Marijuana For Sleep: The Benefits & Risks (All-In-One Guide)

With the increasing legalization of marijuana and hemp, more and more people have turned to cannabis products for their various benefits. Cannabis may help with a variety of physical and mental ailments, from aches and pains to anxiety and depression.

But, what about sleep? Along with acting as an analgesic and an anxiolytic, marijuana has powerful sedative properties, making it popular among users with sleep issues like insomnia. So, using marijuana may be helpful for those who have trouble falling asleep and staying asleep. Moreover, there are CBD gummies for sleep that help with insomnia. However, there is some conflicting information about how well marijuana use helps with improving sleep. 

One study from the University of Michigan suggests that frequent use of marijuana may actually worsen the quality of an individual’s sleep. Daily cannabis users were found to have higher levels of insomnia compared to those who do not use marijuana daily. So, there seems to be a relationship between heavy use of marijuana and disturbances in sleep.

From this study, we can conclude that marijuana may help some individuals with sleep disorders; however, constant or daily use of marijuana may worsen sleep issues like insomnia. Frequent marijuana users may consider quitting the use of marijuana if they encounter sleep issues, but is quitting the best option?

Results of Quitting Of Marijuana

If you are a daily cannabis user and are experiencing disturbances in your sleep, you may think it best to completely quit using marijuana; however, quitting can present its own problems. Quitting marijuana after continual use may cause a period of withdrawal. During this period, many often experience a worsened quality of sleep. 

However, this mainly applies to those who frequently and heavily use marijuana, and more research is needed to definitely conclude the effects of marijuana on sleep. This is especially the case for those who are minimal users who do not experience a sleep-disturbing withdrawal period. 

Other Factors

There are other factors that can contribute to whether marijuana will improve or disturb sleep patterns in people. Marijuana is often used to treat several different medical issues ranging from physical aches and pains to psychological issues like PTSD. These kinds of issues and disorders may also affect a person’s quality of sleep.

Those who suffer from anxiety and depression may be affected differently by marijuana, and using it to treat these issues can also contribute to whether cannabis improves or worsens sleep quality. Additional studies are needed that look specifically at the relationship between the use of medical marijuana for psychological ailments and the effects marijuana has on sleep. 

Inconsistent Research

The information regarding marijuana and sleep is conflicting and sometimes inconsistent. The available studies about cannabinoids’ impact on sleep is a mixed bag, which means that some studies have found that marijuana may help with sleep, and others have concluded that frequent and heavy marijuana use may worsen quality of sleep.

One major reason that research seems to be so inconsistent is that marijuana and other cannabinoids can affect individuals differently. Common cannabinoids like THC and CBD are found in varying amounts in different strains of marijuana, which means different strains can affect sleep differently. 

There are three main types of marijuana strains, known as sativa, indica, and hybrid. Sativa strains are known to provide users with an energy boost and heightened creativity, which may not be the best for sleep. Indica strains, on the other hand, may help with relaxation and promote calm, so they may be better for helping people get to sleep. Hybrid strains combine the benefits from both sativas and indicas, so they may also help with sleep. 

While CBD has been subjectively known to help aid sleep, one study concluded that THC may actually lessen the amount of REM sleep that a person can get. REM sleep is important to help one feel rested after waking, and it is closely connected to dreaming, which helps people process experiences that happen during the day.

BudPop offers hemp-based products in several different forms that may help those who benefit from using cannabinoids for sleep. On our official website, you can find CBD gummies, flowers, and tinctures. We specifically offer CBD + CBN gummies for sleep. These gummies provide users with 25mg of CBD and 10mg of CBN, both of which are known as powerful sleep aids. Combining CBD with melatonin is also an alternative to promote better sleep and resolve all sleep-related concerns.

Conclusion: Do Cannabis Products Make You Sleepy?

There are a variety of individual differences both in people and in marijuana strains that may affect a person’s sleep. Health issues, frequency of marijuana use, and types and potency of marijauna strains can all play a part in the quality of a person’s sleep. These factors can result in a variety of conclusions in different studies, which is why the research is somewhat inconsistent. 

All in all, it is important to keep in mind that cannabis may affect you differently than it does someone else. If you find it affects your sleep, it is best to avoid it. But, if it helps you quiet your mind and relax, you can use it in moderation to give your sleep a boost.