ingesting strains of marijuana with higher THC levels tends to reduce the amount of REM sleep you get. Reducing REM sleep means reducing dreams – and for those experiencing PTSD, it could mean reducing nightmares.

So it’s believed that if you dream less, you will be able to reach a deeper state of sleep. The deep sleep state is thought to be the most restorative and peaceful part of the sleep cycle.

However, REM sleep is important for healthy cognitive and immune function, and marijuana with higher THC levels may impair the quality of sleep if consumed over the long term.

It’s good to keep in mind that while the motivation to use cannabis for sleep is high and may initially be beneficial for sleep, these improvements may diminish with chronic use over time.

Want to know the benefits of medical cannabis for 10 conditions? 👈 You can’t miss our post.

How to use cannabis for insomnia?

Most people ingest marijuana by smoking it in the form of a joint or pipe.

If you don’t like smoking, want to protect your lungs, or don’t like the distinctive smell of marijuana, try vaporizing devices or THC-rich tinctures, which you drop under your tongue.

Then there is the question of how much marijuana to consume. Experimentation may be necessary to get the right dose for you, so don’t try it during the work week. If you smoke or vaporize, you’ll want to start with a few puffs.

Just a little can go a long way. Be aware that overdoing it can lead to a drowsy state the next morning. If you need to repeat the dose in the middle of the night, that’s fine. But you should avoid taking the drug again if you wake up within four hours of needing to be awake.

Be aware of how you feel after using – it can range from a slight euphoria to a feeling of time slowing down, to more intense sensations such as cotton mouth!

Timing your intake to bedtime!

Timing is important when it comes to cannabis use, especially for sleep. For this reason, edibles are not highly recommended, as they are unreliable in terms of when they take effect. Sometimes it’s around an hour, sometimes it can be more like two to three hours.

It can also affect us for longer than expected and cause grogginess in the morning. Because of the way cannabis is processed from our gut to the liver, the duration of action can be much longer, like 8 to 12 hours.

Although everyone’s physiology is different, it’s usually best to ingest marijuana at least an hour before bedtime. An hour before bedtime is ideal because the cannabis will work for about three to four hours, helping people to fall asleep. This way, people don’t feel the effects just as they go to sleep, which can cause excitability and prevent sleep.

Of course, not all sleeping pills work for everyone in the same way. Marijuana is no different. Also, while cannabis is often used to reduce anxiety, some people find that high THC strains make them more anxious or paranoid.

If you are one of these people, experiment with different strains or inform your dispensary when choosing your strains. You may find that a different strain can induce sleep without increasing your anxiety.