Insomnia is the worst, but luckily cannabis can be an effective sleep aid for many. It can slow racing thoughts, dissolve pain, relax muscles, and deliver its own sleepy chemicals to help you fall and stay asleep.
We put together a list of sedating strains to give you an idea of what to look out for on your next visit to the dispensary. But first, some tips to keep in mind:
THC strains are typically the most effective for sleep. If THC agrees with your body and doesn’t cause unpleasant side effects like anxiety, a THC-dominant strain might be your most reliable source of sedating effects.
Go easy on the high-THC strains if it’s anxiety keeping you up. A light dose of THC can float you to sleep, but larger doses can worsen anxiety in some consumers. You may want to try a strain higher in CBD if you’re sensitive to THC.
Edibles can help you stay asleep longer. Though inhaling cannabis yields faster effects, edibles last a lot longer.
Finding the right strain for you is a personalized endeavor and often requires a little trial and error. The strains below offer a few starting points—take note of which ones you like or don’t like, and use those shapes (cannabinoids) and colors (terpenes) to guide you to other strains that are likely to help you achieve a good night’s sleep.
Primary terpenes: Limonene, caryophyllene, myrcene
Cannabinoid profile: THC-dominant
With effects that tend to be heavier than your average OG Kush hybrid, Tahoe OG is a godsend for many insomniacs. Smoking or vaporizing this strain can yield fast-acting effects that let muscles relax, easing that need to roll around in your blankets all night.
Primary terpenes: Myrcene, caryophyllene, pinene
Cannabinoid profile: THC-dominant
It would be a crime to leave this classic off any list touting top sleepy strains. Not only is it fairly easy to find, but Granddaddy Purple is also shown to exhibit high levels of myrcene, a terpene that is commonly believed to provide relaxing effects. A favorite among those who use cannabis for pain or anxiety, GDP carries strong flavors of berry and grape to sweeten the deal.
Primary terpenes: Myrcene, pinene, caryophyllene
Cannabinoid profile: THC-dominant
Imagine yourself on a cold winter night, wrapped in a warm blanket as green lights dance above you. This isn’t altogether unlike the experience provided by Northern Lights, an old-school strain that has been lulling minds to sleep since its inception in the mid-1980s. Commanding sleep with a heavy hand, Northern Lights uses its high-THC content to annihilate pain and insomnia.
Primary terpenes: Myrcene, pinene, caryophyllene
Cannabinoid profile: THC-dominant
Crushing insomnia like a war hammer, this no-nonsense strain is perfect for insomniacs who can’t escape the prison of their mind while lying in bed. The mild fruity flavors of ripe berry and grapes are just another reason to love this insomnia-crusher appropriately named 9 Pound Hammer.
At Kind Seed Co cannabis seed store you can find over 1000 strains to home growers and collectors alike. They stock high-yielding autoflowers that have quick turnarounds and work in all lighting conditions. Their feminized varieties go up to 38% THC, and their CBD line is impressive with CBG, CBN, and other cannabinoid and terpene-rich strains. The company has been in business for 29 years and has a marketing office in California but ships from New York.
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