Indica and Sleep: Can you have one without the other?
There are a lot of theories surrounding cannabis, specific cannabis strains and their supposed effects. One of those theories is around Indicas and how they can be used for sleep.
Myth: All Indicas Make You Fall Asleep
“Dude, I can’t smoke indicas because they just make me pass out. I swear every time I smoke one I’m asleep within 20 minutes.”
We’ve all heard it, right? Or, at least we all have that one friend who will ask what type of weed it is before hitting that perfectly rolled joint.
As your Friendly OG, I am here to tell you that NOT all Indicas make you fall asleep. In fact, a really good Indica shouldn’t necessarily make you pass out at all. They can assist in falling asleep and keeping you asleep, however that is not their only function.
The reason indicas and sleep are often correlated is because of the terpene profile that can often be found in Indicas. Myrcene is known for its relaxing and sedative effects, and it’s also one of the most prevalent terpenes in Indicas. Terpinolene is also a common terpene in Indicas and is similarly known for its sedative effect.
This is why it’s so important to know the common effects of different terpenes – different terpenes have different effects, and the ones found in indicas tend to lean toward a more sedative effect.
Reality: Indicas CAN Make You Fall Asleep
The reality is that indicas tend to have higher CBD to THC content than sativas, which results in many of the medicinal benefits that stem from indica strains. One of those medical benefits is, you guessed it, assisting with restful sleep.
Some of the other medical benefits that indica strains have are:
- Helping to reduce inflammation and chronic pain
- Increasing appetite
- Relieving stiffness from muscles and preventing spasms
- Can help reduce anxiety and encourage
- Ability to fall asleep and stay asleep
For people who are looking for a strain to specifically help them fall asleep, they will still want to focus on a strain that is higher in THC than CBD. CBD is non-psychoactive which will result in a more physical relaxation.
Before prescribing yourself cannabis as a sleep-aid, it is important to talk to your doctor about your condition and whether cannabis is right for you. Studies have shown that cannabis does affect sleep cycles in some way, so it’s important to be aware of that while using cannabis.
The moral of the story is not all Indicas will make you fall asleep, but if you are looking to use cannabis as a sleep aid then an Indica strain is going to most likely be your best bet. Try finding a strain that has a high Myrcene content in its terpene profile, as that terpene is the most common for sleep aid.
If you decide that cannabis is the right solution for you, make sure to stop into our Denver dispensary to check out our selection of premium flower. Our friendly budtenders can walk you through our selection of high THC strains to determine which one is right for you!
With High Regards,
Your Friendly OG
