Cannabis and Sleep: 10 Things You Should Know

03/09/2021 10 min read

10 things you should know about your herbal sip before going to bed

If you have problems sleeping, cannabis can be of great help to you, but even so, it needs to be used with caution.
Many researchers have looked into the topic of cannabis and sleep in recent decades, and studies have shown interesting results.

Cannabis can be an excellent aid to falling asleep, which is why many people keep it in their bedside tables. Even people with the most persistent insomnia can be helped into the land of dreams by a calming indica. Most users know that cannabis can help them sleep well, but in reality there is more to it than may seem at first glance. Did you know, for example, that older dried cannabis will make you feel sleepier than fresh cannabis? And did you know that cannabis suppresses dreams?

Get ready to find out a few things about how cannabis can support your nightly hibernation, or, on the contrary, prevent it.

1. CBD and THC affect sleep differently

You probably already know that there are different types of cannabis: some will get you high (a lot of THC, little CBD), some will not (a lot of CBD, little THC), and others have only a minimal effect (the same or similar THC content). In some parts of the United States it is quite difficult (if not impossible) to come across varieties with a high CBD content, so most sleep studies focus only on varieties containing a lot of THC, and that is essentially useless.

So what effect does cannabis with a high CBD content have on sleep? In 2006 a study was conducted that examined the effects of CBD in animal models in two situations – in light and in darkness. It was found that this non-psychoactive compound increased wakefulness in light, while in darkness it had no clear effects on sleep. From these results the authors concluded that CBD could hold promise for the treatment of somnolence, or excessive daytime sleepiness, stemming from poor night-time sleep.

2. Indicas are better aids to falling asleep

Public opinion shows that Indica varieties induce stronger states of sleepiness, while Sativas stimulate and provide energy. Take a look at our list of the best aids to falling asleep and you will see a page full of purple Indicas, with the odd green hybrid here and there.Although chemical and DNA testing have yet to show why it is Indicas in particular that are better aids to falling asleep, some people think it is because of the content of terpenes, the aromatic substances that make each plant as special as, say, a fingerprint. In other words, Indicas may contain more calming terpenes than their Sativa relatives.

3. Older cannabis will make you feel sleepier

Really. As THC gradually breaks down over time, it is converted into a calming substance known as cannabinol, CBN for short. This compound is five times more calming than THC, although it takes much longer to form. Rev. Dr. Kymron deCesare, chief research officer at Steep Hill Labs, comments on this process.

“When d9-THC breaks down through isomerisation and/or oxidation, only a small amount is converted into CBN. As a result, it is a little harder to obtain larger amounts of CBN that could be used. I know from my own experience that if I take cannabis containing roughly 20% THCA, wrap it in a plastic bag and leave it lying in the garage for three years (when the summer is dry and warm), I get roughly 3-5% CBN. So to make calming medicines, I use old cannabis.”

4. Natural sleep remedies support the effectiveness of cannabis

Cannabis is a great way to prepare for sleep, but in combination with other natural sleep remedies even better results can be achieved. “Other terpenes are in synergy with CBN; some are in the plant itself, others I add from other herbs,” says Rev. Dr. deCesare. “Hops, chamomile and lavender all contain important terpenes, which, however, we find in them in a much higher concentration than in cannabis. Incorporating these natural remedies really does increase the calming effects.”

So next time you want to help yourself with your favourite cannabis, try combining it with a cup of chamomile tea or a lavender bath. Melatonin, 5-HTP and preparations with valerian root can also help you improve the quality of your sleep.

marijuana for sleep

5. Cannabis can help you fall asleep faster

Cannabis has the ability to relieve stress and calm the mind, so it is no wonder that it can also help you fall asleep faster. This applies especially in the treatment of pain, insomnia, PTSD, sclerosis and other illnesses that disrupt the ability to fall asleep, because cannabis helps to suppress many symptoms. Cannabis incorporated into food also works; although it has a slower onset than when inhaled, its effect can last for several hours and keep you asleep for longer.

6. Night-time use of cannabis can cause a “hangover”

Have you ever noticed that in the morning your head feels a little tired after an evening sip? Cannabis can cause a mild “hangover,” but do not worry, you will not be hugging the toilet bowl while hundreds of knives stab at your head. You may feel a little foggy, thirsty or lethargic, or have dry eyes or constipation. Many people have experienced very bad “hangovers” from smoking poor-quality or pesticide-riddled cannabis. So you can avoid bad mornings by buying only clean and tested cannabis, drinking plenty of water, eating healthy food and refraining from overindulging. If a “hangover” does occur, however, treat it the same way as an alcohol one – water, vitamins, exercise, etc.

7. Cannabis suppresses REM sleep and dreams

With regular consumption of cannabis, you may notice that you are missing one thing – dreams. Dreams occur in the last phase of sleep, which is called REM (rapid eye movement). It has been shown that when you use cannabis before sleep, the time you spend in the REM phase is reduced, which means that you do not have as many dreams, or they are not as vivid. However, when you decide to stop regular consumption of cannabis, the REM phase returns and you may start to have more lucid dreams.

8. Cannabis can help you breathe better

Sleep apnoea is a sleep disorder in which breathing is regularly blocked, and the pauses can last from a few seconds to several minutes. As you can imagine, apnoea causes the individual to wake up many times a night, which can set off a so-called domino effect – daytime sleepiness, fatigue, headaches, mood swings, inattention, oversensitivity and other health problems.

Preclinical studies show that cannabis may help with this disorder. A 2013 study measured the effectiveness of an exogenous cannabinoid known as dronabinol (an “imitation” of THC), and it was found that after twenty-one days of treatment, improvement was recorded in 15 of the 17 participants. Another study from 2002 examined the ability of THC to restore respiratory stability through the regulation of serotonin. Although we will need more medical studies to confirm such effectiveness of cannabis, researchers are on the right track so far.

9. Interrupting long-term use can worsen sleep

If you have ever interrupted long-term use of cannabis, or if you have developed a tolerance to it, you probably already know this phenomenon. You toss and turn at night, wake up often and feel rotten in the morning. A 2008 study showed that interrupting long-term use of cannabis resulted, in the abstaining group, in shorter sleep, less slow-wave sleep, poorer sleep efficiency, poorer sleep onset, shorter REM phases and more disturbances during sleep than in the group not using cannabis. However, the researchers acknowledge that these findings are limited by the small sample size and the inability to determine the cause. In other words, it is possible that the subjects of observation were using cannabis to treat a pre-existing insomnia and that cutting back caused their symptoms to return.

10. Using cannabis at a young age can lead to sleep problems

Using cannabis (especially before the age of 15) can cause sleep problems in adulthood. This was found in a 2014 study that collected information from 1811 participants with a history of use. The key word here, however, is “can”. The study was unable to determine whether cannabis caused the worsening of sleep, or whether people suffering from insomnia use cannabis more because of its calming effects. To be able to confirm the relationship between age, cannabis use and sleep, more studies are needed.