Germination Guarantee
Free Shipping
Granddaddy Purple Feminized

Can You Use Marijuana For Sleep?

October 22, 2021

Sleep is a crucial function to recharge your mind and body, leaving you healthy and functioning. If you struggle to get a good night’s rest, consuming marijuana for sleep might be your antidote.

Millions of Americans suffer from sleep disorders, and around 15% deal with chronic insomnia. So if getting your slumber on is increasingly difficult, you’re not alone. With many struggling to sleep, there’s rising interest in one remedy: marijuana.

Research surrounding cannabis and sleep dates back to the 1970s, yet it’s still in development because of weed’s historically banned legal status. Luckily, there’s hope for the future with current changes in cannabis legality across the world.

Join us as we delve into whether utilizing marijuana as a sleep aid is the right option for you. We’ll see which strains help you gain some shut-eye and make you feel ready to take on the world the next morning.

Cannabis CBD oil
Cannabis oil

What does science say about the relationship between marijuana and sleeping?

Thanks to creative cannabis cultivators, today, we’ve got multiple strains of marijuana. Some provide you with an energy boost, while others send you off into dreamland, depending on their balance of cannabinoids. Let’s take a look at two common cannabinoids:

  • Cannabidiol (CBD): the cannabinoid CBD has great health benefits and is a non-psychoactive compound, so it doesn’t give you that “high” feeling.
  • Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC): THC, on the other hand, is psychoactive and primarily accountable for making you feel  “high.”

Another thing THC is accountable for? Inducing sleep. So the ideal cannabis for sleep is strains that contain more THC than CBD. When you consume marijuana, the cannabinoids bind to receptors in the brain and boost the brain’s adenosine levels, which inhibit the arousal system and induce sleep. 

Weed and REM sleep

What is REM sleep? Rapid eye movement (REM) is a stage in the sleep cycle where the eyes move rapidly in various directions. This sleep stage is important for memory and learning, and it’s also where most dreams occur.

Smoking weed to sleep—especially strains with higher THC levels—decreases the amount of REM sleep you’ll receive and the time spent dreaming. This reduces nightmares for those with PTSD and leaves more room for the deep sleep stage—the most restful and restorative part of your sleep cycle.

However, REM still holds great importance for a healthy immune system and cognitive functions, so when marijuana is used for sleep, long-term usage could affect your overall sleep quality. 

Does marijuana help you sleep?

Certain cannabis strains help you relax and de-stress after a long day and can also give a helping hand when it comes to sleep. Marijuana is used as a sleep aid by many, but does it work? Let's see.

Marijuana as a sleep aid: does it work?

Does weed help you sleep? Yes, marijuana restores your natural sleep cycle, which is often out of sync because of life’s everyday stresses. Whether you struggle to get a good night's rest after a long day at work or suffer from a sleeping disorder, marijuana might be a good choice for you.

Cannabis’ analgesic effects can alleviate chronic pain, while its anti-anxiety properties can relieve a tense mind and body, ideal for lulling anyone into a deep sleep.

Does marijuana help insomnia?

Insomnia is a sleep condition caused by difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep. Using marijuana as a sleep aid has proven to be one of the best natural ways to gain some shut-eye for many insomniacs.

Weed can positively impact sleep by reducing the time it takes to fall asleep and restoring your natural sleep cycle. So, if you’re an unenthusiastic night owl, using marijuana for sleep might be the best option for you.

Medical marijuana for sleep apnea

Sleep apnea is a disorder that occurs when a person’s breathing is interrupted at night. Individuals who suffer from sleep apnea are never able to reach that crucial deep sleep stage.

Research on using medical marijuana for sleep apnea is on the rise, with several studies supporting the theory that weed can relieve its symptoms. Cannabis can improve breathing patterns, potentially counteracting sleep apnea, but we’re not sure yet whether weed is the best cure. 

Smoking weed with vape juice

Three tips when using marijuana for sleep

The downfall of using marijuana for sleeping disorders is that when you consume the wrong strain, you’re in trouble. Carry on reading to find out how to use marijuana as a sleep aid.

1. Don't mix marijuana with other sleep aids

If you’re part of the large pool of individuals who struggle to get their beauty sleep, you’ve probably tried many sleep-aids that haven’t worked for you.

We know the struggle is real but do not mix your cannabis sleep aid with other medication. Mixing marijuana with sleeping pills or opioid medication can be dangerous.

2. Practice good sleep habits

Try to include various practices into your sleep disorder treatment along with medical cannabis. These few tips might help improve your sleep.

  • Set up a bedtime routine, and stick with it. 
  • Go to bed around the same time each night.
  • Reduce your screen time before bed.
  • Include physical activity in your daily routine.

3. Use the right weed strain

Hundreds of different strains are in existence, and all come with a vast array of effects. When using cannabis as a sleep aid, you need to ensure you use the right weed strain to help you achieve shut-eye. 

The most common marijuana strains are sativas and indicas. There are also hybrids, which are a combination of the two. We advise you to use indica for sleep. Indica strains are known to have intensely relaxing effects, and within a few tokes, they’ll have you sleeping like a log.

On the other hand, sativas have an energizing effect, ideal for being productive and creative. Here are our recommended best marijuana strains for sleep. 

5 best marijuana strains for sleep

Finding the antidote for your sleeping disorder might take some trial and error. These strains below are renowned for putting you to sleep within only a few tokes. Let’s take a look:

Granddaddy Purple Feminized

Granddaddy Purple Feminized, nicknamed ‘GDP’ or ‘Granddaddy Purp,’ is a well-known indica-dominant cross between Big Bud and Purple Urkle. 

This cannabis and sleep go hand in hand, thanks to its high levels of myrcene, a terpene said to deliver strong relaxing effects. After a few puffs, GDP will wrap you up and send you off to dreamland.

Other than treating sleeping disorders, Granddaddy Purp is the ideal strain for relieving muscle spasms, chronic pain, and appetite loss. 

Granddaddy Purple Feminized
Granddaddy Purple Feminized

Northern Lights Feminized

Northern Lights Feminized is a mostly indica strain, admired for its sticky buds, fast flowering, and adaptability during growth. 

This strain deliver psychoactive effects throughout the body and mind, providing a pleasant warmth while relaxing muscles and easing pain. 

It provides a strong kick, with 18% THC levels that’ll glue you to the couch. After smoking this weed to sleep, you’ll experience the best slumber you've ever had and wake up feeling ready to take on the day.

Northern Lights Feminized
Northern Lights Feminized

Hindu Kush Feminized

The Hindu Kush mountain range stretches from Pakistan to Afghanistan, but for the marijuana community, Hindu Kush Feminized is considered the foundation of indica strains.

Hindu Kush’s sedating body high will put your mind and body at ease while making you feel lazy, peaceful, and tranquil.

This cultivar delivers a gentle cerebral euphoria followed by a soothing body buzz. It lulls you to sleep in no time, no matter how hard you fight it, making it the ideal marijuana for sleeping disorders.

Hindu Kush Feminized
Hindu Kush Feminized

Gorilla Glue Feminized

Gorilla Glue Feminized, known as GG4 or Original Glue, is a well-balanced indica strain with calming effects, making it a great choice for those who lack sleep.

It has excellent insomnia fighting properties thanks to its dominant terpenes, beta-caryophyllene and myrcene.

As you take a toke of this cultivar, a tingling relaxation makes its way throughout your body, relieving tension and easing any discomforts. Before long, GG4 leaves you glued to the couch.

This cannabis sleep aid is best kept for lazy days and is ideal for me-time after a demanding day. Keep snacks within reach because there's a high chance of the munchies kicking in.

Toke carefully with this cultivar; while it’s a fantastic stress reliever, this cannabis sleep aid causes a more uplifted mindset, which isn’t necessarily the best for sleep. Take one big puff and call it a night.

Gorilla Glue Feminized
Gorilla Glue Feminized

Bubba Kush Feminized

Bubba Kush Feminized is a renowned indica for sleep that can reach high THC levels of 21%. It’s the perfect strain for those who want to nod off after a difficult day. Its melt-into-the-couch effects guarantee you a restful night.

It's the ideal evening smoke to end a stressful day. Bubba Kush’s deep calming effects guide you into a deep sleep, after which you'll wake up feeling refreshed. 

With its sweet chocolate and coffee flavors, this cultivar is the ideal nighttime treat.  

Bubba Kush Feminized
Bubba Kush Feminized

When & what is the best form to consume cannabis for sleep

Oral THC is the best form of medical marijuana for sleep. The effects kick in within 1–3 hours and can last up to 6–8 hours. We recommend this method since it lasts long and manifests more slowly than smoking.

We recommend oral THC:

  • If you struggle to stay asleep during the night. Take the oral THC just before your head hits the pillow.
  • If falling asleep is what you struggle with. Take it 1–2 hours before you hit the hay.

If you would like the effects to kick in faster, try smoking weed to get some sleep. You’ll feel drowsy within 10 minutes as the THC levels peak. The effects are, however, variable depending on the inhalation count and time.

Everyone's physiology is different, so the effects of marijuana vary from person to person. The time it takes to kick in will be different for you, as will its potency. Talk to a healthcare professional before trying marijuana as a sleep aid.

Sweet dreams are made of THC

To use marijuana for sleep all comes down to personal preferences and whether it'll give you a good night's rest. Many people can successfully counteract their sleep disorders by using cannabis.

Experiment with different strains and find which one you help get your beauty sleep in. Remember, indica strains with higher THC levels are the way to go to get a good night's rest. Sweet dreams!

Was this article helpful?
Do you need help? Contact us
Comments
Leave your comment
Your email address will not be published
  • Be first in line to hear about our amazing deals and new products.
  • Learn how to grow cannabis with expert tips, tricks, and hacks.
  • Watch strain reviews, podcasts, and more.
This website is intended for adults only (21+)

Are you over 21 years of age?

no