Cannabis is currently the most consumed illegal drug globally, and its use is being regularized in more and more places. Many people smoke marijuana to fall asleep faster and get rid of insomnia.
But… Does marijuana really help combat insomnia and sleep problems? Or is it a hoax?
Many of the people with marijuana addiction problems who have worked with me in therapy have told me how they began to increase the frequency of their use, precisely to try to sleep better.
The majority of marijuana users take it sporadically and use it recreationally (partying on weekends, for example). But there is another group of consumers who are beginning to scale their consumption and smoke marijuana more and more often, stopping recreational use, but rather an attempt to self-medicate sleep problems and insomnia
What really is insomnia?
A person is considered to have insomnia when they experience problems falling asleep, staying asleep most of the night, or waking up well rested. And this has to happen systematically.
It is not considered that a person suffers from insomnia when you have problems sleeping sporadically and isolatedly If insomnia problems last more than 3 months, the person is considered to suffer from chronic or long-term insomnia.
What happens if you smoke marijuana before going to sleep?
Cannabis is a central nervous system depressant drug. That is, it makes the person sleepy, makes them sleepy very quickly. In that sense, its effects are similar to those of alcohol.
However, what very few people know is that Smoking marijuana before sleeping alters circadian rhythms and also makes it difficult for the person to enter the REM or deep sleep phase (which is essential for us to feel rested the next day, and for the body to be able to make the relevant repairs during sleep, such as eliminating toxins, processing information and memories, etc.)
So, it is true that marijuana helps you fall asleep more quickly, due to its clear sleeping effects. But it greatly reduces the quality of sleep in the long term (and that can be disastrous).
If you use marijuana to sleep systematically, you will have a very shallow sleep which will not help you rest (physically and mentally).
In the long term, you will experience many of the problems derived from frequent marijuana use such as problems with concentration, attention and memory, etc.
Furthermore, people who become accustomed to falling asleep only after smoking marijuana, they end up developing greater physical and psychological dependence on the drug The moment they run out of marijuana, they panic that they won’t be able to fall asleep if they don’t smoke a joint (which usually causes them to relapse and return to smoking).
This psychological dependency will make it much more difficult for them to fall asleep naturally, and will multiply the chances that they will develop other anxiety problems in the future.
No. The most recent scientific research shows how the majority of people who use marijuana end up suffering all kinds of unwanted side effects (for example, addiction or anxiety problems). Smoking marijuana is unhealthy, there is no doubt about that.
Can smoking cannabis help combat insomnia?
Obviously, it helps people fall asleep sooner. But they pay a high price, which is poorer quality of sleep.
Additionally, when someone uses marijuana (or any other substance, such as some medications), ends up suffering the consequences of opportunity cost
This means that smoking joints to try to sleep better, in addition to not really helping you in the long term, is displacing other treatments for insomnia that have shown effectiveness at a scientific level (for example, psychotherapy applied to sleep disorders).
Does smoking cannabis cause insomnia? Can sleep quality worsen?
Paradoxically, people who smoke marijuana to combat insomnia, suffer more insomnia in the long term Not only because cannabis alters their circadian rhythms and prevents them from resting in the REM phase, but it also distracts them from the true causes of their sleep problems: intrusive thoughts, anxiety problems, bad habits that are not compatible with good sleep hygiene, etc
How long does insomnia last after quitting smoking joints?
Insomnia from stopping smoking joints usually disappears after approximately 48 hours (sometimes more, depending on the person and their consumption).
Insomnia is one of the possible symptoms of marijuana withdrawal syndrome (suffered by people who have developed a dependence on cannabis when they try to quit the substance).
Fortunately, insomnia from quitting smoking joints ends up disappearing along with the rest of the physical withdrawal syndrome from marijuana (in most cases, after a few days, a couple of weeks in more serious cases).
It must be taken into account that each case is different, and that in addition to the chemical effects of marijuana, attention must be paid to the person’s sleeping habits. If he used marijuana to sleep consistently, it is very possible that he had poor sleeping habits (which he was trying to compensate for by using marijuana).
How to overcome insomnia (without using marijuana or other drugs)
If you suffer from marijuana dependence, it is urgent that you consult your case with a specialist.
My name is Luis Miguel Real , and I am a psychologist specializing in addictions. If you need help overcoming your marijuana addiction or insomnia problems resulting from its use, contact me.
