We all dread those miserable sleepless nights where all you can do is lie in bed alternating between counting sheep and fearing the sound of your alarm. And not only can a lack of sleep make you irritable and unfocused the next day—it can also have serious health consequences, or even become a chronic issue. And while there are many over-the-counter sleep aids available, they can often leave you feeling groggy and fatigued the next day.
If you’re looking for a natural remedy to help you sleep, melatonin and cannabis are two popular options that—when used together—can enhance each other’s effects and help to create the circumstances for a good night’s rest. And better yet, you can always find them at any Massachusetts dispensary!
How Does Melatonin Help You Sleep?
Melatonin is a hormone that your brain produces naturally as a signal to your body to begin to get ready for sleep. When melatonin levels rise in our body at night, our breathing slows as we begin to relax.
Unlike most over-the-counter sleeping pills, taking melatonin will not immediately make you drowsy. This is because melatonin has more to do with regulating our body’s circadian rhythms, whereas over the counter sleep aids typically produce a more directly sedative effect.
Because of how melatonin works, it’s often used to help those struggling with jet lag or with other circadian rhythm disorders that disrupt their sleep cycles. Not many edible cannabis products include melatonin, but you can find some—such as High Flavor Night—at Garden Remedies’ marijuana dispensary locations in Marlborough, Melrose, and Newton!
How Does THC Help You Sleep?
While there are many compounds in cannabis (best known as cannabinoids) each with a whole variety of effects, THC is by far the most well known, and considered by many to be the most effective. That’s why basically every product at a weed dispensary near me is packed with activated THC!
THC is responsible for many of the effects associated with weed—one of those being a feeling of relaxation that, at least for some people, can quickly turn into a nap on the couch! While there simply hasn’t been much opportunity to study cannabis because of federal restrictions on it, anecdotal evidence—and personal evidence—definitely suggests that THC consumption may have a positive impact on sleep.
So when people talk about the connection between melatonin and weed, it’s crucial to know they’re also talking about the connection between melatonin and THC!
How Do Melatonin and THC Work Together?
First off, as with any cannabis experience, it’s crucial to be safe and go slow with your doses especially at first, to ensure you achieve the best effect possible. Especially because when you combine melatonin and THC in the exact right amounts, it has the potential to create a unique set of green remedies!
Melatonin may help you fall asleep, but it can also increase the amount of rapid eye movement (REM) sleep time—a lighter stage of sleep where you typically experience dreams. This is why a common side effect of melatonin is more vivid dreams!
While REM sleep is important, your body also requires slow-wave sleep (SWS). SWS is the sleep time you don’t remember, and is sometimes referred to as deep sleep. It’s difficult to awaken someone during SWS, and for good reason—as slow-wave sleep is where you experience the recuperative effect of a good night’s rest.
Some people believe that taking melatonin and THC together can produce a synergistic effect—meaning the two team up to give you a better night’s sleep by compensating for each other’s effects on both REM sleep and SWS.
Additionally, it’s important to note that cannabis can increase your body’s production of melatonin on its own! This means that if you are taking melatonin with cannabis, you may not need to take as much to get the same effect. Carefully keep track of your own doses over time to find the perfect combination between marijuana and melatonin!
