Can Cannabis Aid Chronic Sleep Issues Such as Insomnia?

As an adult, sleep is something that we all grow to love, yet get enough. What’s even more common, is the difficulty many of us encounter when trying to fall asleep. Sleep disorders affects 50 to 70 million adults in the United States, with 30% of adults experiencing insomnia at one point in their lives, as indicated by the American Sleep Association ¹.

Cannabis has been known to aid sleep ailments. While Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) cannabinoids are the properties responsible for the psychoactive “high” effects of cannabis ²– it is also responsible for the sleep-inducing benefits as well. So, what do we know about cannabis and insomnia?

Here’s what we know

Cannabis ingestion with high levels of THC have better sleep-inducing properties than Cannabidiol (CBD). This may come as a surprise to many because CBD carries a tremendous amount of health benefits ³– such as anxiety relief, pain control, neurodegenerative disorder relief, and more.

While THC has the ability to reduce the time it takes you to fall asleep – it also inhibits your REM sleep cycle. This means, your deepest sleep state suffers. Your REM cycle is essential to your body’s restoration, healing, memories, and more. For individuals suffering from PTSD – this may actually be a benefit as many of the traumatic nightmare experiences ⁴that come with the disorder are greatly reduced.

Best practices

How do you ingest cannabis ⁵? When should it be taken? These are all great questions. While traditional methods are usually by smoke inhalation – vaping or using THC-rich tinctures which can be dropped under the tongue before bedtime are also popular for those who have an aversion to cannabis’ odor. Establishing a dosage that works for you is all about trial and error – as everyone responds differently. If you find yourself groggy in the morning, you may want to decrease your dose the next time. On average, the duration ⁶of effects can last anywhere between 8 to 12 hours – so plan accordingly before bed.

The takeaway

THC has the ability to help some cases with insomnia, however, some individuals may experience increased anxiety  ⁷or paranoia upon ingestion. As will regular sleep aids – sometimes they work and sometimes they don’t. Cannabis as a short-term solution for insomnia and other sleep disorders may be beneficial but be aware of the side effects. Overall, always be mindful of the traditional sleep practices ⁸to get the best rest possible.

Fully understanding the cannabis industry extends beyond consumption. If you are in the business of medical or recreational marijuana, the team at Herban Creative can help you establish your brand. Contact us today to see how we can guide your business to its full potential.