Cannabis as a Sleep Aid: A Healthier and More Effective Alternative to Pills

Many people who suffer from insomnia turn to linden or valerian tea, and then head for a pharmacy to buy the first "miracle" pills they find there. In most cases they end becoming too dependent on drugs that upset their daily routines and do not really solve the problem. Their health, rather than improving, worsens over time, especially after a few months when they try to quit the drug and realise that they need it to get to sleep.

Researchers have found that the best way to sleep well, especially for those who have difficulty doing so, is to consume marijuana before going to bed. It is capable of inducing relaxation thanks to a specific cannabinoid known as cannabinol (CBN), an element proceeding from ageing or degraded THC. The buds of the plant typically contain a high percentage of the psychoactive component, which, when exposed to ultraviolet rays or air, loses hydrogen molecules and transforms, first into CBNA, and then into CBN, responsible for the deep rest that people experience when they smoke cannabis.

The most recent studies have found that amongst this plant's main benefits is that it allows one to get to sleep quickly, to sleep longer, and to get better rest during sleep, thanks to more relaxed breathing. Thus, it can be used to combat disorders like sleep apnoea. Although it is a psychoactive cannabinoid, its effect is much milder than that of THC itself, often leading to a slight intoxication and featuring powerful very positive medicinal health benefits, contributing to what some have called "sweet sleep."

Thus, consuming from 2.5 to 5 mg of CBN one enjoys the same effects as from 5 to 10 mg of Diazepam, the often-used anti-anxiety and muscle relaxant that is saddled with major side effects. Unlike the latter, the former functions as a mild anaesthetic, without leaving one in a complete state of unconsciousness.

In addition to its uses in the world of sleep and relaxation, CBN also helps to relieve pain, lowers eye pressure, relieves spasms, and is beneficial for those suffering from severe convulsions, Tourette Syndrome or epilepsy. As we already knew, cannabis is the ideal remedy for all that ails us.