How Does Weed Help With Sleep?

How does weed help with sleep? It is true that marijuana, also known as pot, has powerful psychological effects on the brain. Scientific research has proven that it does have these sleep-enhancing effects. However, weed's sleep improving qualities are not the result of some mystical chemical. Rather, they are due to the plant's high relative concentration of a group of chemicals called phytochemicals. This sleep aid has been scientifically studied for years and recent studies have found that it does have these sleep enhancing qualities.

Many people who use cannabis report feeling calm and even drowsy during the course of the day. This is caused by the constant use of the plant over several months. However, these feelings usually subside after the first few hours. Some users will report still feeling alert and awake during the second and third day of use.

Many of the scientific studies of sleep aids have focused on three major classes of phytochemicals. These include: delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), cannabidiol (CBD), and delta-7-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC / CBD). All three play an important role in the sleep disorders that most users suffer from: sleep apnea, insomnia, and depression. Some strains of cannabis also contain other phytochemicals that may play an important role in balancing mood and reducing anxiety. The newer cannabis strains that contain fewer terpenoids are proving to be more sleep inducing than the older ones. Of the three, strains that contain higher levels of cannabidiol have shown the most sleep promoting effects so far.

Cannabidiol, also known as CBD, is one of the two primary chemicals in marijuana that has proven most effective in treating sleep problems, especially insomnia. In recent years, more CBD is being distributed by growing medical marijuana markets in countries where it is not yet legal.

Other sleep inducing strains of cannabis, often called "potpourri", contain combinations of terpenes and other plant steroids. Some of the most popular potpourri contains combinations of thc, CBD, and terpenes. Terpinen-4-ol, or THC, is the major component of most potpourri and is the reason why it works so well. Research indicates that although ingesting the terpinen-4-ol can cause sleep deprivation, it does not cause daytime sleepiness. In fact, it seems to be the opposite - while ingesting THC may make you feel sleepy, it also prevents you from waking during the night. If you want to learn more, contact us today!