If you’re one of the roughly 10 million Americans who rely on a prescription drug like Ambien or Lunesta to help relieve your insomnia, you may also find yourself dealing with a host of side effects such as drowsiness during the day, dizziness, headache and memory loss. As it is, these sleeping pills, which can become habit-forming, are meant to treat insomnia only in the short term.
For folks having trouble staying asleep, a safer, long-term solution is—you guessed it: cannabis. This powerful plant not only helps regulate sleep patterns, but it can also reduce stress, anxiety and pain as well as improve mood—all things that can determine whether you’ll have a good night’s sleep.
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When it comes to middle-of-the-night or late insomnia, edibles are likely the best choice as they typically last about 6–8 hours. And because effects aren’t immediate, you can consume a marijuana edible an hour or two before bedtime with the expectation that the tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), cannabidiol (CBD) or other cannabinoids will come on right as you’re hitting the hay.
Of course, because everyone reacts differently to cannabis’s various chemical compounds, some experimentation is required. If you’re not sure what product or dose is right for you, start out with a small amount, and see if it helps you sleep through the night. If it doesn’t, slowly increase your dose with the goal of consuming the smallest amount possible to ease your insomnia.
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With that in mind, take a look at our top five picks of cannabis edibles that we’ve found ensure a full night’s sleep.
1. Kiva Blueberry Terra Bites
Cloaked in cocoa powder and creamy milk chocolate, Kiva’s Blueberry Terra Bites are a crowd favorite. These easy-going edibles lay claim to a number of awards, including winner of the best edible from The Errl Cup, SF Weekly and East Bay Express.
At just 5 mg of THC per blueberry, Kiva Terra Bites are a great choice for folks looking for a lower dose of cannabis to achieve a solid night’s sleep. And for those who need more, it’s a cinch to up your amount by popping a second—or third—blueberry before bedtime.
2. Kikoko Tranquili-Tea
As far as cannabis teas go, Kikoko has it dialed in. Each cannabis-infused tea bag is water-soluble, carries an exact dose and uses only organic ingredients.
Peppermint, chamomile, lemon myrtle and lavender are just a few of the items that spice up the flavor profile of Kikoko’s Tranquili-Tea, which contains 3 mg of THC and 5 mg of cannabinol (CBN). Non-psychoactive CBN, which results when THC oxidizes, is touted for its sedative effects, and Kikoko’s Tranquili-Tea is one of only a handful of products out on the market that contains this sleep-inducing cannabinoid.
3. Sensi-Chew Insomnia With Melatonin
If you’re in need of a bit more indica to keep you in the land of Nod, you may want to try Sensi-Chew’s cannabis-infused chocolate caramels. Each dose comes loaded with 10 mg of full-spectrum THC along with small amounts of several other cannabinoids including CBN.
And for good measure, one chewy chocolate caramel contains 4 mg of melatonin, which helps reset your sleep and wake cycles. Though your body typically produces enough melatonin on its own, there are times when a melatonin supplement can prove helpful—for example, when you’re suffering from jet lag or the occasional insomnia.
4. Care by Design 18:1 Softgel Capsules
Sensitive to THC’s psychoactivity? No worries. You can still achieve a restful sleep by consuming products with high levels of non-psychoactive CBD. Known to reduce anxiety as well as modulate pain, mood and stress, CBD—when taken regularly—can help individuals waking up mid-sleep for these reasons.
Enter Care by Designs 18:1 CBD gel caps, which contain cannabis oil that’s been CO2 extracted and lab tested to ensure each dose has a consistent level of potency and is free of contaminants. Care by Design’s 18:1 CBD-rich capsules come in 10 mg and 20 mg doses and use coconut oil to increase the cannabis’s absorption rate.
5. Mind Tricks Cannabis-Infused Toffee
To satisfy your sweet tooth, we recommend following dinner up with a little dessert—specifically, Mind Tricks’ cannabis-infused toffee. A collaboration between canna-business Jetty Extracts and candy shop Sweetbricks, Mind Tricks Toffee comes in a variety of tantalizing flavors including cookies n cream, salted dark chocolate walnut and PB+J (pictured).
Each Mind Tricks bag comes with five chunks of toffee dosed at 20 mg of THC each. If 20 mg is too much, crack off a piece to get your desired dose, then let the feelings of relaxation and well-being wash over you as you slide into bed and a peaceful slumber.
If you’re new to cannabis and want to learn more, take a look at our Cannabis 101 guide. HelloMD can help you get your medical marijuana recommendation; it’s easy, private and 100% online.
