How Does Marijuana Affect Your Sleep?

Always consult your doctor before beginning a supplement or medication regimen or changing your current medication. This is not medical advice; it is information to help you start a discussion with your doctor.

Finding relief from insomnia is one of the main reasons people turn to marijuana, but it's also a common side effect of consuming edible cannabis products. Marijuana is a popular drug that many people use to relax, sleep, or forget about their problems. However, it can have adverse effects on the body and mind.

Insomnia, difficulty falling or staying asleep, is one of the most common side effects of marijuana use. Some smokers have this problem even when they are not under the influence of marijuana. Others only get it if they consume too much marijuana in one sitting.

While marijuana is frequently used to relax and unwind, it can also disrupt sleep. This can have short-term and long-term effects on a person's ability to function at work or school and their overall health. Let's take a look at how marijuana affects sleep.

Marijuana And Sleep

Getting a good night's sleep is essential for maintaining a balanced lifestyle, but it can be difficult for some people. Many factors can disrupt your sleep, including stress, pain, or bad habits like drinking too much caffeine or alcohol at night. Cannabis use is one factor that may have an impact on your sleep pattern. Before we can talk about cannabis and sleep, we need to understand how a good rest works.

We sleep in 90-minute cycles, switching between NREM and REM. The initial transition from awake to asleep and a decrease in body temperature and activity distinguish NREM sleep. Rapid eye movement sleep (REM sleep) is identified by increased brain activity and dreams. This is one of the most important stages of sleep, and it aids in forming new memories.

Studies have shown that short-term Marijuana use can increase deep sleep. The evidence gets more complicated with consistent users, who have reported less sleep and some drawbacks. 

What Exactly Is REM Sleep?

The acronym REM stands for rapid eye movement. The stage of deep sleep during which we have the most vivid dreams is referred to as REM. We do not physically act out our dreams because our muscles are still during this time; however, many people report dreaming more frequently after smoking cannabis than before. According to one study, cannabinoids, which are chemical compounds found in cannabis, increase levels of sleep-promoting adenosine. 

How to Improve Your Sleep With Marijuana

If you're looking for a way to improve your sleep with marijuana, edibles might do the job. After a long day of work, edibles can be an effective way to relax. But there are some risks to eating before going to bed. According to studies, eating cannabis can help people fall asleep faster and stay asleep longer than smoking or vaping. This effect could be related to the body's natural cannabinoid production and its impact on blood sugar levels. Because cannabis can stimulate your appetite, eating an edible before bedtime may cause you to become hungry, preventing you from falling asleep deeply.

Other ways eating cannabis can affect your ability to rest well at night. Eating late in the evening can make you feel hungrier than usual during your REM cycle, making it difficult to fall back asleep. This is why many people prefer smoking or vaping over ingesting an edible if they want something quick but don't want to keep waking up throughout the night due to hunger pangs or stomach cramps.

What Distinguishes Cannabis from Other Natural Sleep Aids?

There hasn't been much research comparing the effectiveness of cannabis sleep aids to other sleep aids because cannabis is a controlled substance. Only a few synthetic THC-impersonating drugs and one CBD product with naturally derived CBD have received FDA approval. But not for sleep. These are used to treat conditions like nausea.

Some people use medical cannabis, like other all-natural sleep aids, to avoid stronger medications like opioids. Many prescription and over-the-counter sleep aids carry a risk of abuse or dependence. However, the fact that they can be very effective in the short term has been shown. Some natural sleep aids, such as oral melatonin, appear to alleviate insomnia without causing any noticeable side effects.

Which Strain is Best for Getting to Sleep

Indica strains, the most common type of marijuana, tend to be more relaxing and sedating. They're great for winding down after a long day or easing into sleep before bedtime.

Sativa strains have more energizing properties that make them suitable for daytime use but not so much for getting your zzzs at night. Indica and Sativa strains can be used as hybrid strains. This means they are a cross between the two. They can be good options if you want something less sedating than an indica strain but still want some relaxation without making it difficult to fall asleep later in the evening or early in the morning.

Start with small doses if you're trying marijuana edibles for the first time to see how your body reacts to them.

Cannabis may be the answer if you're looking for a natural sleep aid that doesn't have the same side effects as prescription medications. While more research is needed on how cannabis affects sleep and REM in particular, we know that it has been used safely to help with insomnia and other problems related to lack of restful slumber.