What Cannabis Can Do for Sleep

What Cannabis Can Do for Sleep – Can You Use Cannabis to Sleep Better?

Sleep is essential for maintaining our mental and physical health, yet it eludes many adults.  According to the National Sleep Foundation, 50 to 70 million U.S. adults experience symptoms of a sleep disorder. About 30 to 40 percent of the population will experience insomnia at some point in their lives, and about 10 to 15 percent of adults will deal with chronic insomnia.

With so many people experiencing sleeping disorders, there’s been a rise of interest in one controversial cure: cannabis. Many in the medical marijuana community refer to cannabis as an effective treatment, with little to no side effects, for a range of sleeping disorders.  Marijuana’s analgesic properties might provide some relief for those with chronic pain, while the anti-anxiety properties can soothe a stressed-out mind and body.

What Cannabis Can Do for Sleep – The Science

There are different strains of marijuana. Some are more energizing, and some are calming and sedating depending on the balance of the different cannabinoids.  Cannabis works because it contains different cannabinoids, two of which you’ll see most often are CBD and THC.

CBD has a number of health benefits, and is nonpsychoactive, meaning it doesn’t make you feel high.  THC, a psychoactive cannabinoid, is primarily responsible for the stereotypical feeling of being high.  THC is also often responsible for sleep-inducing properties so wen using cannabis for sleep issues, you will want to use a cannabinoid with THC rather than CBD.

What Cannabis Can Do for Sleep – Why It Makes You Sleep

Ingesting marijuana strains with higher levels of THC typically reduces the amount of REM sleep you get. Reducing REM sleep means reducing dreams.  This can be especially helpful for people who experience frequent nightmares.  By allowing yourself more deep sleep, you benefit from the most restful part of your sleep cycle.

Please note that REM sleep is important for healthy cognitive and immune functioning, and marijuana with higher THC levels could impair your sleep quality if taken long term.

What Cannabis Can Do for Sleep – Timing When You Take Cannabis

Timing is important when it comes to using cannabis, especially for sleep. While everyone’s physiology is different, it’s usually better to ingest the marijuana at least an hour before bedtime by a method other than an edible (as edibles have drastic time differentiations on when they begin to take effect).  Not all sleep aids work for everyone the same way. Marijuana is no different.  While there’s sleep disorder research associated with alcohol, there needs to be a better understanding of the effects of marijuana on sleep and health.

Want to know if you qualify for medical marijuana?  Check out this helpful page and select your state for all the information you need.

 

 

 

 

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