Cannabis and Sleep: Does It Actually Help on Hot Summer Nights?

UK summers can be frustrating. What was meant to be an eight hour restful night becomes a grueling battle to get comfortable while your nervous system refuses to relax. Little wonder that many people turn to cannabis to help them with their sleep during hot summer months. However, does it really make a difference?

Why summer nights are harder to fall asleep than they look

While poor sleeping during the summer may seem like it’s primarily due to the increased temperature, there are several other factors that contribute to this problem. All of these factors converge at once:

• Extended daylight hours will lower the amount of melatonin (your bodies natural sleep hormone) in your system making your body think it’s not yet nighttime
• Increased body temperatures makes your body harder to cool down enough to go to sleep — the ideal temperature drop needed for sleep onset is 1-2 degrees celsius
• Increased social stimulation caused by heavy summer activity calendars keep your nervous system active longer
• Increased alcohol consumption in the summer causes fragmented sleep architecture in the second half of the night

This is when people seek relief through using cannabis.

How THC helps or hurts your sleep

THC interacts with CB1 receptors throughout the brain including those that govern the sleep/wake cycle.

Possible short-term benefits:

• Decreases the time to fall asleep (sleep latency)
• Increases slow wave (Deep) sleep — which is the restorative phase of sleep
• Possible reduction in REM sleep — which could potentially be beneficial for individuals with PTSD related nightmares
• Physical relaxation/sedation that results from THC which appears to provide a cooling effect in hot weather

However, the problem is Tolerance when using THC regularly for sleep

The biggest drawback of relying on THC to promote sleep is Tolerance. After one week of consistent THC use, studies show that the sleep promoting effects of THC decrease dramatically. From here users have a few bad choices: take larger amounts of THC (and pay for it the next day), start rotating with periods of abstinence (with likely poor quality sleep both during and after the rotation period), or stop (with a good chance of experiencing rebound insomnia). Additionally, THC consistently reduces REM sleep — which may seem like a plus if you experience a lot of vivid anxiety dreams, but REM is essential for emotional regulation and memory consolidation. Cutting back on REM sleep will eventually result in negative consequences that slowly build up.

CBD and CBN: alternative options for sleep support

Although CBD is not capable of being sedated at moderate doses — instead acting as an anxiolytic agent — it will assist individuals in clearing their minds and calming down before bed. Although it won’t knock you out, it’s actually an effective mechanism for addressing the anxiety-driven insomnia experienced by many during the summer months. CBN has been known for years as “the sleepy cannabinoid” but recent scientific studies suggest that CBN could be used as a viable alternative for supporting sleep. Combining CBD with CBN in a custom-formulated product, provides a safe and targeted alternative option for supporting sleep.

Safe ways to choose cannabis products supporting better night-time recovery

If you’re located in the UK interested in learning how to safely support your evening routine, Canna City offers a wide selection of cannabis derived products for calmness, equilibrium, and improved recovery during the night.

Browse our collection today and purchase high-quality cannabis products in the UK with complete assurance — without having to question whether they’re safe, and without exposing yourself to any unnecessary risks.