Sleep plays an important role in maintaining the optimum health of both body and mind, yet a large population suffers from sleep disorders. According to a study, more than 40% of people in the US suffer from Insomnia, while 10-15% are diagnosed with chronic insomnia. Indica cannabis is a controversial medication that aids sleep and does not result in any form of side effects usually associated with allopathy.

When we talk of weed for medical use, edibles are agreed to be the best way to consume cannabis. Best edibles for sleep are made from the Indica strains of cannabis due to their unique property of encouraging sleep and relaxation.

Role of THC and CBD in Sleep

THC and CBD are two of the most sought cannabis compounds. THC brings psychoactive properties whereas CBD is a non-psychoactive compound. Different types of weed incite different high. Some weed provides soothing and sedating effects while others can make you creative and energetic. Therefore, before considering the best edibles for sleep, identifying the right cannabis is the key. What is the role of THC and CBD in helping with sleep?

• THC or Tetrahydrocannabinol – can make you high depending on the amount of the compound in the cannabis. It’s also responsible for the sedating effect and supporting sleep.
• CBD or Cannabidiol – a non-intoxicating and no-high compound, the CBD has a wide range of medical use.

When selecting the best edibles to aid in sleep, it’s necessary that you select the strain with a high THC concentration than CBD.

Indica Cannabis for Sleep

The humble weed plant has two broad classification – the Indica and Sativa. Indica strain of cannabis is known for its heavy, sedating, and relaxing effects which assist in falling asleep. On the other hand, the Sativa strain is quite the opposite of Indica providing head high with clarity and focus, it is also known for its energizing effects. Therefore, when selecting a cannabis strain for sleep or sleep disorders, it’s the Indica that you should choose.

You can find Indica edibles in all shapes and sizes from cookies to brownies. When it comes to weed edibles, there is no recipe that can go wrong. People mix weed in just about anything. Weed extracts such as tincture and oils have made it much easier to include weed in the diet. Simply add a few drops of tincture or oil to your recipe and you have tasty sleepy delight.

Weed in the appropriate dosage is a great sleep remedy reducing the time it takes for the user to fall asleep and maintain sleep. Compared to modern medicine, cannabis is a natural remedy with little to no side effects. Experts suggest that weed edibles can effectively deliver patients with insomnia to sleep. While some studies even claiming long-term benefits of consuming weed.

However, in excessive dosage weed may make the situation worse for patients with insomnia. The question you might ask is how many mg of edibles should I eat? A medical professional is the best person that considers the potency, your general condition, and the effects of the ingredients to suggest the appropriate dosage. Regardless, your body is the best place to look for signs of the right dosage. An excessive dosage will lead to weed hangovers and distortions after you wake.

Using your indica kief will be one of the most effective ways to get a good sleep if you do not have indica edibles. Check out 10 things you can do with your kief      

General Guidelines on Dosage

• Purpose of Usage

When looking for the sleep-inducing effects, you would want to consume the cannabis edible right before heading to bed. A moderately potent weed edible is sufficient to provide you the relaxing effect and deliver you to sleep. These edibles usually contain 2.5 to 5 mg of THC.

Aside from medical use, people also use cannabis for recreation during social gatherings and during work shifts. Edibles are suitable as they provide a slow THC release which keeps the user high enough to enjoy the situation but not sedated, which can disable the physical capacity of the user.

While the Indica strain is great for sleep, it might not be ideal for social events. For recreation when you have the day’s work ahead, the Sativa strain is recommended. So, depending on your intention, different cannabis edible should be chosen.

• The Potency of the Weed Edible

As the THC content varies across strains of cannabis, potency is crucial when considering the weed edible. If you eat an edible with 1000mg THC, you would either be running around in all directions, hallucinating, vomiting or knocked-out for days.

In edibles, the potency of the cannabis is measured in milligrams. A weed capsule is 2.7 milligram and sufficient to provide the adequate high required to relaxed your body and keep your mind focused. A chocolate bar can have 100 mg diving in 10 equal cubes. Hence, consuming a single cube can deliver high amounts of THC.

Consume Weed Edibles in Full Stomach and Stay Close to Home

When consuming any form of weed, stay close to home. If you take it during the day, stay at home and away from physical activities such as lifting, driving, workouts, and related activities. However, the best time to consume weed edibles is during the night when you can relax and fall asleep peacefully.

Absolutely stay away from driving when under the influence of weed. Even when the effects of weed are not apparent stay away from driving. As edibles can take anywhere from 30 minutes to 3 hours to reveal its effects, users might be tempted to run an errand at the local grocery store. Do not do it or you might be severely injured in the best case scenario and even lose your life. Accidental fatalities when under the influence of weed is very high in the US and Canada.

Eating weed in an empty stomach is also discouraged. You would experience a more balanced and consistent high when you consume the edible on a full stomach. If you observe weed edibles available in the market, they come mostly in the form of sweet delights because they are meant to be consumed as dessert after a meal.

Eating Edibles While Pregnant

Due to the lack of research and case evidence, consuming weed edibles when you are pregnant is discouraged. The THC in the weed can pass to the developing baby through the blood that you share with the baby and when breastfeeding through the milk. So, nursing and pregnant women should abstain from consuming weed edible when pregnant.

Top 5 Indica Strains of Edibles for Sleep

We have selected the best Indica strains that are known for their sleep-inducing effects. Here goes the list.

• Northern Lights

A perennial favorite, the northern lights is one of the most famous Indica strains of cannabis. The effects of this strain will have you sleeping like a baby with no worries of the world. As the high of the strain starts to revel, you can feel a strong body buzz that engulfs the entire body from head to toe relaxing muscles and pacifying the mind in dreamy euphoria. The laziness induced by the stain makes it comfortable to sink in the couch and doze in sleep. Aside from aiding sleep, the stain is great for depression, stress, and anxiety.

• Big Bud

A strain that gained popularity in the US while its genetics is from the Netherlands. The Big Bud is big on its effects that can make the user lethargic, hungry, and sleepy. A couch-lock strain, the Big Bud is a nighttime strain that will have you sleeping in no time. As with most Indica, the Big Bud also provides complete body relaxation that relieves pain, fatigue, and stress allowing you to sleep comfortably. 

• Tahoe OG Kush

A variety of the renowned Kush, the Tahoe OG Kush is recommended for insomnia, pain, and lack of appetite. As the high of the strain hits, you feel a body numbing effect that relieves pain and encourages eating. Once you satisfy the large appetite it incites, the eyelids become too heavy to keep open and you doze off in a sleep that can last hours on end.

• Granddaddy Purple

With one of its parents as the Big Bud, the Granddaddy Purple packs a punch of THC making it one of the best edibles for sleep. This strain provides a physical relaxation while delivering the mind a dreamy buzz. The strain would make you lethargic with no desire to move. Hence, best to be taken when on the bed, watching a movie, and ready to sleep. 

• God’s Gift

Another American favorite, God’s Bud is known for its effects that make you feel like a god. After delivering a dreamy and blissful effect, the strain puts you in a deep sleep. A great all-round strain, you can use it for recreation as well as insomnia.

Conclusion

Cannabis with an Indica profile has a wide range of benefits for the body. In the form of edibles, it provides a comfortable sleep, reduces anxiety and stress, soothes the muscles, reduces pain and inflammation, and decreases seizures. With little to no side effects, cannabis edible is the right medication for all types of sleep disorders.