Have you ever woken up after a smoke sesh in a pool of sweat because you just had the most vivid dream of your life? You know the dream – where you’re flying through trees, feeling the wind in your hair, while singing “the hills are alive…with the sound of music.” 🎶Or maybe you had the opposite experience and woke up in the middle of the night and couldn’t get back to sleep so you stared at the ceiling and pled with the universe to knock you out. Congratulations, you have experienced one of cannabis’s potential side effects: sleep and dream impact.
Welcome to our fifth installment of Cannabis Side Effects. In this blog, we’ll explore how cannabis may impact your sleep or dreams.
There’s a lot to unpack here. Cannabis affects people differently AND there are several schools of thought as to why and how, so here’s a disclaimer; “You may have a different experience. Before we get into the nitty gritty details, it’s always best to keep your physician in the loop as to your cannabis usage including how often you partake and side effects that you are experiencing.”
Why Does Cannabis Impact Sleep and Dreams
Cannabis, more specifically THC, can impact how one sleeps. It can make you feel like you just had the best sleep of your life, or it may interrupt your sleep state. It all depends on several factors.
First, a very quick lesson in sleep science.
Throughout the night, your brain cycles through different stages of sleep, broadly divided into non-REM and REM sleep. REM stands for Rapid Eye Movement, and it’s the stage most closely associated with those vivid, elaborate, why was my middle-school math teacher working at Taco Time selling yarn burritos? kind of dreams.
THC appears to influence this normal sleep architecture, but research is still evolving. Some studies suggest THC may help individuals fall asleep faster in the short term and may alter the amount of time spent in REM sleep. However, more recent research indicates that effects on REM aren’t as straightforward as once thought. Dose, frequency of cannabis use, cannabinoid profile, tolerance, and individual biology can all change the experience.
In other words: cannabis + sleep = it’s complicated.
But here’s where things get interesting. Because THC may affect REM sleep, some regular users report dreaming less – or at least remembering fewer dreams – when they consume. Then you take a tolerance break and shit gets real. Suddenly your brain is directing, producing, and starring in a Christopher Nolan movie every single night.
*REM Rebound enters the chat*
If you regularly consume cannabis and then take a T break, your dreams may suddenly come back with a vengeance. This is called REM rebound. With REM rebound, your brain may temporarily spend more time in REM sleep, resulting in dreams that feel more vivid, emotional, or downright bizarre (a personal favorite of the person writing this blog).
If a tolerance break suddenly has you starring in a soap opera every night, don’t panic. Your brain may just be catching up on some much needed REM time. Enjoy it.
How to Have a Better Cannabis + Sleep Experience
If cannabis is part of your nighttime routine, there are a few things you can do to learn what works best for you.
Start low and pay attention to dose.
More THC does not automatically equal better sleep. A dose that makes you pleasantly relaxed may have a different effect when doubled.
Experiment with timing.
Taking an edible as your head hits the pillow isn’t the same as consuming one a couple of hours before bedtime. Edibles can take longer to kick in and last considerably longer than inhalation, so think about both onset and duration.
Keep track of what you’re consuming.
Flower, concentrates, edibles, tinctures, THC-to-CBD ratios, cannabinoid content, and terpene profiles can all make for different experiences. If you find something that leaves you feeling refreshed, make a note of it.
Remember the sleep basics.
Keep a consistent sleep schedule, create a comfortable sleeping environment, and try to limit caffeine late in the day. Cannabis is amazing but it won’t undo the quad espresso you drank at 8:00pm. Trust us.
Exploring Cannabis For Sleep
We would love nothing more than to give you a magical weed formula to get the best sleep of your life. Unfortunately, cannabis doesn’t work that way and we don’t want to give you false hope. The effects of cannabis are highly individual, and research doesn’t support declaring one cannabinoid, terpene, or strain a universal sleep aid.
But what we can confidently tell you is that terpenes such as myrcene, linalool, and beta-caryophyllene are commonly associated with cannabis products users describe as relaxing or calming. Additionally, CBD doesn’t produce that psychoactive “high” effect that THC does and its sister cannabinoid CBN is often marketed specifically for nighttime use.
Next time you are visiting us in-store, ask our friendly Budtenders what they recommend for sleep – but be prepared to answer questions about what has/hasn’t worked for you in the past or what your consumption looks like. It’s important for our Budtenders to know a little bit about your personal preferences and experiences in order to recommend a product to try.
Cannabis and sleep have a complicated relationship, but figuring out what works best for you is all part of the journey. Pay attention to your dose, timing, and how you feel the next morning. And when in doubt, come talk to us.
As for the weird dreams? Enjoy the ride.
