You got it! Today we’re talking with Emily Resnick, Sales Manager at cannabis manufacturers Headwaters & STATE, about how you can utilize cannabis to help you get your best night’s rest. 😴
Q: Which specific cannabis strains help with insomnia?
Emily: For sleep, you’re going to want to stay away from Sativa, which is a more creative, uplifting, energetic strain of plant. If a visual helps, it’s a tall, skinny plant, that will keep your mind high and alert.
On the other hand, Indica is more calming. It helps your body to take a deep breath. It’s a shorter and fatter plant than Sativa. It’s the “couch lock one.” It will help you to calm down and get sleepy. In short, if you’re looking to utilize cannabis to help with insomnia, you’ll definitely want to stick to Indica strains.
In terms of THC vs. CBD, THC will definitely help you fall asleep quicker. CBD does not affect lights off sleep, and will just help you to calm down a bit.
Image: Scienze Naturali
Q: What’s the difference between THC and CBD?
Emily: THC is a psychoactive cannabinoid (chemical compound found in cannabis) with many health benefits which will get you high. CBD has many of the healing benefits THC does and more, but won’t get you high.
As a quick story, I have a good family friend diagnosed with ALS. She is in her mid-40s, and she doesn’t want to get high or smoke, largely because she doesn’t want to run the risk of negatively influencing her children. That said, I got her an oil infused with CBD and THC A, which is another non-psychoactive healing cannabinoid, and she said it really helps her to sleep and get rid of pain. You can even do a 20 / 1, CBD / THC ratio. I have heard that even a small amount of THC helps the CBD work more effectively, which is called the entourage effect.
Q: What about THC or CBD for skin?
Emily: As I mentioned before, CBD can really help with pain management. To help relieve pain and bad arthritis, you might want to consider trying a topical THC + CBD combo. You can apply topical oils or ointments directly to the skin on areas where you’re experiencing discomfort.
Image: Green Rush Daily
Q: How do you incorporate cannabis into your nighttime routine?
Emily: For me, cannabis is definitely a nighttime treat and a part of my evening routine as I wind down. At the end of the day, my form of choice is probably smoking.
Q: Can you tell us more about how cannabis helps with sleep?
Emily: I’ve heard countless customer stories about how Cannabis has helped them fall asleep faster as well as stay asleep longer.
Personally, my mom has suffered from insomnia for a long time. I kept telling her that cannabis would likely be able to help her get a better night’s rest. Understandably, she didn’t want to smoke a joint since she had quit smoking cigarettes many years ago. That said, she ended up trying a vape cartridge, and she was able to sleep through the night. It was pretty incredible because she hadn’t been able to do that in years.
Image: Leafly
Q: Are there different forms of cannabis out there that you prefer? Mints? Drinks? Etc?
Emily: All of them! There is a different time and place for everything. I was just skiing up in Mammoth, so a vape pen was the perfect companion for my outdoor adventures. For more relaxed situations, I love edibles and mints. Specifically, mints are great for micro-dosing if you’re just looking to relax a little.
When paired with other natural remedies, it can be cool to see how different terpenes (essential oils found in all plants) interact. For example, a terpene in pine tree’s is called pinene and is what you recognize as the smell of a forest of pine trees. That said, cannabis is very synergistic with hops or lavender, as they possess some of the same terpenes.
You can test things out, by smoking while drinking chamomile tea or applying a topical with the lavender oil found in Midnight Shift.
Image: Leaf Science
Q: Any general advice for cannabis first-timers?
Emily: I would honestly suggest just going to a dispensary and asking the staff there to guide you. Tthe sales reps or “bud-tenders” as we call them, are so knowledgeable. You have so many options, and they’ll be happy to help you find a good fit for what you’re looking for. They've heard it all so ask away!
In terms of dosage for your first use, I would suggest:
Edible: A micro-dose edible might be good. One piece of advice is to take it 1-2hrs before you fall asleep because edibles often take an hour or so to become effective.
Vaping: Take 1-2 puffs
Topical: Just try it right away. It can even be an aid after working out.
