The Institute of Medicine estimates that up to 70 million Americans suffer from a sleep-related disorder, with 8.6 million of them risking addiction, overdose, and long-term health damage by turning to prescription pills as the solution.
Whether you’re using products rich in THC, CBD or CBN, the key is to keep experimenting until you find the dose and delivery system (smoking, vaping, tinctures, edibles, topical) that works for you.
For most people suffering with sleeplessness, stress is the culprit. And we know cannabis can reduce and relieve stress, and unwind anxiety, particularly at lower doses. So how can you optimize the insomnia-fighting powers of cannabis and turn your sleepless stress into a nice stoned slumber?
First, try smoking (or vaping) one of Leafly’s best strains for sleep. You’ll notice a lot of heavy indicas like Grandaddy Purple, God’s Gift, Afghan Kush, and Northern Lights, since indica strains are usually more sedative to the mind, and relaxing to the body, than sativas.
Get Some Sleep. Find a Good Indica Nearby.
Also, consider trying one of a host of new products that have recently hit the market, aimed at those seeking a better night’s sleep. Some of them blend cannabis with additional sedative herbs like lavender, while others offer isolated cannabinoids such as cannabinol (CBN), which is formed as THC begins to degrade and is the reason smoking an old stale bag of weed will make you sleepy.
CBN is also formed when THC is heated for too long or at too high of a temperature.
According to pioneering cannabis lab Steep Hill:
Of all the cannabinoids, CBN appears to be the most sedative. Not only is it sedative, it takes very little to do the job. The consumption of 2.5mg to 5mg of CBN has the same level of sedation as a mild pharmaceutical sedative, with a relaxed body sensation similar to 5mg to 10mg of diazepam. CBN is synergistic with both CBD and D9THC for inducement of sleeping, and when mixed in the correct ratios, CBN becomes an effective sleep aid of 5-6 hours duration.
Whether you’re using products rich in THC, CBD or CBN, the key is to keep experimenting until you find the dose and delivery system (smoking, vaping, tinctures, edibles, topical) that works for you.
Sensi Chew Insomnia
(Courtesy of Sensi Chew)
Some Places to Find It:Buds and Roses in Los Angeles, Lux in San Jose, Dutchman’s Flat in San Francisco
Each dose of this compact chocolate caramel chew contains 25 mg of THC and 4 mg of melatonin, a synthetic version of the natural hormone that regulates sleep. Using this product will definitely induce euphoria, followed by a deep sleep, so if you’re a new user, be cautious and start by ingesting a smaller piece. Allow two hours for the effects to fully manifest, and you’re ready for bedtime.
Kin Slips Nice Dream
(Courtesy of Kin Slips)
Some places to find it:Harvest on Geary in San Francisco, Zen Garden Wellness in Sacramento, Phytologie Wellness in Oakland
Super discreet and portable, this sublingual strip is designed to dissolve quickly under the tongue, delivering indica-derived cannabinoids and terpenes within 20 minutes. Flavored with basil and watermelon, strips are available with either 10 or 20 milligrams of THC, allowing you to tailor your dose. Start with the 10 mg and sink into dreamland with this fast-acting sleep aid.
Kikoko Tranquil-Tea
(Courtesy of Kikoko)
Some Places to Find It:Sava Delivery Service, Apothecarium in San Francisco, Treehouse in Santa Cruz
Available in single serving pouches or 10-pack tins, Kikoko Teas blend low doses of cannabinoids with other herbs to support different activities, including sex, sleep, and socializing. Ideal for a new user who has never tried cannabis before, one bag of Tranquili-Tea contains just 3 mg of THC with 5 mg of CBN, along with sleepytime herbs such as lavender, valerian root and chamomile.
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Mary’s Medicinals CBN Capsules and Transdermal Patches
(Courtesy of Mary’s Medicinals)
Some Places to Find It:
CBN Capsules: Airfield Supply in San Jose
CBN Patches: Santa Cruz Naturals in Santa Cruz, All About Wellness in Sacramento, Natural Herbal Pain Relief in San Jose
This popular Colorado-based brand now has products available in California, which is great news for anyone seeking CBN to help them sleep. Mary’s Medicinals specializes in creating products that utilize lesser-known, non-psychoactive cannabinoids, with several delivery systems for CBN and CBD including transdermal patches and capsules. The patches contain 10 mg of CBN and adhere to the skin for long-lasting effective relief, while the capsules deliver 5 mg of CBN.
Dr. Kerklaan Natural Sleep Cream
(Courtesy of Dr. Kerklaan)
Some Places to Find It:Caliva in San Jose, Santa Cruz Naturals in Santa Cruz, The Pottery in Los Angeles
Incorporating a relaxing massage into your nighttime routine helps to soothe anxiety and prepare the mind for sleep, especially if you use this luxurious cream formulated with lavender, citrus, and full-spectrum CBD derived from hemp. Rub into your neck, shoulders and temples before settling into bed and let the aromatherapy help you drift off to sleep.
Om Edibles Lavender Oil
(Courtesy of OM)
Some Places to Find It:Grass Roots in San Francisco, Green Door in San Francisco, The Plug LA Pop-Up in Los Angeles
Anoint yourself in this cannabis-infused lavender oil after a bath and allow the THC to absorb into your skin, preparing you for a restful night. Using THC topically doesn’t result in a high, but it does bind with the cannabinoid receptors present in your skin, making for a non-psychoactive way to receive the wellness benefits. The complimentary lavender smells so soothing, resulting in a self-care experience you’ll want to make into a daily ritual.
Farmaceuticals “Doze Drops” Tincture
(Courtesy of Farmaceuticals)
Some Places to Find It:Sava Delivery Service, Bud & Bloom in Santa Ana, Divine Wellness Center in Canoga Park
Made using a whole-plant extraction into olive oil, this tincture combines indica-derived THC with CBD in a ratio of 2:1, meaning that there’s 200 mg of THC blended with 100 mg of CBD in the bottle. This powerful combo intends to help you get to sleep and stay asleep throughout the night, simply start with one dropper about an hour before bedtime.
Alta Botanicals Insomnia Relief Tincture
(Courtesy of Alta)
Some Places to Find It:WHTC in Los Angeles, Healthy Herbal Care in Los Angeles, Bloom Room in San Francisco
Designed specifically to fight insomnia, this ethanol-based tincture balances THC and CBN in equal ratios while also including THCa and CBD in smaller amounts. By harnessing the powerful synergistic effects of these cannabinoids, Alta Botanicals hopes to help people suffering not only from sleep disorders but also neuropathic pain and fibromyalgia.
Om Edibles Nighttime Tincture
(Courtesy of OM)
Some Places to Find It:Sava Delivery Service, Cornerstone Research Collective in Los Angeles, Craft Delivery Service in the East Bay
This alcohol-free tincture blends lavender, chamomile and indica cannabis flowers to create a relaxing, sedating formula perfect for adding to tea. With 150 milligrams of THC per bottle, this is a product that will create euphoria, so go slow until you’re accustomed to the effects. Om Edibles blends a variety of cannabis infusions and extracts to create a well-rounded effect, using raw indica flowers along with activated indica, plus a solvent-free cannabis oil from Gold Drop, resulting in an elixir that actually tastes good.
Dosist Sleep Vaporizer Pen
(Courtesy of Dosist)
Some Places to Find It:Berkeley Patients Group in Berkeley, Harvest on Geary in San Francisco, Airfield Supply in San Jose
Hailed by Time magazine as one of the best inventions of 2016, this high-tech vaporizer precisely delivers doses of 2.25 milligrams of cannabinoids per puff, with 200 doses contained in the pen. Formulated using a ratio of 8:1 THC to CBD, this vaporizer also contains cannabis-derived terpenes such as nerolidol and myrcene, which also support sleep. The pen vibrates slightly to signify when a dose is being delivered, making it simple to use for elderly people as well as those new to cannabis.
Bloom Farms Nighttime Indica Vaporizer Cartridges
(Courtesy of Bloom Farms)
Available in two formats—the Highlighter vapor pen, and a cartridge designed specifically for a Pax device—the Nighttime formulas from Bloom Farms consists simply of Indica flowers distilled into all-natural cannabis oil using a CO2 extraction method. Each cartridge contains 500 mg of THC, great for puffing on after dinner in order to set yourself up for a relaxing evening.
Some Places to Find It:Berkeley Patients Group in Berkeley, Purple Star MD in San Francisco, Bud and Bloom in Santa AnaWant the Best Sleep of Your Life?
