Debunking Myths About Cannabis and Sleep

If you have heard anything about cannabis, you have also probably heard extreme exaggerations about it’s effects or benefits in ways that make absolutely no sense. CBD fans are the worst when it comes to this - I’ve seen countless articles about CBD where people basically say that it cures anything. While I don’t dismiss the fact that CBD and other cannabidiol products have numerous and plentiful benefits, exaggerating these claims usually does more harm than good, especially with how controversial the topic of cannabis can be in the United States at the moment.

These false claims can also harm doctors and other medical professionals who can actually influence people with truth about treatment and use of cannabis. To start off this article, I want to speak some facts into your mind. Per recent studies done by scientific sources, cannabis has been proven to help people sleep 30 minutes faster on average with less disruptions, and is more effective and helps people feel well-rested. Now that marijuana is legal in 35 of 50 states, it is much easier for people to legally get their hands on cannabis when they want it. In fact, the legal market increased by 67% in the year 2020. This makes sense in regards to how many people were forced into stressful and depressing lives due to quaranting. Anyways, today I want to talk about the myths that have been circulating in the media about cannabis, and address why they are simply not true.

The first myth that I want to address is that there are no risks involved when using cannabis for sleep. Since marijuana is a natural drug that comes from a legally grown plant, people seem to assume that there could be no drawbacks to using cannabis night after night to aid with sleep. In reality, cannabis is a drug and, like any other type of medication, there are side effects and even drawbacks to continued use over time. One of these drawbacks is that THC can be a factor in sleep hangovers if it is consumed in a high dose.

This can create some sleeping problems for people who wake up during the night, and lead to some very tired mornings. Most doctors and medical professionals will prescribe smaller doses of cannabis at first in order to allow the patient to get used to the dose before increasing it. There are also some long-term risks associated with regular marijuana use as well, such as the disruption of REM sleep cycles. REM stands for rapid eye movement, and is the deepest and most energizing part of our sleep cycles. Disrupting the REM cycle is not a good thing, and can lead to not getting enough sleep even if you slept for a long time. 

Another Myth that I want to address is that marijuana is all the same and can all do the same things. Worldwide, there are over 700 different strains of cannabis. If you are expecting each strain of cannabis to have the same effects and behaviours, then you are completely off base. Not only do these strains range from indica to sativa to hybrid, but each strain of cannabis under those umbrellas serves a different purpose as well. It is important to know that you should not rush into consuming marjiuana. Since each strain is different, it is imperative that you do research on which strains are good for sleep versus energy, anxiety, stress, and so on. Make sure that you choose the cannabis strain that is right for you, especially because our brains and minds work differently as well!

When to harvest an autoflower cannabis

Harvesting is a big part of cannabis consumption, but when you have auto-flowering strains, it can be hard to figure out whether or not you should harvest it.  If you harvest this too late or too early, it can impact the cannabinoids and terpenes, so that’s why, it’s important to make sure that you do this effectively. 

How to tell 

There are a few signs that’ll tell you whether or not it’s time for you to harvest it.  The first, is the trichome, pistil color, the eaves, and how long each of these have been in the ground. On average, the life cycle does vary in most cases. But knowing this is important since if you do wait too long, it can impact the flowers and harvest. You should look at the sheet that comes with the seeds to find this. Most of the time, the cultivar can be harvested around 8-9 weeks after germination. Keeping this in mind will help you with getting the best and most optimal time for harvest. 

Trichomes matter 

The color of the trichomes is one of the biggest indicators of this. The trichomes are tiny little glands that are mushroom-shaped and glistening. The structures that are made come with the terpenes and cannabinoids. Trichomes do become translucent during the stage of flowering, but the do eventually get clear and a bit amber, and it’s something that indicates not just the time to harvest, but also the changes within the trichomes as well. You can use a microscope or even a loupe jewelers use to help you figure this out. 

If the trichomes are clear, let them grow, since they’re not ready yet. If they’re cloudy or milky, this is a sign that there is a lot of THC in this, so it might be time to get them if you want something that’s high in THC. Amber is when it’s time for you to have less THC, but then also higher CBN, which is great for offering a strain that’s more stoning for you. 

The Pistils 

Another part of this, is the pistils, as they’re the reproductive organs for female plants. They usually seem white on flowers that are immature, but once they become a dark orange or red as they grow, you’ll definitely want to consider this. If you want to harvest them, you should wait for about 60-70% of them to turn for high THC strains, and then a bit more for those that are higher in CBN. 

Leaves 

Then there are the leaves. Leaves tell you a whole lot, as they can help you see the plant, along with the cultivar, helping you as well recognize those deficiencies n plants, and also any other problems, including high stress and deficiencies of nutrients and the like. 

If you notice that they’re a vibrant color, you’re definitely still good to go. They tend to get a bit yellow when it’s time to harvest. As long as they’ve stayed green during all of this, since most of the time, they’re just getting the nutrients for the flowers directly more than anything else. 

Smell 

This is another thing that’s important to look at. If they start to get more pungent, they tend to be ready to harvest. The smell that goes through the air does depend on the provider of terpenes, and strain choice, so be prepared for smelly buds, and you’ll definitely want to get those right away. These are the telltale signs, so make sur that you’re familiar with all of these before you begin planting too.