It's no secret that many people enjoy smoking weed to relax or fall asleep. However, what most people don't realize is that smoking weed to sleep can be harmful. This blog post will explore some of the dangers of using weed as a sleep aid.
According to research by BMJ Journals, Marijuana may make sleep worse, especially for regular users. It found that adults who used weed 20 or more days a month were 64% more likely to sleep less than six hours and 76% more likely to sleep longer than nine hours a night.
Weed smokers often report difficulty falling asleep and staying asleep. This is because when you smoke weed, your body goes through a process called decarboxylation, which converts THC-A (the acidic form of THC) into THC (the active form of THC). THC is the primary psychoactive component in marijuana and is what gets you high. It also interacts with the brain, making it difficult to achieve deep, restful sleep. That's because THC disrupts your body's natural sleep cycle by interfering with the release of the hormone melatonin. Melatonin is what makes you feel sleepy and helps you stay asleep throughout the night. This decreases REM sleep, which is the stage of sleep when we dream, and our brains are most active. People who smoke weed to sleep often wake up feeling groggy and disoriented.
Smoking weed to sleep might seem harmless to catch some Zs, but there are a few dangers associated with this practice.
Smoking weed to sleep can worsen underlying mental health conditions.
In addition to disrupting your sleep cycle, THC can cause anxiety and paranoia. These effects can be amplified if you have an anxiety disorder or a history of mental illness. Studies have found that people who use weed regularly are more likely to experience psychotic symptoms than those who do not smoke. In addition, people with a personal or family history of mental illness may be more vulnerable to these effects. Heavy cannabis use has been linked to abnormal brain development in young adults, another risk factor for developing schizoaffective disorder later in life. Thus, while some might argue that weed is just "a harmless way to sleep," it can have serious long-term consequences for mental health.
If you suffer from any mental health conditions, it's essential to talk to a doctor before using marijuana in any form.
Smoking weed to sleep can lead to dependence and addiction.
Weed can be addictive. If you need to smoke weed to fall asleep, you may develop an addiction. People who smoke weed to help them sleep often find that they need to smoke more and more over time to achieve the same desired effect. This tolerance can quickly lead to dependence and addiction. As reported by the Government of Canada, it is estimated that 1 in 3 who use cannabis will develop a problem with their use. If you find yourself needing to smoke more weed to fall asleep, it's important to seek help from a medical professional or addiction specialist before things spiral out of control.
Additionally, smoking weed can lead to memory problems and difficulty concentrating. Cannabis may interact with certain medications, and smoking weed can have negative effects on your respiratory system.
While smoking weed to sleep might seem like an innocuous way to get some shut-eye, there are a few dangers associated with this practice. If you're considering using weed as a sleep aid, weigh the risks and benefits before deciding. If you're having trouble sleeping, talk to your doctor about other ways to manage your insomnia.