Sleep is something that is essential to good health, but sometimes it is hard to achieve the necessary amount or the quality needed. Luckily science and nature have both delivered us multiple sleep aids, with marijuana being one of them, and one of the more natural and possibly beneficial in comparison to other types.
But what in marijuana helps you sleep, and why could it be considered better than other sleep aids? Read on to find out a bit more.
What In Marijuana Helps With Sleep?
So when it comes to cannabis, what exactly is helping you sleep?
The exact mechanics behind the science are still not thoroughly researched, but scientists have some consensus. Most believe that the components of marijuana, particularly THC and cannabinoids, both work together to create the effects. The first acts as a natural sedative and the second by binding to receptors in the brain that suppress the brain’s arousal system. When combined, these effects can create a feeling of sedation or sleepiness that can help someone, especially if they have insomnia or other chronic issues that affect sleep.
Since THC helps induce sleep, finding strains that have more THC than CBD is essential if you are looking to use it to help you get asleep faster. The higher the THC content, the less REM sleep you get. This, in turn, means reducing nightmares and more time in a ‘deep sleep’ state, thought to be the most restful and restorative part of the sleep cycle.
Why is Marijuana Better Than Other Sleep Aids?
A growing number of individuals have turned to the use of sleep aids, including prescription medications such as butabarbital, triazolam, zolpidem, and more, to combat their sleepless nights. There is also an increasing usage of over-the-counter sleep aids such as Unisom and ZZZquil. But these more generic sleep-aids are all packed with synthetic fillers, artificial coloring, and chemical ingredients that most people can’t name nor pronounce.
The unfortunate truth is that typical over-the-counter sleep aids or those prescribed by a doctor have both been linked to adverse health effects. These can include but are not limited to dizziness, nausea, headaches, confusion, and even falls particularly for older individuals. For those looking to avoid these health effects, more natural remedies such as marijuana may be a better fit. However caution should be taken any time you start a new medication or sleep-aid, so be sure to speak with your doctor before beginning any new regimen.
Why Isn’t Insomnia A Qualifying Medical Condition For Marijuana Use?
As of this writing sleep disorders, particularly insomnia, are not considered qualifying conditions for medical cannabis usage in most areas. Why? First, there is simply not enough research that has been done proving the link between marijuana and its usage in helping insomnia and other sleep-disorder sufferers. The other reason is that sleep disorders can be hard to quantify on their own. This ambiguity is due to it being difficult for a doctor to objectively determine whether or not a patient suffers from insomnia and similar sleep disorders, even when using blood or stress tests and other samples.
The best bet for many is to contact local and state agencies and request the addition of insomnia and similar sleep disorders to be added to their list of conditions or request more research to be done into its usage. Doing this will help move forward the overall interest in using marijuana as a treatment, as well as get more eyes on the fact that research needs to be done on this important issue.
Though many people have found using cannabis helps their insomnia or similar sleep issues they might be experiencing, it is an unfortunate fact that these disorders are often not considered conditions that would allow medical marijuana use. For more on cannabis support, check out our article here and be sure to follow our social media and newsletter for up-to-the-minute cannabis news.
