Let's chat about the plant's ability to help you hit the hay.

For some, wake-and-bakes are the highlight of their day. But for others, it’s a late-night joint or two. There is never a wrong time to smoke weed.

However, there are times when you decide to use cannabis for a specific outcome, like sleep. Insomnia is one of the most common sleep disorders, and it’s tough to manage on your own. Perhaps with a little help from Mary Jane, you’ll get the sleep you deserve.

Our fellow late-night tokers know all about marijuana’s ability to put people to sleep. In case you’re new to the subject, let’s break it down. Read on to learn more about how cannabis promotes better sleep and eight relatable truths every late-night toker has experienced.

Can Cannabis Help You Sleep?

The short answer is yes; cannabis has been used for decades to help people fall asleep. Not only does it help them fall asleep, but they stay asleep throughout the night without tossing and turning.

There are various strains and types of cannabis that are marketed as sleep aids, like Indicas, which we’ll touch on in a minute. In the meantime, it’s essential to understand marijuana’s ability to help you hit the hay.

There’s a reason why this plant first gained legal status through medical marijuana programs, bills, and laws. That’s because many use this plant for health purposes, with the most common being insomnia. This plant is medicine, and it helps people improve their sleep and, thus, their overall quality of life.

The main drawback of using cannabis for sleep is waking up the following morning feeling lethargic. However, you can easily avoid this by using other cannabinoids besides THC or limiting your dose to ensure you won’t wake up with a weed hangover (yes, they’re real, and they’re exhausting).

How Does Cannabis Improve Sleep?

Cannabis improves sleep by relaxing the mind and body. For many, falling asleep is challenging due to racing thoughts, anxiety, or random bouts of energy that keep you awake.

Luckily, cannabis has been used for decades to help people relax physically and mentally. It’s praised in the medical marijuana space for treating insomnia and helping users get the rest they deserve.

It’s not just the cannabinoids like THC and CBD that do the trick, but it’s also other plant compounds like terpenes, which produce the flavor and aroma of cannabis from strain to strain. Terpenes have amazing therapeutic benefits. They’re found in foods, beverages, natural hygiene products, and essential oils.

By using all of these compounds at once, the result is a phenomenon known as the entourage effect, where different plant compounds work together to produce a more balanced, desired, and complete result. Simply put, they work together to produce the effects you want, like sleeping.

Of course, there are various types of cannabis and strains that might be better for falling asleep, which we explain below.

Which Type Of Cannabis Is Best For Sleep?

If you’re new to the wide world of weed, here’s what you need to know. Cannabis strains will be classified under three distinct types, noted below. Some of which are better for sleep than others. Let’s find out.

Sativa: Sativas are most commonly associated with feelings of energy, giggles, vibrant euphoria, and creativity. They spark the creative juices to help you complete tasks, chores, and anything else that needs your attention. Because of this, Sativas aren’t great for falling asleep. They could have the opposite effect and keep you awake.

Indica: Indica strains are your best bet for a good night’s sleep. They’re on the opposite end of the spectrum than Sativas, promoting deep relaxation, zoning out, physical bliss, and mental rest. That’s why Indica strains are mostly used during the evening, considering they might make you feel couch-locked or, in this case, bed-locked.

Hybrid: Hybrid strains are the perfect in-between of Indicas and Sativas. However, some strains lean toward the Indica side, others toward Sativa, and some are right in the middle with a 50/50 mix. Again, Indicas are most commonly used for sleep, but an Indica-dominant hybrid strain also does the job.

When To Take Cannabis For Sleep

Let’s circle back to when we mentioned weed hangovers. This typically occurs when smoking cannabis right before bed, as your mind is still high when it’s drifting off into dreamland, and the effects occur while you sleep. This disrupts your REM sleep and results in lethargy the next morning. There are a couple of ways to avoid it, like the following:

Smoking 1 Hour Before Bed: The high from cannabis usually lasts about an hour. Afterward, it’s quite normal to feel tired after the effects wear off. Your body had to receive the THC, promote the effects, and gradually get rid of them. That’s pretty tiring in itself. By smoking weed an hour before bed, you’re less likely to experience exhaustion the following day and can still get a good night’s sleep.

Mixing THC With CBD: CBD, the non-psychoactive cousin of THC, is an excellent tool for sleep. It doesn’t produce a high but relieves stress and anxiety. When using this cannabinoid with THC, you’re more likely to feel relaxed without feeling ultra-stoned, meaning you’re less likely to have a weed hangover.

Smoking Strains With Low-To-Medium THC: You don’t have to use high-THC strains to fall asleep. In fact, this could make you seriously lethargic if you smoked right before bed. Instead, try strains with low or medium THC contents, anywhere under 20%. That way, you’re taking just enough to help your body relax without promoting unnecessary effects that could prompt tiredness the next morning.

8 Fun Truths About Smoking Weed At Night

Using cannabis at night doesn’t just have to be about sleep. If you’re a night owl and consider yourself a late-night toker, you know all about the joys of puffing on the herb in the wee hours of the night. Here are 8 fun and relatable truths about smoking weed at night.

1. The Munchies Always Hit You At The Wrong Time

If you’re lucky, you start getting hungry before the local pizza joint closes. But nine times out of ten, the munchies don’t strike until everything is closed, forcing you to rummage through the kitchen and hope you find a decent snack. Peanut butter and jam, anyone?

2. You Sleep Like A Baby

In fact, you sleep better than a baby. After toking on your favorite Indica all night, you’ll be knocked out for several hours without even budging. Then, you wake up feeling well-rested and rejuvenated (if you follow the steps above, of course).

3. You Smoke To Unwind

While some like to use cannabis first thing in the morning, you prefer to end your day with a couple of puffs. Not only does it help you relax, but it also eases away the stress you may have built up that day. Racing thoughts keep us awake, and there’s no better cure than cannabis.

4. Your Sessions Are Rarely Interrupted

During the day, it can sometimes be impossible to find time to set aside for weed. And even if you get it, you’re likely to be interrupted at least once. But late at night, most people are sound asleep. That means you get to smoke as much as you want without anything getting in the way. That’s a huge win.

5. You’re No Stranger To All-Nighters

From time to time, the high is so good that you prefer to enjoy it rather than sleep it off. There are YouTube videos to be watched, snacks to be eaten, and plenty of more weed that needs to be smoked. Just make sure to do what you’re body is telling you. If you feel tired, it’s time to shut down for the night.

6. No Sound Is The Best Sound

What’s another benefit to being a midnight toker? Basking in the silence, of course. The streets are quiet, and so is the rest of the world. At least, that’s how it seems. There’s a sense of peace that comes with smoking weed at night, and it’s one of the most serene things a stoner can experience.

7. Nighttime Is Perfect For Gathering Your Thoughts

Whether you have too much on your mind or have an important decision to make, nighttime is the best time to kick back with Mary Jane and ponder it all. There are no distractions, no nonsense, just you and your bud. That’s it. Beautiful, isn’t it?

8. If You Smoke Your Last Nug, You’re Basically Screwed For The Night

There aren’t many downsides to being a late-night toker. But when you decide to smoke your last nug at 2 am, then that means you must wait until morning before the dispensaries open. And if you rely on a dealer, then you might not catch them in time before they hit the sack. Good thing this situation is 100% preventable.