Poor sleep is the catalyst for poor mental and physical health. From altered moods and memory issues to weakened immunity, sleep disorders affect much more than a person’s energy levels. If you toss and turn for hours on end, you’re not alone. The National Center for Biotechnology Information confirms that 60 million U.S. adults experience disordered sleep, and 40 million experience insomnia every year. Other disruptors include sleep apnea, parasomnias, narcolepsy, and restless leg syndrome.
While some people opt for prescription remedies or over-the-counter cures like melatonin, others have turned to marijuana. Those in the cannabis community report certain strains can be effective sleep aids.
Understanding Insomnia and Other Sleep Disorders
According to SleepFoundation.org, sleep disorders are conditions that affect sleep quality, timing, or duration, and impact a person’s ability to function when awake. Most sleep disorders can be characterized by one or more of the following signs:
- Difficulty falling or remaining asleep
- Struggle to stay awake during the day
- Unhealthy sleep schedule due to an imbalanced circadian rhythm
- Prone to unusual behaviors that disrupt sleep
The most common sleep disorders include:
Insomnia: Insomnia manifests in several ways, from making it difficult for someone to fall asleep, stay asleep, or cause them to wake up before they are fully rested. People with insomnia also experience daytime sleepiness and may have difficulty functioning while they are awake.
Sleep Apnea: Sleep apnea is a prevalent disorder that causes interruptions in breathing. Individuals with this condition exhibit loud snoring and may wake up choking or gasping for air.
Narcolepsy: Narcolepsy is a sleep disorder characterized by persistent daytime fatigue, even with sufficient sleep. This condition can result in an uncontrollable compulsion to sleep, leading to brief episodes known as “sleep attacks,” usually lasting a few minutes.
Restless Leg Syndrome: Individuals afflicted by restless legs syndrome (RLS) encounter tingling or crawling sensations, prompting an irresistible compulsion to move their legs. These sensations and the urge to move often intensify when in a seated or reclined position, posing challenges for restful sleep.
How Cannabis Affects Sleep
Those who use marijuana before bedtime report that it helps them fall asleep faster and stay asleep longer. But how does cannabis promote better rest? Scientists believe that the plant interacts with receptors in the brain, binds to them, and then relays the message to increase adenosine, a natural chemical that induces sleepiness. The combination of cannabis and adenosine may deliver a tranquilizing effect.
Cannabis use may also impact one’s quality of sleep. Short-term users report deep rest, the stage that empowers users to wake up refreshed. THC can also decrease the time someone spends in REM sleep, during which dreams or nightmares occur.
Choosing the Right Consumption Method
Certain cannabis strains have different reported impacts. The most common strain for sleep is Indica, as users claim it can provoke feelings of relaxation and tiredness.
Users can consume marijuana through smoking, vaporization, ingestion, or by using it as a sublingual tincture under the tongue. Each has a unique time frame of when it takes effect. Typically, inhaled cannabis tends to work quickly and has a higher bioavailability than edibles, which function slowly, as they lose a significant amount of THC to the digestive system.
Of course, the effects also depend on how much a person consumes. When smoked, the length of inhalation, the number of times a user inhales it, and someone’s tolerance may influence the result.
Smoking
Smoking flower is the most common way to use cannabis, and it provides users with an almost instant high. Users suggest taking a few tokes immediately before bedtime to support healthy sleep habits.
Vaping
Many people today opt for vape pens or cartridges as an alternative to smoking flower. But like smoking, vaping allows for a quick onset of effects. Concentrates are much more potent than flower, so fewer inhalations with a vape will do the trick.
Edibles
Edibles are THC-infused cannabis foods or drinks that serve as tasty alternatives to smoking or vaping. Depending on a user’s body and the edible product they ingest, effects may take anywhere from 30 minutes to two hours. With this in mind, users should plan their consumption quite a while before bedtime.
Tinctures
The oil used in tinctures includes a combination of cannabinoids and terpenes extracted from the cannabis plant. A little bit can go a long way, so it’s best for more experienced users.
Visit Reverie 73
Whether you have a sleep disorder or need a gentle nudge at nighttime on rare occasions, you may find relief with cannabis. At Reverie 73, we can help you find the best option to aid your sleep journey.
Visit us at our Lowell location at 1148 Bridge Street, Lowell, MA 01850. We’re open Monday through Saturday from 11am to 9pm and Sunday from 11am to 8pm.