Marijuana comes in many shapes and forms, and depending on how you use it, it can have either a positive or negative impact on your sleep quality. So, does it cause insomnia? The answer is yes and no.
People react differently to it; hence, some feel more relaxed and have much better sleep after using cannabis, while others may experience insomnia. But when it comes to CBD sleep products, which are made from cannabis sativa hemp plants, they mostly have a positive impact on sleep.
In fact, in some studies, it’s proven that CBD users report better sleep scores and a drastic reduction in insomnia levels.
However, smoking the THC-rich flower directly may have a negative impact, as it can increase your heartbeat and anxiety levels and may even cause panic attacks, which can lead to the degradation of sleep.
Let’s take a deep dive and explore how cannabis affects our sleep and whether it can improve or degrade conditions for people suffering from insomnia.
How Marijuana Affects Our Quality and Insomnia Levels?
Marijuana has quite a complex relationship with our sleep. Marijuana plants have a higher concentration of THC (tetrahydrocannabinol), which has sedative and intoxicating effects on our bodies.
Hence, it can help people fall asleep faster and improve the conditions of insomnia and other sleep disorders. Some studies show that marijuana may improve sleep quality and increase the amount of time spent in deep, restorative sleep stages.
There are many anecdotal reports from insomnia and sleep disorder patients saying that moderate or controlled marijuana use has helped increase their total sleep time.
However, other studies show that heavy marijuana usage can disrupt the quality and depth of sleep cycles, which can result in frequent awakenings and an overall reduction in sleep quality.
So in a way, you may say that marijuana’s impact on sleep varies depending on factors like how much you are consuming, when you are consuming, and your personal medical history and sleep disorder levels. Excessive or chronic use may lead to disrupted sleep patterns and shorter overall sleep duration.
On a more positive note, in some cases, marijuana is found to be related to an increase in the rapid eye movement sleep cycle. The impact of THC on sleep stages can result in more exhilarating and vivid dreams, but this will vary from individual to individual and the kind of memories that dominate their subconscious.
Marijuana may also provide relief from certain sleep-related disorders, such as sleep apnea, restless leg syndrome, and nightmares or PTSD-related sleep disturbances.
However, we need more concrete and long-term studies to understand such cases fully. Further, the impact will vary based on the marijuana strain, its potency, dosage, frequency of use, tolerance levels, and individual differences in metabolism levels.
What About CBD? Can It Help With Insomnia?
CBD, or cannabidiol, is quite different in terms of its effect on the human body as compared to marijuana. First and foremost, unlike THC, CBD doesn't have intoxicating effects; hence, you won’t get high from it.
All CBD products are made from industrial hemp plants, which have very low concentrations of THC, and their limit is capped at 0.3%. CBD doesn’t bind to the CB1 and CB2 endocannabinoid receptors.
Instead, it influences them in a certain way and increases their working efficiency. These receptors are part of our body’s complex cell signaling network known as the endocannabinoid system (ECS), which is spread throughout our body.
It’s responsible for maintaining homeostasis by controlling various physiological functions like anxiety, stress, sleep, appetite, immunity, hormone levels, and more. Hence, CBD consumption makes this system even more efficient, which results in us being more calm, relaxed, stress- and pain-free, and leads to restful and deep sleep.
There are also scientific studies that show that CBD consumption results in sleep improvement among insomnia patients. The only caveat is that you’ll need to take it regularly over a while to see concrete effects.
For example, in this 2019 study, insomnia and anxiety patients were given oral CBD doses for over a month, and their positive effects lingered even after the trial was over. Plus, CBD hardly has any side effects, and it’s generally well tolerated by most of the public.
So if you specifically want a much healthier and safer insomnia remedy, CBD products like gummies and oils are miles better than smoking marijuana flowers. There’s no risk of getting stones, so you may even take CBD during the day to stay stress-free throughout the hectic events.
How To Increase The Efficacy Of Marijuana And CBD For Better Sleep?
The better choice is CBD from a health perspective, but some people like to experience a bit more vivid and recreational time after a long, tiring day. But regardless of whether you take CBD or marijuana, timing is the most essential aspect of their impact on sleep quality and insomnia.
People usually prefer oil or gummies when it comes to CBD. Both the products have different bioavailabilities; hence, CBD will show its effect within 15–30 minutes. Whereas CBD gummies will take around an hour or two before kicking in, so have your dinner and bedtime planned accordingly.
On the other hand, marijuana is generally consumed by rolling the flower in a joint and being a smokable method, the onset time is much faster, and it may start making you feel loose and relaxed within a few seconds of consumption.
So plan the consumption time accordingly. Plus, for even better and stronger benefits, you should try to incorporate healthy foods, regular exercise, and meditation methods in your wellness routine.
Just make sure to start with these changes slowly, with a low dose, and give your body time to adjust to these products. Your sleep won’t improve right away, but probably after a week or two of regular usage, you’ll notice a positive change.
The End Note
To sum it up, marijuana can have both negative and positive effects on insomnia levels. It all depends on your body chemistry, tolerance level, medication history, and the amount of marijuana you are consuming.
In moderate doses, marijuana is proven to be effective in increasing sleep duration and REM sleep time. Whereas heavy usage, may reduce overall sleep time and make insomnia even worse. A much better and healthier alternative is CBD products; they don’t make you high or stoned and may help you slide into restful sleep by reducing your stress and anxiety levels.
CBD also helps with insomnia by affecting the hypothalamus region, which is responsible for regulating our stress levels and sleep-wake cycles. Just make sure to take these products a few hours before, avoid screens, and maintain a strict routine.
This way, you’ll see a drastic improvement in your sleep hygiene. Just make sure to buy CBD from trusted brands like Colorado Botanicals, and for marijuana, go for a legal dispensary rather than a street-side plug.
