Sleep is a fundamental, restorative process that everyone needs. Now and then (or more often than that) you may have trouble falling asleep or staying asleep. Many people find that cannabis can help combat that and make sleeping easier. But what happens when you sleep high?
In this post, we’ll discuss why people use cannabis to improve their sleep habits, explain what happens to your body when you sleep high, and how to tell if you may benefit from using cannabis to help you sleep. We’ll also look at certain cannabinoids to look for that may be better for sleep improvement than others.
Why People Use Cannabis for Sleep Improvement
Cannabis is well-known for its potential to have calming and sedating effects, making it popular for those seeking a natural sleep aid. There are multiple cannabinoids at play here that can cause you to sleep a little better when taken. Cannabinoids interact with the body’s endocannabinoid system, a complex network of receptors that play a critical role in regulating various bodily functions. Among these are mood, stress levels, digestion, and – you guessed it – sleep.
What’s interesting about cannabis as a sleep aid is that it doesn’t work in the same way traditional sleeping medications do. Instead of introducing sleep-inducing medications like antihistamines, for example, cannabis simply works with your ECS. This is one of many reasons people use cannabis as a sleeping supplement.
What Happens When You Sleep High
Depending on how much cannabis you consume and the quantities of different cannabinoids in it, your experiences using cannabis to sleep can vary. In general, there are a few things we can expect to happen from using traditional Delta 9 THC cannabis.
- Inducing drowsiness: For some cultivars, drowsiness is a common experience. This can help with the “falling asleep” part by making it easier to calm down and relax in bed at the end of a stressful or anxious day.
- Improving sleep quality: In some cases, people report that cannabis makes them have deeper, more restful sleep than they would without it. This can happen for a few reasons, like elevated calmness or the reason listed below.
- Altered sleep cycles: When you sleep high, Delta THC alters your sleep cycle by shortening your Rapid Eye Movement (REM) sleep cycle. In this cycle, your mind is usually actively dreaming and processing memories. When you shorten the REM cycle, you may be less likely to experience nightmares or unpleasant dreams that hinder your sleep.
Should You Use Cannabis to Help You Sleep?
Before we talk about the pros and cons of using cannabis to help you sleep, we need to talk about sleep concerns. If you are struggling with sleep and are concerned about your health or mental well-being, always consult with a doctor before adding anything new like cannabis into your routine!
With that, here are some pros and cons of using cannabis for sleep improvement.
Pros of Using Cannabis for Sleep
- Cannabis may help you fall asleep faster: With cultivars that induce drowsiness, you may find it easier to hit the hay a little quicker than you are used to. Instead of tossing and turning for hours, you may be able to get to sleep faster.
- It may help you stay asleep longer: For those who find themselves waking up a few times a night and even struggling to fall back asleep afterward, cannabis may help! Those same cultivars that make you drowsy may help prevent waking in the middle of the night if your dose is high enough.
- It may help ease nightmares and bad dreams: Nightmares and bad dreams are no fun, and they can seriously disrupt your sleep if they happen often. Because cannabis shortens your REM cycles, you may experience less time dreaming and therefore, fewer nightmares. If you are consistently having disruptive nightmares, please consult with a doctor.
Cons of Using Cannabis for Sleep
- Some cultivars are not best for sleeping: Unfortunately, not all cultivars are created equal. While one might easily send you off to bed, others can be more stimulating and not help with sleeping quality. Be sure to ask your budtender for recommendations to ensure you get a cultivar suited for sleeping.
- It should not be used for chronic sleep issues: Until more research is available about the potential for cannabis to improve sleeping habits, chronic sleep issues should always be addressed by a healthcare professional.
- You may struggle to sleep without cannabis after extended use: In some cases, using cannabis to help you fall asleep can make it difficult to fall asleep without it. That’s why you should consult a doctor for consistent sleeping issues. Cannabis is better for occasional sleep improvement.
Cannabinoids to Try That May Improve Your Sleep
Different cultivars come with different cannabinoid cocktails that change their effects. Here are some cannabinoids to look out for that may improve your sleep quality:
- CBD: That’s right, CBD outranks THC on this list, and that’s because CBD can improve your sleep when it is in higher concentrations alongside THC. Look for cultivars and products that have a high CBD-to-THC ratio if you’re looking for a good night’s rest.
- CBG: CBG is usually present in smaller amounts in cannabis products, but many claim it packs a punch as a sleep supporter. CBG may have the potential to ease anxiety and stress, and working together with CBD and THC, it may improve your sleep.
- CBN: CBN is also present in smaller amounts in most cannabis products, but it has a trait that makes it unique for sleeping purposes. CBN may suppress the brain’s arousal systems and signals, calming everything down and putting your racing thoughts on hold.
In combination with these cannabinoids, good sleep hygiene and habits can also improve your sleeping quality. Cannabis isn’t necessarily a one-way ticket to excellent sleep, but it may improve your sleep overall when you combine it with a good sleep routine!
What Happens When You Sleep High? Final Thoughts
Overall, cannabis may be worth exploring as an occasional sleep aid if you’re having some restless nights. When trying cannabis for sleep, always start with low doses using more sedating cultivars, and take it slow when increasing your dose. If you are experiencing consistent sleep issues, always consult with a doctor before introducing cannabis or anything else for sleep.
If you have any questions about this post or cannabis in general, drop us a line on our contact page! Check out our online shop and browse our collection of cannabis products by store, or stop by a Dreamz Dispensary near you on our locations page. Check out our blog for cannabis tips and knowledge, and let us know how we can help!
