Blog Post 68: Sleep and Cannabis
We found this NY Times article about sleep and cannabis very relevant for people with Type C traits. Many Type C people – including ourselves - struggle with falling or staying asleep because we have a lot on our minds, do too much, or worry about disappointing people, all of which can interrupt sleep. We may also be haunted by a mistake that caused a burden for someone else, and we have difficulty letting that go, causing rumination in the night.
What is the latest about cannabis as a sleep aid? A few points to be aware of:
Limited studies have found that low doses of THC can improve sleep and high doses can worsen it, whereas the inverse is true of CBD.
Consistency can be an issue, as different cannabis products may have varying ratios of THC and CBD compounds.
Oral forms, like pills or edibles, take longer to kick in than inhaled forms, but their effects will last longer throughout the night.
Conversely, inhaling cannabis, via vaping or smoking, will yield faster results, but they won’t last as long.
Some people who use too much THC can report next-morning symptoms of fatigue, headache, and dry eyes/mouth.
There is also some evidence that cannabis might indirectly help with sleep by alleviating chronic pain and anxiety — which are the two top issues that people with sleep disturbance report. On a personal note, I (Anna) have had mixed results with THC and CBD. THC has made sleep worse for me, but CBD has worked at times, though not consistently. I’ve found that quality matters - buying from a regulated dispensary or a high quality online source. I’ve also found that I cannot take it every day or it loses effectiveness. I tried one CBD product with melatonin and had high hopes, but this was actually less effective than the plain CBD. Obviously everyone reacts differently, though.
Overall the research suggests that for sleep issues, cannabis products can be used every now and then but not every day. Using THC frequently can lead to a tolerance which can lead to the need to keep increasing the dosage. Using CBD, however, does not seem to lead to a tolerance or dependency, suggesting this product could be used more regularly.
We encourage our readers to listen to our latest podcast on sleep with noted sleep expert Dr. Shelby Harris who discusses cannabis along with many other sleep strategies. On Spotify, the link is here, but our podcast is also available on the Amazon, Apple, and Google podcast platforms.