Unfortunately, insomnia is the most severe, but cannabis may help many people fall and stay asleep. It can slow racing thoughts, dissolve pain, relax muscles, and provide its own sleepy chemicals to assist you in falling asleep and staying asleep.
It’s also possible that the flowers you choose don’t have to be packed with high amounts of THC. A strain that functions as a sleep aid does not even need to be a psychoactive chemical, contrary to coffee (apparently). Take Savage CBD Lifter Sauce CBD Flower, for example: it contains minimal quantities of THC but uses its greater dose of CBD to provide a strong feeling of relaxation that may help you get to the point where you feel “bedtime” is a good idea.
There are a lot of theories about why Indica strains are the best choice for nighttime usage, but there is still no definitive proof. There’s definitely a reason for it, but people have a lot of different ideas, so I won’t go into them too deeply in this post. The one that makes the most sense to my non-scientist mind is that CBD has been linked to Indica varieties more often.
However, CBD has been discovered to be a substance that effectively induces relaxation while also being non-psychoactive. This is why we’ve compiled this list, one for the anxious, one for the restless, and one for the sleepless.
We’ve compiled a list of sedating strains to get you started on your next trip to the dispensary. But, first, here are some pointers to keep in mind:
- The strains with the greatest THC concentrations are the most effective for sleeping. If THC is fine with your system and doesn’t generate unpleasant side effects such as anxiety, a THC-dominant strain may be your best bet for sedating effects.
- Choose low-THC strains if you’re having trouble falling asleep because of anxiety. THC has a mild dosage that can help you fall asleep, but larger doses might raise anxiety in some people. Look for one with a greater CBD content if you’re sensitive to marijuana.
- Edibles can assist you sleep longer. Inhaling cannabis produces a more rapid high, but edibles stay in effect for a long time.
- Browse Leafly for strains that induce drowsiness. Find out which strains other Leafly users have referred to as “sleepy” here.
Finding the right strain for you is a unique experience that often necessitates some trial and error. Many of these plants are just a few of the many options, so keep track of which ones you enjoy and dislike to help you discover other strains with comparable effects (cannabinoids) and fragrances (terpenes).
What Do the Studies Say?
Sleep problems are one of the most frequent reasons that people seek medical assistance for cannabis. Sleep issues appear to be linked to cannabis use in some people, though experts disagree on how significant these connections are. The majority of research into marijuana’s influence on sleep have produced conflicting findings. Sleep problems can generally be treated. However, when you stop taking the medication, there is evidence that insomnia may be a withdrawal symptom. Budney et al., researchers from The American Journal of Psychiatry, published a study in January 2015 where up to 76 percent of regular cannabis users reported lagging sleep after stopping use.
When certain websites make claims about studies, be sure to check them out. According to one website, a research published in the Journal of Abnormal Psychology in August 2003 by Budney et al., which found that cannabis withdrawal symptoms last for 45 days, is genuine.
The report, published in the journal Addiction, examined 18 cannabis consumers who smoked as regularly as possible for five days and then stopped for 45 days. Sleep disorders emerged within three days, with the greatest effects from days 2 to 6. The study notes that “the majority of effects durations were 4-14 days.” Still a problem, but not nearly as serious as anti-marijuana websites like to make it seem.
In August 2013, The American Journal of Addiction published Gorelick et al.’s study on the sleep habits of 13 long-term, daily cannabis smokers. For seven days, the participants were given oral THC dosages of 20mg every six hours around the clock. On average, they consumed between 40 and 120 milligrams of THC per day. The study’s researchers discovered that using higher amounts of THC in the evening resulted in decreased sleep latency, better ease of falling asleep, but also more daytime sleep the next day.
Marijuana’s effectiveness in treating sleep problems has been extensively researched. Cannabis can help you breathe better (great news if you have sleep apnea), and it might decrease the amount of time spent in REM (a bonus if you have PTSD and experience nightmares).
The next morning, people who smoked marijuana at night may feel groggy. They also have a dry mouth and an increased appetite. Grogginess the next day is one of the side effects of nighttime marijuana use.
Nonetheless, for a growing number of people, marijuana is a better choice than sleeping pills or other prescription medications to help them get a good night’s sleep. If you need some assistance relaxing, we’ve put up a list of five excellent cannabis strains for you to try.
Tahoe OG Kush
Primary terpenes: Limonene, caryophyllene, myrcene
Cannabinoid profile: THC-dominant
Tahoe OG is a godsend for insomniacs, since it has effects that are heavier than common OG Kush hybrids. Smoking or vaporizing this strain provides fast-acting relaxation to muscles, allowing you to rest comfortably in your bed instead of rolling around all night.
Granddaddy Purple
Primary terpenes: Myrcene, caryophyllene, pinene
Cannabinoid profile: THC-dominant
Granddaddy Purple is not only a must-have, but it’s also one of the greatest drowsy strains. Granddaddy Purple is not only easy to come by, but it also contains significant amounts of myrcene, a terpene that is commonly thought to provide soothing effects. GDP is popular among cannabis users who use it for pain or anxiety since it has strong berry and grape undertones to sweeten the deal.
God’s Gift
Primary terpenes: Myrcene, pinene, caryophyllene
Cannabinoid profile: THC-dominant
The Gift of God is a boon to insomniacs, since all that anxiety keeping you up at night seems to be overwrought by a solid sense of calm. You’re likely to feel good as you release the breath with notes of berry and orange, your body sinking as a result.
Sweet and Sour Widow
Primary terpenes: Not enough data
Cannabinoid profile: Balanced THC/CBD
Strains that contain THC are generally preferable for sleep, although those who are sensitive to its paranoid side effects may not have the same results. Instead, try Sweet and Sour Widow, a CBD-rich strain. Its CBD can assist reduce the paranoid, racy symptoms while still including small amounts of THC to make you sleepy.
Northern Lights
Primary terpenes: Not enough data
Cannabinoid profile: THC-dominant
Imagine yourself on a chilly winter night, cozy under a warm blanket as green lights flicker above you. This isn’t unlike the relaxing effect of Northern Lights, an ancient-school strain that has been lulling people to sleep since its inception in the mid-1980s. With a strong grip, Northern Lights relieves pain and sleeplessness with its high THC content.
Ogre
Primary terpenes: Myrcene, caryophyllene, limonene
Cannabinoid profile: THC-dominant
The sleep-inducing hybrid Ogre crushes sleeplessness with ease. On the inhale, sweet citrus tastes dance across your tongue, providing your senses something to enjoy as the sedative effects set in.
9 Pound Hammer
Primary terpenes: Myrcene, pinene, caryophyllene
Cannabinoid profile: THC-dominant
9 Pound Hammer is a no-nonsense strain for insomniacs who can’t escape the prison of their mind while lying in bed. Another reason to love 9 Pound Hammer, which appropriately enough has a name that refers to its power.
Remedy
Primary terpenes: Myrcene, pinene, caryophyllene
Cannabinoid profile: CBD-dominant
Remedy is a non-intoxicating cannabis product designed for individuals who are uncomfortable with the high. You’re not looking to get baked, and that’s just fine. CBD-dominant strains like Remedy can assist you in sleeping by reducing pain, anxiety, stress, and other sleep disorders.
A lack of sleep might have a much bigger influence on your life than just making you irritable and crabby. Did you know that tiredness is linked to over 100,000 automobile accidents and over 1,500 crash-related fatalities in the United States each year?
Sleep restriction and poor sleep quality raise the likelihood of workplace injuries and overall performance issues. Sleep deprivation can cause a stroke, diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, and cardiac arrest. It’s been estimated that 90% of persons who suffer from insomnia also have another health issue! Sleep deprivation reduces your sex drive, slows down your cognitive processes, ages your skin, raises the risk of depression, and increases the chance of weight gain.
As a result, if you’re having difficulties sleeping, there’s no doubt that you’ve tried everything. If you’ve attempted to alter your sleep routine, avoid the “blue light” from gadgets at night, and create a healthy bedtime plan but still can’t fall asleep , marijuana could be the answer.
The herb is considered beneficial by many people, and numerous studies suggest it may help with sleep. It’s unclear if skullcap helps with sleep, but it has a long history as a restorative and calming tea. If you decide to give it a go, do so cautiously and start with a tiny dose to see how your body and mind react.
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