When You Go To Sleep High, This Is What Happens To Your Body

Many people turn to cannabis to unwind, ease anxiety, or soothe pain, but not all cannabis products affect the body the same way, especially when it comes to sleep. Cannabidiol (CBD) is often the go-to for those seeking relaxation without the high, while tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) delivers the psychoactive effects cannabis is known for. While a little THC might lull you into a dreamlike state, too much can leave you tossing and turning with anxiety or paranoia instead.

Going to sleep high on THC may cause you to fall asleep faster, but Dr. Jason Singh, Chief Medical Officer of One Oak Medical Group, told Health Digest that it can affect the different stages of your sleep because it affects the receptors in your brain. "While THC initially decreases sleep onset time by interacting with cannabinoid receptors and modulating neurotransmitter systems, it significantly alters normal sleep architecture — typically increasing deep sleep while suppressing crucial REM sleep," he said. THC can also affect your sleep differently in the long term.

The Sleep Foundation says 70% of young adults use cannabis recreationally to improve their sleep, and 85% of medical marijuana users claim it helps them sleep because it relieves pain. Singh said his patients agree, but there's a catch. "Although my patients report subjective improvements in sleep quality, objective measurements do reveal more fragmented sleep patterns," he said.

More specifically, you may find that falling asleep high increases your non-REM sleep, which may make you feel like you've had a good night's sleep. However, more time in non-REM sleep means less time in the REM (rapid-eye movement) stage, where you typically dream. REM sleep isn't just about dreaming, however. REM sleep is important because your brain processes emotions and improves your memory. The Sleep Foundation says that you need about two hours of REM sleep each night.

Singh added that if you fall asleep high often, it may take longer for you to get to sleep. "With regular use, tolerance develops as CB1 receptors downregulate in the brain and this diminishes cannabis's sleep-inducing effects over time," he said. "When use stops, withdrawal commonly causes REM rebound and insomnia."

Although people with chronic pain may notice better sleep while using cannabis, Singh advises against using cannabis specifically as a sleep aid. "I usually tell my patients that while cannabis may temporarily improve sleep initiation, its disruption of normal sleep cycling long-term is not helpful for sleep quality," he said. The Sleep Foundation says children and adolescents should avoid using cannabis for sleep because it can affect brain development.

Whether you're using cannabis to help you sleep or to alleviate pain, using cannabis for longer periods can alter the structure and function of your brain. A 2018 review in The American Journal of Drug and Alcohol Abuse found that heavy cannabis use can affect your thinking and memory for at least a week after use. Brain imaging studies have found that cannabis users have smaller areas of the brain associated with memory, learning, and emotional regulation.

If you've been regularly using cannabis for a long time to help you sleep, you may experience mild to moderate withdrawal symptoms when you stop using it. According to a 2017 review in Substance Abuse and Rehabilitation, withdrawal symptoms could include irritability, a depressed mood, reduced appetite, and problems sleeping. Even though cannabis use can affect your brain receptors, these receptors will begin to recover after two days and return to normal after four weeks.