Is Smoking Weed Before Bed Good Or Bad?

Using marijuana before bed time is particularly popular among cannabis enthusiasts. Why is that so? Why do people enjoy their green nightcap so much? Let’s shed light on some marijuana research to explain why the weed and sleep seem to go hand in hand.

Although insomnia is the most common illness treated with cannabis, the plant seems to have a myriad of effects on sleep. Cannabinoids – chemical compounds found in the cannabis plant – mimic the activity of endocannabinoids found naturally in the brain.

These marijuana cannabinoids, along with their biological pathways, constitute the body’s endocannabinoid system, which is responsible for regulating sleep and ensuring longer and more efficient rest.

Besides, research has found that cannabis influences sleep directly. In order to understand this process and explain why smoking weed before bed is a good idea, we have to take a closer look at the difference between CBD and THC, and the effects of both indica and sativa strains on the brain.

You’re probably aware that there are different types of cannabis strains. Some of them will get you high (they’re rich in THC and they have low CBD levels), some just help you relax (High-CBD, low-THC). Most studies have examined high-THC strains so far, as CBD strains are more difficult to find in some areas of Canada.

So how do those high-CBD strains affect our sleep? According to a 2006 study conducted in both lights-on and lights-off environments, cannabidiol increases alertness with the lights on and has no distinguishable effects on lights-off sleep. In conclusion, the study have found that CBD holds therapeutic promise for people suffering from somnolence, or for those who struggle with excessive daytime drowsiness due to a poor night’s rest.

Weed and Sleep – Choose Indica Over Sativa

While sativas are known to give users more cerebral and uplifting high, there’s a popular opinion that indica strains induce heavier and sleepy effects. If you browse the most popular strains for sleep, you’ll notice a nice feed of indica purple patched with some hybrid green.

Although there are no DNA testing results that could show exactly why indicas typically provide better rest, some people believe that the terpene content is of significant importance in this aspect. Simply put, indicas may have more relaxing and sedating terpenes than sativa strains. Next time you experiment with weed and sleep cycles, you’ll now which to choose!

Aged Cannabis Will Make You Feel Sleepier

Now, this sounds interesting. When THC degrades over time, it becomes a soothing chemical – cannabinol (CBN). This constituent of the cannabis plant is five times more sedating than Tetrahydrocannabinol.

Marijuana Helps You Fall Asleep Faster

When compared to chamomile tea, using cannabis in moderate amounts is more effective. According to a study in 1973, THC decreased the average time it took participants to fall asleep by an hour.