Using Cannabis for Sleep – What You Need to Know

In addition to its recreational popularity, individuals commonly use cannabis for its range of health and wellness benefits. People with various conditions have found relief using marijuana in its various forms, with many using cannabis for sleep, rest, and recovery.

Well known for its sedative and calming effects, cannabis is a great sleep aid – when used correctly. In this guide, you’ll learn more about how marijuana contributes to a good night of sleep and discover details on key cannabinoids found in this powerful form of plant medicine.

Cannabis as a Sleep Aid

While some cannabis strains have become popular for their uplifting and euphoric properties, users can use many to enhance relaxation and promote restful sleep. Cannabis helps relax the body and mind, deepen breathing, and relieve discomfort, putting you in the prime conditions for sleep. Marijuana’s sedative and relaxing effects are so powerful that many individuals with long-term and chronic conditions rely on the herb for everyday health and wellness.

Insomnia

Millions of people suffer from insomnia every night. They have a hard time falling asleep and cannot sleep more than an hour or two. These marijuana strains contain tasty terpenes that help relax your mind, calm your nervous system, and prepare you for deep, restful sleep. Grow this great herb for evening consumption!

Insomnia is the world’s most common sleep disorder, with up to 60% of adults experiencing symptoms at some point in their lives. Insomnia can affect falling asleep, staying asleep, waking up, and even energy during the day, often completely disrupting daily life and making it challenging to complete necessary tasks. Consuming cannabis before bedtime can reduce the symptoms of insomnia, helping users fall asleep more quickly and reach deeper levels of sleep with fewer interruptions.

Insomnia is a relatively common sleep disorder, negatively affecting the onset, duration, and quality of sleep for millions of people. There are several treatments, which work to different degrees. However, cannabis (along with a long list of lifestyle changes) could help you fight insomnia.

Marijuana contains a great cocktail of phytochemicals. These include more than 100 cannabinoids, molecules that are practically unique to cannabis. The cannabinoids THC and CBN, present in most strains, are known for their ability to calm the mind and help smokers relax at night.

Take a look at the following strains, whose terpene profile will help you fall asleep at night.

Northern Light

Northern Light, one of the most famous cannabis strains, has earned a reputation as a very relaxing herb with a strong body stone. It descends from a legendary lineage of Afghan genetics, known for its robustness and endurance. Its sticky, tapered buds contain 18% THC and high levels of myrcene, a mildly sedating terpene that calms the mind at night.

Night Terrors and PTSD

Anyone can experience bad dreams or the occasional nightmare. But, frequent night terrors – which can disrupt sleep – are often symptoms of stress, anxiety, sleep deprivation, or some other underlying condition. In particular, people with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) may experience vivid night-terrors that leave them feeling emotionally drained and unable to sleep safely.

More and More Military Veterans Groups are advocating for the use of Cannabis, CBD, & Psychedelics for the treatment and therapy of PTSD symptoms. Veteran Advocacy groups have been vocal about their support for the Military to allow for the use of Cannabis & CBD for mental and physical healing.

According to some studies and anecdotal user evidence, cannabis may significantly reduce the incidence of night terrors in individuals suffering from trauma-related disorders. The reason is that cannabis can inhibit REM cycles when dreams are most likely to occur.

THC

Tetrahydrocannabinol – or THC – is the most abundant cannabinoid in cannabis, playing an essential role in keeping you asleep. A powerful pain reliever, THC can reduce discomfort from acute and chronic conditions, supporting overall relaxation and more restful sleep. Additionally, THC helps to inhibit REM cycles, thereby inhibiting dreams and disrupting night terrors.

If you prefer not to smoke before bed, try taking THC edibles half an hour to an hour before you go to bed. For more information visit here.

CBD

If you are concerned about the psychoactive effects of THC or are avoiding it ahead of a drug test, you can still enjoy the sleep-enhancing benefits of cannabis. Cannabidiol – or CBD – enhances physical relaxation and reduces anxiety without any mind-altering effects. Perhaps the most popular cannabinoid for sleep, CBD, has become a top choice for pet owners looking to ease anxious dogs and cats.

CBD edibles are an easy way to get a healthy dose of cannabinoids before bed, and you could be enjoying the relaxing effects in as little as 15-30 minutes.

CBN

You may not have heard of CBN, but this exciting cannabinoid is the next big thing in natural sleep aids. More potent than both CBD and THC combined, 5mg of CBN is, in fact, comparable to the same sedative effects as 5-10mg of Valium. Not yet widely available in commercial products, keep your eye out for CBN in the future.

Final Thoughts

Trouble sleeping? Stop agonizing for hours over lost sleep or relying on energy drinks to keep you up throughout the day. Cannabis is a simple, natural solution to sleepless nights, able to promote physical and mental relaxation. Consuming cannabis products containing cannabinoids – CBD, THC, or CBN – can help you fall asleep faster and stay asleep throughout the night. Natural, grown from the Earth and delivered in delicious edible form, cannabis is the new way to combat sleep disorders.