With its relaxing, anxiolytic and soothing properties, cannabis is a great way to get to sleep. But whether it’s CBD or THC, a few rules are essential to observe. Our green anti-white-night guide.
When considering cannabis as a sleep aid, the first question is: CBD or THC?
The two best-known cannabinoids in this beautiful plant each have very different effects and mechanisms of action.
In addition to this first distinction, there’s another important parameter: unlike CBD, THC is still a prohibited substance in the eyes of most governments.
While North America has largely legalized the use of recreational cannabis (and therefore THC), its consumption remains prohibited in almost all of Europe.
This is something to bear in mind if you don’t want to sleep (badly) at the police station. So it’s imperative to find out about the laws in force in the country where your bed is located.
CBD: the soft, natural sleep regulator
Cannabidiol (CBD) is the “sober” alkaloid in cannabis.
Unlike its famous cousin THC, CBD has no psycho-active effects (by which we mean it doesn’t give you a high), but its action on the endocannabinoid system (ECS) is well proven. Through its muscle-relaxing virtues, CBD is an excellent relaxing agent and, above all, an extraordinary regulator of the SEC, and therefore of your internal clock. This regulatory action has many points in common with that of melatonin. It is this similarity and complementarity which explains why a growing number of brands are now adding melatonin to their CBD oils or tinctures, for maximum effectiveness… and without danger.
As CBD is certainly a relaxant, but above all a gentle SEC gendarme, there’s no need to drink half a liter of cannabidiol oil to fall asleep: a few drops every 24 hours will suffice to harmonize SEC and sleep.
Your body will naturally welcome the molecule and distribute it to rebalance a body damaged by temporary stress or chronic anxiety.
As for dosage, therapeutic doses range from 20 to 200mg for a 70kg person in good health. For this same weight, 50mg/day is a dosage which should quickly reconcile you with your pillow.
As for the timing of intake, it is advisable to take it all at once at the same time; a little before dinner being the generally recommended window.
In the case of a CBD-melatonin combination, on the other hand, it will be wiser to wait until 10pm if you intend to fall asleep around 11-11:30pm.
THC: Effective but not without side effects
It’s a common misconception, firmly rooted in every cannabis enthusiast, that Indica is the variety best suited to a quick fall into the arms of Morpheus. Conversely, Sativas are supposed to have a tonic effect A distinction which may guide your choices, but which is far from systematic
To save you hours of research on the Web, a fortune in more or less fruitful trials and sleepless or green nights, we have selected 5 of the most effective strains in this field, from the lightest to the strongest.
1- God’s Gift
2- Tahoe OG Kush
3- Granddaddy Purple
4- Ogre
5- 9 Pound Hammer
Severe cases: swallow your nightcap-weed rather than smoke it
If you suffer from post-deep sleep nocturnal awakenings, i.e. about three hours after dozing off, swallowing your natural sleeping pill will keep you radically horizontal until the early hours of the morning.
THC edibles have been legal in Canada since January 1, and in 11 US states.
Take advantage of it if a simple sleep aid in the form of smoke isn’t enough.
THC edibles take longer to take effect, but last much longer (between 7 and 9 hours, i.e. a good night’s sleep).
“À bédot dodo, matin ramolo” (to sleep in, to sleep out)
Consuming cannabis before going to sleep, especially high-THC cannabis such as Granddaddy or God’s Gift (and even more so for edibles), can cause a “weed hangover”, AKA a “green hangover”.
So no, you won’t be hunched over the toilet with a Russian January 1st headache, but you might feel lethargic, sluggish, foggy, dehydrated, with a memory not up to scratch. These are your body’s signs that you’ve overdosed. The advantage of this unpleasant experience is that you can adjust the quantity or variety of weed to suit your needs. If you wake up in such a state, rather like alcohol abuse, the things that will save you are the same: drink water (lots of it) exercise and don’t be reluctant to take 1000 mg of vitamin C… but at a distance from your coffee, so as not to upset your stomach which may have been weakened by this cannabic excess.
Cannabis and dreams: the paradox of REM sleep
As you drift off to sleep thanks to cannabis, you may lose some (or all) of your dreams. At least, that’s the conclusion of several studies. Quite a feat for a plant that invites daydreams as much as it makes you travel without moving.
Explanation: dreams occur during the last stage of your sleep cycle, known as REM (Rapid Eye Movement) sleep. Cannabis consumption before bedtime has been shown to reduce the time spent in REM sleep, meaning you wouldn’t have as many vivid dreams or daydreams. However, the study also showed that this principle didn’t apply to everyone. An observation confirmed by the writer, who never stopped dreaming, even in his sleep.
