Numerous cannabis users express that cannabis assists them with sleep problems, or that intake of high-THC cannabis renders them drowsy. Many habitual users of high-THC cannabis report disturbances in sleep and particularly intense dreams for some duration upon cessation (taking a “THC break”). Numerous personal stories, patient questionnaires, and research indicate that cannabis appears to affect sleep and dreaming, but there are numerous variables at play: dosage, frequency of intake, tolerance, age, gender, etc. Biology is intricate. What do we specifically understand about how cannabis impacts sleep and dreaming? Since high-THC products dominate the commercial arena and THC has the most evident relationship to sleep among the cannabinoids, we will concentrate on what some of the most recent scientific investigations are disclosing about THC’s influence on sleep. Prior to that, we will gain a fundamental understanding of the biological purposes of sleep, sleep architecture. From there, we will be in a favorable position to comprehend what is recognized about how THC impacts sleep. discover a new level of convenience with our same-day weed delivery service!

Why do we rest?

Sleep remains enigmatic in numerous ways. Researchers still discuss the precise manner in which and why sleep serves its restorative function, as well as how different stages of sleep contribute to this. However, it’s clear that sleep is crucial for existence. We all sense this inherently every time we feel fatigued, and it has long been recognized that depriving creatures of sleep can terminate their lives more rapidly than depriving them of nutrition. Sleep executes specific “maintenance” activities—literally clearing away physical waste that accumulates during waking hours. It’s also vital for learning and memory. The specifics are still being sorted out, but it’s evident that sleep is a significant regulator of the processes of neuroplasticity necessary for effectively absorbing, recalling, and consolidating the information we take in while awake.

Rapid Eye Movement (REM) & Slow-Wave Sleep (SWS)

Sleep is not uniform. There are various stages of sleep, each marked by unique patterns of neural activity. Sleep researchers assess and categorize these stages using EEG, a method that gauges the different brain waves present at any specific moment. By analyzing these, researchers can identify diverse “brain states”–active waking (e.g. concentrating on a task), calm waking (e.g. daydreaming), deep sleep, intense dreaming, and so forth. Imagine gazing at a lake. By observing the pattern of ripples present in the surface water, you can interpret the state of the general surroundings. Is the lake calm and smooth? Then it’s not breezy. Are there ripples from droplets splashing into the lake? It’s likely raining. EEG is a means of achieving this with electrical brain activity. Each brain state corresponds to a different arrangement of electrical ripples. These patterns are utilized to categorize what kind of brain state an organism is in.

Deep sleep vs. dream sleep

To comprehend the impacts of cannabis on sleep, we must understand the distinction between Rapid Eye Movement (REM) and slow-wave sleep (SWS). REM sleep is named for the reality that your eyes will often dart around beneath your eyelids, all while the remainder of your body is immobilized. This stops you from acting out your dreams. REM is associated with the vivid dreams we typically have and occasionally recall. When you’re devoid of REM, there may not be obvious cognitive shortcomings (e.g. drowsiness) but there is likely some influence on learning and memory. SWS is not typically linked to rich cognitive content. It is named for the large, slow-moving electrical waves detected during this stage. This kind of sleep includes “deep sleep,” a restorative form of SWS during which it’s most challenging to awaken someone. When you’re deprived of SWS, you feel lethargic and fatigued. When you hear SWS, think “restoration.” When you hear REM, think “dreaming.” Under typical conditions, you cycle through multiple rounds of SWS and REM, usually initiating with SWS. As you rest, you enter SWS, then REM, back to SWS, and so forth. With each cycle, there is less SWS and more REM. If you awaken organically, without being interrupted, you will typically wake from REM sleep.

Impacts of THC usage on sleep

As neuroscientist Dr. Andrew Kesner shared with me, “We’ve recognized for quite some time that THC has sleep-enhancing properties in humans. Some of the earliest notes of cannabis usage described this. In fact, ancient Indian Ayurvedic medicine refers to cannabis as nidrajanan, a ‘sleep-inducing’ substance.” Many contemporary users claim that cannabis supports their sleep, but there is no universal solution to how cannabis affects sleep. THC’s impacts on sleep will transform depending on the cannabinoid composition of what you consume, your history of usage, gender, etc. Indeed, one clear aspect we can assert is that, with THC, its effect on your sleep will evolve over time–you won’t experience the same results if you consume THC once or twice that you will if you continue using it long-term. What are the probable, immediate (short-term) effects on sleep THC may have if you start using? In general, acute THC intake in humans causes individuals to drift off to sleep more quickly and remain asleep once they doze off. It leads to increases in SWS and reductions in REM sleep. In line with experimental investigations, surveys of medical cannabis patients demonstrate that the vast majority of those using pharmaceutical sleep medications reduce their intake of those substances after commencing medical cannabis.

Impacts of THC won’t always remain constant

The immediate influences of THC on sleep may vary over time, however. If you continue utilizing THC products chronically, the impacts on sleep may alter. It’s less evident how chronic THC usage affects sleep in humans, but tolerance to THC’s impacts, including on sleep, is clear. What’s more evident is that stopping THC consumption after chronic use frequently results in sleep disturbances and vivid dreaming, a phenomenon that ultimately normalizes.