Does Marijuana Help You Sleep?

One of marijuana’s best-known side effects is its ability to provide a relaxed, drowsy feeling. As such, it is no surprise that it has become a popular sleep aid. It is important to note, however, that just because a substance has the ability to induce sleep does not mean it can sustain it or that it won’t interrupt it.

Like alcohol, marijuana actually has the effect of reducing REM sleep and dreaming to a very high extent. It is for this reason that when regular users try to abstain from cannabis suddenly, they often have extremely vivid dreams while their body chemistry reasserts to normal. Dr. Hans Hamburger explains that suppressing the dream function is neither healthy nor ideal. “One of the functions [of dreams] is reliving the things you have experienced and coming to terms with them as it were. Processing all kinds of psychological influences is something you do in REM sleep,” he says.

A study at the University of Pennsylvania shows that people who became marijuana users early in life have a great likelihood of experiencing sleep problems into adulthood. In the study, 42 percent of daily users had sleep disturbances after quitting weed.

Different marijuana strains also affect sleep differently. CBD, for example, has been shown to be a remedy for daytime drowsiness, making its users more alert and energetic. A 2006 study on animals revealed that CBD increased their alertness when lights were on. As such, high THC strains are more conducive to a drowsy vibe that promotes sleep.

It is also worth mentioning that Indica strains tend to be better than sativas as sleep inducers. This caused by the high number of terpenes found in most indica strains. Insomnia sufferers should know that aged marijuana is also more likely to induce sleep than newer buds. As THC degrades over time, it converts into cannabinol which is five times stronger as a sedative.

It is additionally useful to note that pairing cannabis with other natural sleep aids can have an even greater effect. The sleep inducing effects of chamomile, hops and lavender to name a few are all intensified when mixed with cannabis. If breathing difficulty or “sleep apnea” is the cause of your insomnia, cannabis has been known to help in this regard too. A preclinical study in 2013 showed improvement of this condition in 15 out of 17 participants after a twenty one day testing phase.

One downside of nighttime cannabis use is a “hangover” effect that may not be convenient on work mornings. Unlike alcohol, where vomit or dizziness will ensue, cannabis can make one feel lethargic, foggy and highly unmotivated the next morning. If you’ve got a big board meeting presentation, it is probably best to avoid. If cannabis doesn’t work for you as a sleep aid, try watching HBO’s True Detective.