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What You Should Know About Smoking and Sleeping, Advice from a Denver Dispensary


November 15, 2017

Many people associate smoking with getting tired and falling asleep. It’s true that smoking can often make you tired, but that doesn’t mean that you will fall into a deep sleep every time you smoke. If you plan on smoking before bed, it’s important to understand what to expect. Here’s some advice from a Denver dispensary to help you understand the effects smoking can have on your sleep:

Indica vs. Sativa Strains

If you want to use cannabis as a sleep aid, it’s best to smoke an indica strain instead of a sativa strain. Indica strains are known to cause drowsiness and promote relaxation, whereas sativa strains can often be energizing. Therefore, smoking a sativa strain is not a good idea if you’re trying to go to sleep. Learn more about sativa vs. indica vs. hybrid: what’s the difference between cannabis types?

Extended Deep Sleep

There are four different stages of sleep that everyone will pass through during the night. The two stages that cannabis affects the most is the deep sleep stage and rapid eye movement, or REM stage. Smoking cannabis before bed will extend the length of your deep sleep stage, which means you may feel more rested in the morning. The deep sleep stage is also when your body repairs itself, so extending this stage could strengthen your immune system. However, smoking could also shorten the amount of time you spend in REM, which is when your brain begins to dream. The REM stage is also when your brain processes any new information and memories received during that day. For this reason, it’s best not to rely on cannabis to fall asleep every night unless it is absolutely necessary.

Longer Sleep

Many people don’t have trouble falling asleep, but they do have a problem staying asleep throughout the night. If you are constantly waking up in the middle of the night, cannabis may be able to help. Studies have shown that THC, a cannabinoid found in cannabis, can help people stay asleep longer. If you want to clock 8-9 hours of sleep, look for a marijuana strain that is high in THC.

The Next Day

Even though you will probably get more sleep by smoking the right kind of cannabis, this does not mean you will necessarily feel wide awake the next morning. In fact, many people report feeling groggy and out of it after using cannabis as a sleeping aid. But, everyone’s experience is unique. If you feel groggy after smoking cannabis at night, it may be a good idea to try another strain instead of completely giving up on cannabis as a sleeping aid. What works for one person will not necessarily work for you, so keep testing different strains until you find the perfect one for your body.

For more helpful cannabis tips, we encourage you to stop by Altitude Dispensary, a Denver dispensary. If you’re looking for a product that will help you go to sleep, let our budtenders know. Our knowledgeable budtenders can help you find the right medical or recreational product to suit your needs. Contact Altitude Dispensary for more information today!