What Happens When You Sleep High on Marijuana?
Smoking marijuana (weed, blunts) and taking cannabis (edibles) can make you feel relaxed and sleepy. While some people use marijuana as a sleep medicine, the long-term health risks can outweigh the temporary benefits.
Are you having trouble sleeping? Have you been using marijuana to help you with your sleep issues? Do you wonder what happens when you sleep high after smoking weed?
This article explains what happens when you sleep while being high on marijuana. You’ll also learn about the benefits and risks of using weed.
If you or a loved one are struggling with a marijuana use disorder, we can help. Zinnia Health offers various levels of therapies designed to provide you with everything you need to fully recover. Our addiction specialists are standing by 24/7 to answer your questions or help you explore various treatment options. So don’t hesitate to call us today at (855) 430-9439.
Is Marijuana a Good Sleep Aid?
Marijuana is the most commonly used illegal drug in the U.S. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 48.2 million Americans (about 18%) used weed at least once in 2019, and an estimated 3 in 10 users have marijuana use disorder. Many people use it to experience its characteristic euphoria or feeling of being “high.”
High doses of THC (delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol), the active chemical in marijuana and cannabis, are known to be more sedating than codeine. For this reason, many people also use marijuana and CBD (cannabidiol) as sleep aids to help them fall asleep and stay asleep longer.
Although certain doses of weed (high for marijuana and low for CBD) may make you sleepy, it could cause other problems that make it not worth the risk.
Benefits and Risks of Using Marijuana While Sleeping
As with most substances, there are many benefits and risks to using marijuana. Even though marijuana is legal in some states and cannabis products are sold in retail stores, you must weigh the pros and cons of using marijuana.
When you sleep high after using marijuana or CBD (cannabidiol), some potential benefits include:
- Relaxation
- Reduced anxiety
- Pain relief
However, the risks of sleeping high may involve:
- Impaired sleep quality
- Disruption of rapid eye movement (REM sleep)
- Next-day effects (e.g., reduced alertness, accident risk)
- Drug dependence
- Worsening of existing mental health issues
Considering individual reactions to weed is essential, as experiences can vary significantly among users. In particular, medical marijuana and CBD should be taken as directed by your physician or other health practitioners.
Otherwise, you subject yourself to the potentially harmful effects of prescription drug misuse, which is a form of substance use disorder.
Common Types of Sleep Disorders
Sleep is a crucial aspect of our daily lives, playing a vital role in maintaining physical and mental health. The CDC recommends adults get more than seven hours of sleep per day.
However, for many individuals, achieving restful, restorative sleep can be a challenge due to various sleep disorders. Nearly 40% of adults have a short sleep duration, meaning they don’t get a full night’s rest.
Sleep disorders encompass a range of conditions that disrupt the normal sleep stages. This can increase the time it takes to fall asleep, stay asleep, or experience quality sleep. As a result, you may always feel sleepy and tired.
The most common types of sleep disorders include:
- Insomnia: This is the most prevalent sleep problem and involves the inability to fall asleep, stay asleep, or both. Insomnia can be acute (short-term) or chronic (long-term) and is often caused by stress, anxiety, depression, or medical conditions.
- Sleep Apnea: This disorder happens when your breathing is repeatedly interrupted while you sleep. You can have obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) caused by blocked airways or central sleep apnea (CSA) caused by a malfunction in the part of the brain that controls breathing.
- Narcolepsy: This neurological disorder is characterized by excessive daytime sleepiness and sudden sleep attacks. Some people also lose muscle control or experience hallucinations and sleep paralysis.
- Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS): This condition causes you to have the uncontrollable urge to move your legs due to uncomfortable sensations. It usually happens at night, making it difficult to fall asleep or stay asleep.
- Parasomnias: These sleep disorders involve abnormal behaviors or movements while sleeping. This might include sleepwalking, sleep talking, night terrors, and other conditions.
Sleep disorders can have various underlying causes and risk factors, including:
- Medical conditions (e.g., asthma, chronic pain, gastrointestinal disorders)
- Mental health conditions (e.g., anxiety, depression, post traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD)
- Lifestyle factors (e.g., irregular sleep schedule, excessive alcohol consumption)
- Genetic predisposition
- Certain medications or substances
Rather than self-medicating with weed, you should see a care provider to determine if you have a sleep disorder. Tests may include a sleep study (polysomnography) that’s conducted in a sleep laboratory using portable monitoring devices.
Depending on the cause of your sleeping issues, you may be treated in the following ways:
- Lifestyle modifications
- Maintaining a regular sleep schedule
- Creating a sleep-friendly environment
- Practicing relaxation techniques before bedtime
- Avoiding stimulants (e.g., caffeine, nicotine) close to bedtime
- Regular exercise during the day
- Prescription medications
- Cognitive-behavioral therapy
- Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP)
Is Weed Addictive?
In the past, many believed marijuana wasn’t addictive like alcohol, opioids, and other highly-addictive substances. However, the National Institute of Drug Abuse (NADA) indicates that about 9% of adult marijuana users and 17% of adult users who started as teens will develop a dependency.
Fortunately, there’s help. In 2015, about 4 million people were considered to have a marijuana use disorder, and of those, 138,000 people chose treatment for their addiction.
Zinnia Health has many rehab centers located throughout the U.S. Each one is unique, but they all offer a range of treatment programs to help you lead a sober life. Are you ready to get your life back? Call our 24-hour helpline at (855) 430-9439 to get immediate assistance with your substance use disorder.
How Does Marijuana Affect the Body and Brain?
Research has shown evidence of lasting effects of marijuana on the brain.
Side Effects of Marijuana Use
Marijuana contains chemicals that negatively affect the brain and the body. As a result, you may experience both short-term and long-term effects after using weed. While some of these effects may go away when you stop using, others may cause chronic medical and mental health issues.
Short-Term Effects of Marijuana
- Euphoria and relaxation: Marijuana can cause you to feel sedated, carefree, and less stressed.
- Altered perception: Your sensory perception can be affected, which causes changes in the perception of time, space, and sensory stimuli.
- Increased heart rate: Marijuana can cause an increase in heart rate, known as tachycardia, which increases risks if you have heart conditions.
- Dry mouth and red eyes: Cannabis can cause dryness in the mouth and throat, often referred to as “cottonmouth,” and redness in the eyes.
- Impaired coordination and motor skills: Smoking pot can affect your coordination, balance, and motor skills, making certain tasks more challenging to perform.
- Impaired memory and concentration: Short-term memory and concentration may also be impacted while you’re under the influence of marijuana.
Long-Term Effects of Marijuana
- Respiratory issues: Regular and long-term marijuana use can lead to respiratory problems, including chronic bronchitis and respiratory infections.
- Cognitive effects: Prolonged and heavy marijuana use can impair memory, attention, and other functions of the brain.
- Mental health effects: Marijuana use has been linked to an increased risk of developing mental health disorders, such as anxiety, depression, and psychosis.
- Addiction and withdrawal: Marijuana can be habit-forming, and you may experience withdrawal symptoms, including irritability, sleep disturbances, decreased appetite, and cravings.
Get Help for Your Marijuana Use Disorder Today
Do you have poor sleep problems? Have you been using weed regularly? Although marijuana is a commonly used drug and legal in many states, its use hasn’t been approved to improve people’s ability to fall into a deep sleep and get a good night’s rest.
Smoking may provide temporary benefits, like having a sedative effect, but the long-term risks make it unsuitable as a sleep aid. Plus, you’ll have to deal with the short-term effects once you wake up.
It’s vital to get care from a doctor or other medical care provider to find ways to address your sleeping issues. If you have a drug addiction, it’s also important to get therapy at a rehab center.
You’ll be offered various treatment options, ensuring you take the best path to a healthy, sober life. Curbing your cravings and finding alternative ways to deal with whatever may be driving you to use marijuana will help you decrease the risk of the long-term effects of drug abuse.
At Zinnia Health, we can empathize with the challenge of overcoming substance use disorder. That’s why we offer a range of therapies that can be customized to suit your individual needs. If you’re ready to put your marijuana addiction behind you, then take the next step. Simply contact us online or call us at (855) 430-9439 to connect with our addiction support staff.