Most of us need more sleep for optimum health. Since I retired, no more getting up at 4 a.m. No more 2 a.m. panic attacks about a project deadline. Even with a more relaxed lifestyle, however, sometimes we need a little help getting to sleep and staying asleep. I use cannabis.
If you haven’t used cannabis before or haven’t used it in a long time, I’ll share some basics I’ve learned from personal experience and from my studies at Oaksterdam University, where I completed the classic seminar in cannabis education. I’ve previously written about my experiences with Kiva edibles, Kikoko tea and Granddaddy Purple concentrate.
For newbies, there are two basic types of cannabis. Look for Indica-dominant strains if you want to help your body relax to treat pain or insomnia. Sativa-dominant products are more cerebral and induce an uplifting high. For long walks and feeling happy, I enjoy a 50/50 hybrid called Sour Diesel Lemon Kush, which I buy as buds and vape with my little dry herb PAX 2 vaporizer.
Another way to evaluate the potential effects of cannabis is by checking the THC-to-CBD ratio. THC and CBD are both cannabinoids in the cannabis plant, but CBD doesn’t get you high. CBD-only products are all the rage, although I have yet to try any. I’d love to hear about your experiences using CBD!
Products with both THC and CBD have what is called an entourage effect – which takes advantage of the whole plant and usually means better results. Strains high in CBD are great for pain and anxiety. I used CBD Shark (1:1 ratio of THC-to-CBD) for my homemade tincture and Harlequin (5:2 ratio of THC-to-CBD) for my homemade topical balm.
Finally, you need to give some thought as to how you consume the cannabis. It takes longer for the effects to kick in if you eat or drink it, but the effects last longer, which is great for sleep. If you’re in pain, you probably want something with immediate effects. Nothing like a plain old-fashioned joint to do the job. That’s what I used when I had cancer and was suffering side effects of chemotherapy.
As for sleep, my all-time favorite medication is Kikoko Tranquili-Tea … no surprises and wonderful, long-lasting sleep. It’s simply a fabulous product, ideal for people new to cannabis. However, it’s expensive and not easy to find.
Granddaddy Purple has been my go-to choice for sleep. GDP, as it’s known, is Indica-dominant at 70 percent, and the THC level is about 80 percent. The THC level is high because it’s a concentrated oil. The oil is packaged in a glass cartridge, which you then screw onto a vape pen. It’s easy and you can keep it by the bed. Start low and go slow … no more than two short inhalations the first time. Wait until the next night to add another inhalation. I know when I’ve overdone it, because I have crazy-ass dreams.
I just tried a different concentrate called Platinum Bubba Kush. It’s Indica-dominant at about 80 percent, and the THC level is a bit higher than GDP at about 87 percent. I went to bed, read for a while and then took two short inhalations from the vape pen. I soon fell asleep, and sometime during the night I got up to pee, as per usual, but I went right back to sleep. Next thing I knew it was 7 a.m.
A .5ml cartridge was about $30 at my local cannabis dispensary and for me, it lasts weeks, even more than a month. But I’m a lightweight and only use a bit – results vary from person-to-person. I just read about sublingual tinctures specially formulated for sleep. That sounds promising to me and am in pursuit of said item so I can share a full report.
Happy sleeping!