Sleep and Cannabis – 10 Facts You Should Know

14 April 2022 Categories: Better Sleep Tips Author: Katrina Stubbs
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Cannabis is a natural sleep aid to help you get a better sleep – better life.

Are you thinking of escaping into a cannabis dream sleep? There is a lot more to the relationship than you might think!

Canada and the cannabis law changed forever in 2018, with Canada becoming one of the few countries in the world to legalize recreational marijuana use. Regardless of your affinity for indulging in the new world of Cannabis science – the relationship between high-quality sleep and Cannabis use is significant!

Below are 10 facts about Cannabis and Sleep:

  1. It turns out a strain such as Great White Shark (the most popular in BC) is low in THC and high in CBD concentration. High CBD dominant strains might hold promise for those with daytime somnolence. CBD increases “lights on” alertness, while not affecting “lights off” (sleeping) patterns at all!!
  2. Indica concentrated strains may help you have a deeper sleep. Indica strains tend to have a dozy effect on people, while Sativa strains often perk up and energize most users.
  3. Like a fine wine, THC changes over time, converting into cannabinol or CBN. CBN is more sedative than THC thus, making that older cannabis flower more sedative than fresh bud.
  4. It turns out that cannabis has a synergistic effect with other sleep aids, such as lavender. For a serious doze-off, pair cannabis bud with nighttime caffeine-free tea or lavender which may increase the sedation effect.
  5. Cannabis is known around the world as a relaxation substance, so most strains of cannabis will help you doze off faster.
  6. A cannabis hangover may be waiting for you in the AM. Often users will feel slight grogginess or mild headache in the morning after consuming cannabis. Drowsiness is normal and can be prevented by using smaller amounts of cannabis and ensuring you drink plenty of water and get your vitamins!
  7. Cannabis may prevent REM sleep. We all know the importance of deep REM sleep when you dream and create vivid memories. It is as important to moderate your usage of cannabis, so you will not miss out on those dreams and restorative sleep!
  8. Cannabis to treat Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA)? There are no studies yet to show if this is possible. However, in the next few decades, scientists are researching the relationship between Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) and Cannabis.
  9. Cannabis rebound? There are small studies to show that once you have stopped regular cannabis consumption, your sleep may be significantly more restless and experience longer sleep onset latency. Moderation is key to help prevent this.
  10. Cannabis is not for those under 21 years old. Simple as this. Studies show cannabis is not a good idea for sleep and brain development for anyone under the age of 21 years old.

Looking to get your best sleep ever? The Snore MD Dream Team is here every day to make sure you wake up refreshed and ready to conquer the day. Have questions about Cannabis and Sleep? Stop into one of our friendly and convenient sleep clinics across Western Canada


Katrina Stubbs Sleep Clinician
Katrina Stubbs
Author

Katrina Stubbs is a Regional Manager and Sleep Clinician at Snore MD and brings over 15 years of experience in the medical field. She prides herself in providing exceptional patient care and education, not only to her patients but to the entire team at Snore MD.

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