If you are having trouble sleeping, then smoking or vaping some weed might be the best solution for you. With that being said, there are of course hundreds of different strains out there, and this can make finding the right one to help you sleep very hard.
Today we want to go over some of the best weed strains for insomnia. However, before we talk about the best weed to relax at night, we first want to talk about how cannabis and rest are linked together. Let's get to it and help you get a better night's sleep.
Can Cannabis Help with Rest and Relaxation?
Yes, cannabis can help with rest and relaxation. Although we aren't going to get too deep into the science of it right now, this has to do with the way that both CBD and THC interact with the endocannabinoid system contained in the human body.
Many people who have trouble sleeping have these issues due to stress, anxiety, and depression. Although you might feel physically tired, your brain is not letting you calm down and sleep. This is where cannabis comes into play.
Although there are, of course, big differences between the two both CBD and THC can help you get a better night's rest. It's mostly about allowing your mind to calm down to the point where you can actually fall asleep. It's about quieting all of those racing thoughts and relaxing you to the point where you can just fall asleep.
Of course, cannabis does have intoxicating effects as well, especially the type of cannabis that contains high levels of THC, particularly Indica strains. These strains just make you very sedated and sleepy, or in other words, some strains of cannabis may just knock you out. The bottom line is that yes, cannabis can indeed help you get a better night's sleep.
Is Indica or Sativa Better for Sleep?
The two species of cannabis are Indica and Sativa, and both have different effects. Sativa tends to produce more of a cerebral head high characterized by feeling uplifted, focused, energetic, giggly, and talkative.
Indica on the other hand tends to make people feel lethargic, heavy, mentally and bodily relaxed, sedated, and downright tired. As you can probably tell from our description here, Indica is the much better type of cannabis to help you get a good night's sleep. We will be taking a look at the best Indica for sleeping later on.
What’s the Difference When it Comes to CBD vs THC for Sleep?
What people sometimes get confused about is the difference between CBD and THC for sleep. Now, the most important takeaway here is that THC is the one that tends to have sedative properties, with Indica strains that are heavy in THC generally being the most sensitive when compared to Sativa strains, or any strain low in THC.
A high quantity of THC combined with Indica genetics generally results in a whole lot of sleepiness. However, the issue for many people is that they just don't want to feel high, and THC is of course psychoactive. It's going to put your head in the clouds and make you feel intoxicated.
Many people can still feel the after-effects of THC the next morning, which means that they end up feeling groggy and have a hard time getting out of bed. At the same time, THC may also have other side effects for people, such as gastrointestinal upset, dizziness, headaches, anxiety, paranoia, dry mouth, and more.
On the other hand, we have CBD, which generally doesn't have sedative effects per se, and it also isn't a psychoactive drug or an intoxicant. With CBD, it's not really going to sedate you and make you feel physically tired like THC does. However, CBD is known for being a mental relaxant and it can help you calm down from a long and stressful day.
Many people take CBD to help relieve stress, anxiety, and depressive thoughts. Therefore, if what is keeping you from getting your sleep is a mental issue, then CBD may indeed be the better option. Also keep in mind that CBD isn't going to make you feel high, and therefore also doesn't have any side effects related to intoxicants.
You're not going to feel groggy the next morning after taking CBD. So, when it comes down to it, THC is the far better option to help you sleep, but many people don't want to get high, which leaves CBD as the alternative.
Does the Terpene Profile Matter?
Indeed, the terpene profile of the strain in question does matter. Although more research is required on this front, it is thought that strains that are high in terpinolene, myrcene, and caryophyllene can help you get a good sleep.
10 Best Nighttime Weed Strains
Let’s take a look at the best nighttime weed strains out there, including the best Indica strains for sleep.
1. Bubba Kush Strain
Bubba Kush is a moderately potent Indica that contains roughly 17% THC. It’s strong enough to make you feel it, yet also doesn’t have so much THC that newbies need to stay away from it. It should be ideal for most. It has a flavor reminiscent of sweet hashish and coffee, which many enjoy.
Its top effects include sedation, sleepiness, and hunger, therefore making it a great nighttime strain to try. If you need to sleep, check out our very own Botany Farms Bubba Kush flower. Personally, we think that this is the number one best Indica for sleep.
2. Cherry Pie Strain
If you want something relatively light that is going to help you sleep, Cherry Pie is another good strain to check out. It is an Indica-dominant hybrid strain, so it does have that classic sedative effect, along with full-body relaxation and happiness. It contains just 16% THC, so it’s not overly strong. It’s powerful enough to help you get to sleep, but not so much that you won’t remember how you got to bed.
3. Girl Scout Cookies Strain
Girl Scout Cookies is a hybrid made by crossing Durban Poison with OG Kush. This is an Indica dominant strain with around 19% THC. Both in terms of the THC content and the sedative effects from the Indica side of things, GSC should definitely help you get good sleep, plus it’s also known for inducing the munchies. This strain has a very minty flavor that many people enjoy, plus it’s also known for being mentally relaxing.
4. Northern Lights Strain
Here we have what has to be one of the most popular strains of all time, Northern Lights, an Indica strain that is well known for producing a very body-heavy high. This stuff makes you feel heavy, tingly, sedated, and tired and just locks you right into your couch.
If you smoke a joint on your couch, you’ll be lucky to make it to bed before you pass out. With a moderate THC level of 18%, Northern Lights is a strain that beginners can comfortably try without fear of getting way too high, plus it has a nice piney taste too.
5. Death Star Strain
Death Star is a very potent Indica strain, a mic between Sour Diesel and Sensi Star. Yes, it does have some Sativa in it, which at first will make you feel happy and uplifted, just enough to get rid of some anxious and stressful thoughts. By the time your mind is at peace, the Indica side of things takes over and makes you feel super sedated, hungry, and tired.
The only risk here is waking up and realizing you emptied your whole fridge of food the night before. It contains around 20% THC, so it’s strong enough to get the job done.
6. Harlequin Strain
Here we have a strain that contains 9% CBD and 5% THC, so you should get the best of both worlds, the sedation from THC plus the mental relaxation from CBD. Although both CBD and THC concentrations are fairly low, many people do report that this is a fantastic strain for both relaxation and insomnia. CBD may even counteract some of the paranoia that some people may feel from the THC component. This strain has a herbal and spicy flavor.
7. ACDC Strain
If you are looking for a CBD strain to help relax your mind and ease you to sleep, this ACDC strain could just be it. People say that it’s a good option for treating pain, anxiety, and sleeplessness. It produces virtually no intoxicating effects, as it has only 1% THC, but it comes with a full 13% CBD. It has a very woody and earthy aroma.
8. Grandaddy Purple Strain
If you like the flavor of grape and sweetness, then Grandaddy Purple is always a good choice. It’s a fairly potent Indica that is bound to put you to sleep. It should make you feel sedated, heavy, and tired, with most people saying that it produces a super strong couch lock effect.
However, it does also produce a bit of a cerebral high that is uplifting and happiness-inducing. It should be the perfect strain to help you sleep. It contains 17% THC, so it should be ideal for most people.
9. Purple Urkle Strain
Purple Urkle is an Indica strain that contains around 18% THC. That’s more than enough THC to put you to sleep, but not so strong that it will make you feel paranoid. It tastes like grapes, berries, and skunk. The sleepiness that this strain induces can be felt within minutes of consumption. When it comes to the best strains for sleep, Purple Urkle is always up there.
10. Remedy Strain
Here we have a CBD-heavy Indica strain with 13% CBD and 1% THC, a perfect combination for sleep. The small amount of THC should sedate you slightly, and the CBD should calm you down. This strain is said to be super relaxing in nature, with a pleasant woody aroma as well.
