If you’re suffering from insomnia, you’re not alone. Stress is a big factor when it comes to being able to get adequate rest at night and with us going into our 3rd year of a global pandemic, inflation plus political unrest, many of us can’t sleep at night, thankfully cannabis can help.
In this article I’ll go over how cannabis can help beat insomnia and the products I recommend to help you sleep. However first let’s look at why you might not be getting the sleep you need.
Why you’re having trouble sleeping
Before I get to how cannabis can help you sleep and what products I recommend, it’s important to find out the reason why you can’t sleep and making a few lifestyle changes that will help you to relax and get those much needed z’s.
Some reasons why you can’t sleep
- Hormonal changes such as perimenopause
- Poor diet and lack of exercise
- Anxiety and other mood disorders
- Health issues such as chronic pain
- Breathing issues
- Too much caffeine
- Too much screen time
- Stress
- Breathing problems
- Prescriptions or supplements
Some lifestyle changes you can make to help you relax before bed can be putting away all screens at least 2 hours before bed. Reduce caffeine consumption especially after 12pm, get some exercise, be outside in fresh air for at least an hour during the day.
Reduce sugar and processed foods, look at your prescriptions and see if any of the side effects might be causing your insomnia. Stop watching/reading the news or other media that can increase anxiety. Reduce the amount of time you spend on social media and avoid toxic accounts and people. Look at ways to balance hormones if you’re going through perimenopause.
Recommended reading: 3 ahhhmazing ways to relieve stress and anxiety with cannabis
While cannabis can definitely help you sleep, getting to the root of the problem will be the most effective way to get a good night’s sleep.
So many people I know rely on substances with bad side effects to help them sleep such as over the counter sleep aids or prescription sleeping pills and alcohol. Once I’ve given someone the proper edible and they actually take it before bed, they always tell me they had the best sleep they’ve had in years.
How cannabis can help you get a good night’s sleep
Cannabis can be the greatest aid, most people say they get six solid hours of sleep at night after taking an edible. I’ve noticed this myself, and while I use cannabis regularly, I notice when I take certain edible I will sleep for six hours straight without fail.
The science of cannabis for sleep is limited and it’s still being researched however there’s promise in the studies around cannabis and sleep.
Cannabis helps you to relax, feel at ease and peaceful which is crucial to falling asleep. However there’s a caveat, using cannabis before bed too often or in too high of a dose can have the opposite effect.
What I stress on this blog often is using cannabis mindfully and with intention. Taking cannabis every single night to help you sleep will cause you to build up a tolerance, this means you’ll have to take higher doses to get the same results. Taking too much can actually disrupt your sleep as science has recently discovered.
Recommended reading: Is it time for a tolerance break?
How much cannabis should you take for sleep?
There’s no recommended dose I can give you for sleep as everyone will be different, it really depends on your body chemistry however I can give you some recommendations.
You can use a dry herb vaporizer (I don’t recommend smoking cannabis) to help you sleep however I find edibles to be the most effective method to help you sleep.
Recommended reading: How to buy the best dry herb vaporizer for your lifestyle
Recommended cannabinoids for sleep:
THC (delta 9 or delta 8): THC is the cannabinoid that gets you high, you don’t want to take too much as it will be stimulating however taking too little might not relax you enough for sleep. It really depends, I always recommend starting with 2 to 5mg of THC and see how that feels.
When it comes to delta 8 (often made from CBD) it’s milder and more like THC lite, start with about 10mg of delta 8 and see how that feels. Delta 8 will be on the Canadian market soon.
CBD: CBD doesn’t get you high and it’s what many people turn to for sleep however on it’s own it isn’t a great sleep aid. While CBD does help to relax you and reduce anxiety, it’s not as effective as using it with a bit of THC. For sleep I recommend higher doses of CBD of at least 50mg up to 80mg, lower doses may not feel like much or have a stimulating effect. CBD is also most effective when used daily.
CBN: There’s not a lot of science on CBN, however many people swear by it for sleep. CBN has a mild intoxicating effect but not nearly as much as THC. You’ll find many products on the market advertised as sleep aids with CBN as one of the ingredients. I’ve found 5 to 10mg is a good place to start with CBN.
CBG: New to the Canadian market is CBG, a non-intoxicating cannabinoid with similar effects as CBD. CBG actually helps you feel more clear headed and alert however not in the same way as caffeine. While many people use CBG to help them with concentration in the daytime, others find it’s very relaxing and can help with sleep. As it’s non-intoxicating it’s safe to use it in higher doses, 10mg is a good place to start.
Cannabis products I recommend for sleep
If you’re reading this outside of Canada, go by the recommended cannabinoids and dosing I mentioned above, for Canadians, this is what I’ve personally found helpful for sleep. Results will vary so try different products until you find one that works for you.
Fast-acting edibles have an onset of around 15 minutes and a duration of about 1 hour, I don’t recommend fast-acting edibles for sleep as they wear off fast. However if you have a problem falling asleep then fast-acting edibles may work, look for brands with CBD and THC.
Monjour Bare CBN Bedtime
Monjour Bare CBN Bedtime comes in a package of 4 gummies each containing 2.5mg of THC, 20mg of CBD, 7.5mg of CBN with a total per package of 10mg THC, 80mg of CBD and 30mg of CBN. Of all the edibles on the market, this one has the perfect amount of cannabinoids for sleep. I found this one highly effective for relaxing and feeling sleepy, it worked great for me and I recommend you give it a try as it’s the highest amount of CBD and CBN I’ve seen on the market.
Wana Pomegranate Blueberry Acai 5:1
Wana Pomegranate Blueberry Acai contains 25mg of CBD per chew and 5mg of THC per chew with a total of 10mg of THC and 50mg of CBD per package. My husband finds this edible makes him feel sleepy, higher doses of CBD will help you to relax more and drift off to sleep.
1:4 Capsules by Dosecann
The 1:4 capsules by Dosecann contain 2.5mg of THC per capsule and 10mg of CBD per capsule. This is one of my favourite edibles on the market as capsules are easy to take and with a low dose of THC, you can adjust your dose as needed. I also like that these capsules use Ahiflower as a carrier oil, Ahiflower is a good source of Omega 3.
RSO Capsules by Stigma Grow
RSO capsules by Stigma Grow have 10mg of THC per capsule so they’re a higher dose edible for those of you that need it. This one is a good one for those of you who have stubborn sleep issues as it’s a concentrated oil that’s rich in cannabinoids, terpenes and flavinoids.
Go Slumber 5:1 CBN shot by Field Trip
Go Slumber CBN shot contains 5mg of CBN and 1mg of THC per shot. This is a good one to try if you’re nervous about taking THC as it’s a very low dose that most of you won’t even feel. CBN is only mildly intoxicating so you may feel a slight buzz but it won’t feel like much. I personally found this product made me feel sleepy an hour after I drank it but results will vary.
Pearls Blackberry Lemonade 1:1:1
Pearls Blackberry Lemonade 1:1:1 has 2mg each of THC, CBD and CBN. This is a gummy formulated to help you sleep, it’s also quite tasty. What I love most about this gummy is the price, it’s only around $4 a bottle.
When you’re new to cannabis start low and go slow
This is the mantra repeated all across the cannabis community because so many people new to cannabis take too much and feel bad. Starting with a low dose of THC will help you feel relaxed without it going to your head too much.
Recommended reading: How to use mindfulness and cannabis to reduce stress and feel better
I’ve created several dosing guides to help you start your journey with cannabis, what matters most is using cannabis mindfully and in moderation.
Comments
Thanks a bunch weed mama!