Reliant on cannabis for sleep?

Well, to start off, I'm a very creative person, and I've heard creative people often struggle with insomnia. I've had insomnia off and on for a good 6 months (even before I started smoking) and I use to try to avoid caffein, drink lots of water, and take certain homeopathic sleeping pills to get to sleep soundly and peacefully. Well since I've started smoking, I've been going to sleep great, drinking caffein, and no more sleeping pills. Nothing puts me to sleep better than cannabis. But heres the catch, I only get that kind of sleep when I smoke before bed or earlier that day.

I've recently just started my tolerance break, and I tried going to sleep the first night of not smoking, and I couldn't sleep for the life of me. I tried everything! So I wound up smoking a tiny bowl out of my dug out, and went to sleep right away.

So here's my dilemma. I love smoking weed and the awesome, peaceful sleep I get with it, but I don't want to be dependent on it incase I have to sleep without it, or if I'm traveling and have none. I want to be able to go to sleep like a normal person, you know?

I guess I don't really have a big question here. Just looking for a little advice.

Got anything to add, GC?

Its a hard time I know bro. To be honest I was never able to sleep when I was high. However it could be how your bodys clock is set. Try to reset it by waking up incredibly early (No this does not mean like 11:30am) try 7:30 or 8:00 and just do stuff all day but no naps. The more physically active you are the more your body will use its energy up. Also i know this is cliche but try to eat right as well. Natural sugars will be processed quicker than refined sugars. When you get to go to bed keep it dark and comfortable. If you play music keep it mellow and soft. I like Air or sphongle for this purpose. Idn man just some tips that help me. I used to run in the 3rd shift sleep mode too but I had to force a change for class n shit. Good luck!

I'm not creative at all, in fact I am a compulsive plagiarist . I have always had trouble getting to sleep though - it doesn't really matter how late I go to bed or how early I get up, I am still going to be lying in bed for a couple hours before I pass out.

Weed definitely helps with falling asleep, except of course when you are out of it. Melatonin is an option...you can get it at most drug stores (I think? It depends on where you live) and it really helps me when I have to be up early the next day for something and want to get a full night of sleep. As a bonus, it has a tendency to give you crazy dreams.

I'll try that for sure. Great tips because lately I HAVE been waking up real late.. So that might be a problem.

I'll try resetting my biological clock and eating right (I made it a goal in the beginning of the summer to eat right anyway).

I'll still smoke weed to go to sleep. I just want to solve my insomnia problem.
I just wish I could get a MMJ card here because I genuinely need it (unlike some who lie to get it). Then my worries are over


+rep for the help. thanks man

I'm not creative at all, in fact I am a compulsive plagiarist . I have always had trouble getting to sleep though - it doesn't really matter how late I go to bed or how early I get up, I am still going to be lying in bed for a couple hours before I pass out.

Weed definitely helps with falling asleep, except of course when you are out of it. Melatonin is an option...you can get it at most drug stores (I think? It depends on where you live) and it really helps me when I have to be up early the next day for something and want to get a full night of sleep. As a bonus, it has a tendency to give you crazy dreams.

Oh alright cool cool. I'll have to try it out, then.

It must just be because I don't do SHIT in the day time. So I have all this stored up energy. I think getting up super early might help.

I don't realize how easy it is to go to sleep until I run out of weed. then my insomnia is right back. Its not that the weed makes me sleepy it just makes it feel natural to fall asleep

I always have problems falling asleep, but with a little puff or two that usually goes away. Sometimes I'll even work my ass off that day and my mind will just be racing all night and I won't be able to sleep.

However in dry times I find that working hard (at the gym, whatever) and clearing your head before bed does a lot of good.

I know how you feel man, good luck to you.

I used to always love to smoke before bed. It would take me a while to fall asleep but once i did im OUT haha.

Well, to start off, I'm a very creative person, and I've heard creative people often struggle with insomnia. I've had insomnia off and on for a good 6 months (even before I started smoking) and I use to try to avoid caffein, drink lots of water, and take certain homeopathic sleeping pills to get to sleep soundly and peacefully. Well since I've started smoking, I've been going to sleep great, drinking caffein, and no more sleeping pills. Nothing puts me to sleep better than cannabis. But heres the catch, I only get that kind of sleep when I smoke before bed or earlier that day.

I've recently just started my tolerance break, and I tried going to sleep the first night of not smoking, and I couldn't sleep for the life of me. I tried everything! So I wound up smoking a tiny bowl out of my dug out, and went to sleep right away.

So here's my dilemma. I love smoking weed and the awesome, peaceful sleep I get with it, but I don't want to be dependent on it incase I have to sleep without it, or if I'm traveling and have none. I want to be able to go to sleep like a normal person, you know?

I guess I don't really have a big question here. Just looking for a little advice.

Got anything to add, GC?

Cuniform is right. Activity and good nutrtion are key points.

It doesn't sound like you've built a dependence, but when you have insomnia then find something that allows you to sleep once you quit using that aide your insomnia will kick back in. Remember in "Fight Club"?

to extend on tailsprower's point...

What you should do (what worked for me fixing my sleep schedule last fall):
1. continue to smoke weed like regular( I usually smoke 2 bowls/joints a day).
2. While going about your regular routine, take melatonin before bed.(Melatonin is a naturally derived sleep aide that doesn't cause long term damage. However, the melatonin has to build up and circulate in your body, which is why it must be taken every night for about a month or so.)
3. As your melatonin scheduale continues, slowly smoke less each day, until your down to just like, a bowl in the am, then eventually not smoking.
4 this should allow you to still sleep while the melatonin has its build up time to help you.
5. After that month of melatonin every night, just take it occasionally as needed while taking a tolerance break or something.

If you quit the melatonin completely for an extended period like several months, then quit smoking again as well, you may lose that sleep pattern again. Melatonin basically trains your body to sleep when it needs it instead of ignoring the urge, but irregular hours over time can mess it all up.

Good Luck!! Hope this helped!!

Edited by SanFermin, 15 July 2009 - 03:48 AM.

Cuniform is right. Activity and good nutrtion are key points.

It doesn't sound like you've built a dependence, but when you have insomnia then find something that allows you to sleep once you quit using that aide your insomnia will kick back in. Remember in "Fight Club"?

to extend on tailsprower's point...

What you should do (what worked for me fixing my sleep schedule last fall):
1. continue to smoke weed like regular( I usually smoke 2 bowls/joints a day).
2. While going about your regular routine, take melatonin before bed.(Melatonin is a naturally derived sleep aide that doesn't cause long term damage. However, the melatonin has to build up and circulate in your body, which is why it must be taken every night for about a month or so.)
3. As your melatonin scheduale continues, slowly smoke less each day, until your down to just like, a bowl in the am, then eventually not smoking.
4 this should allow you to still sleep while the melatonin has its build up time to help you.
5. After that month of melatonin every night, just take it occasionally as needed while taking a tolerance break or something.

If you quit the melatonin completely for an extended period like several months, then quit smoking again as well, you may lose that sleep pattern again. Melatonin basically trains your body to sleep when it needs it instead of ignoring the urge, but irregular hours over time can mess it all up.

Good Luck!! Hope this helped!!

Wow thanks, man. While I don't know if I'm going to take a month tolerance break or anything like that, this sure helped me figure out a game plan.

After my tolerance break, I'm still going to smoke but continue to be active and do things during the day. I may even take melatonin at night to send the message it's bed time to my body.

wow 7.30 -8.00 am is SUP3R DOOP3R early huh?

wow 7.30 -8.00 am is SUP3R DOOP3R early huh?

whatever, dude.

wow 7.30 -8.00 am is SUP3R DOOP3R early huh?

Thats what i thought, i am at the office by 8am every day, i wish i could sleep to 7:30 and get up "super early" LOL, Kids!

It's early for me. And that's what the topic is about is my sleeping pattern.

If we were talking about others' sleeping patterns, then we could agree that 8:00 is probably not very early for most of you.


Jesus, I'm getting hazed left and right.

Wow thanks, man. While I don't know if I'm going to take a month tolerance break or anything like that, this sure helped me figure out a game plan.

After my tolerance break, I'm still going to smoke but continue to be active and do things during the day. I may even take melatonin at night to send the message it's bed time to my body.

Do what works best man. Good Luck!

wow 7.30 -8.00 am is SUP3R DOOP3R early huh?

Thats what i thought, i am at the office by 8am every day, i wish i could sleep to 7:30 and get up "super early" LOL, Kids!

LOL! Some people lack common sense and doesn't realize that other shifts DO exist.

How about both you get the fuck over yourselves and focus on the OP. Wow. That's incredible, LoL. You two gotten over yourselves yet?

I'll give you a few.




Anyway, have you tried taking any natural remedies for your sleep? My girlfriend swears by Melatonin.

LOL! Some people lack common sense and doesn't realize that other shifts DO exist.

How about both you get the fuck over yourselves and focus on the OP. Wow. That's incredible, LoL. You two gotten over yourselves yet?

I'll give you a few.




Anyway, have you tried taking any natural remedies for your sleep? My girlfriend swears by Melatonin.

Thanks man! haha! +rep! I thought it was gonna be another "lawl you lazy bum. i get up early like a pro all the time", but I'm glad i got someone defending me hah.

Yeah I've been taking a lot of homeopathic stuff like i said. But I really am gonna try that Melatonin stuff. I hear its fantastic.

Well, to start off, I'm a very creative person, and I've heard creative people often struggle with insomnia. I've had insomnia off and on for a good 6 months (even before I started smoking) and I use to try to avoid caffein, drink lots of water, and take certain homeopathic sleeping pills to get to sleep soundly and peacefully. Well since I've started smoking, I've been going to sleep great, drinking caffein, and no more sleeping pills. Nothing puts me to sleep better than cannabis. But heres the catch, I only get that kind of sleep when I smoke before bed or earlier that day.

I've recently just started my tolerance break, and I tried going to sleep the first night of not smoking, and I couldn't sleep for the life of me. I tried everything! So I wound up smoking a tiny bowl out of my dug out, and went to sleep right away.

So here's my dilemma. I love smoking weed and the awesome, peaceful sleep I get with it, but I don't want to be dependent on it incase I have to sleep without it, or if I'm traveling and have none. I want to be able to go to sleep like a normal person, you know?

I guess I don't really have a big question here. Just looking for a little advice.

Got anything to add, GC?

Wow I'd just like to say that I empathize...this is exactly like me. I have had sleeping troubles all my life, even when I was a little kid I could never sleep right. In high school, when it really began effecting my school work I was prescribed lots of different sleeping meds but they always made me too drowsy in the morning, or I felt unrested.

I like what someone said about Melatonin, but to be honest it's just not effective as marijuana. I took melatonin for years and I could never decide if it was even helpful at all, or mostly just a psychological thing because most of the time it wouldn't work. I smoked weed in high school but not to the extent that I do now. Now, like you, if I try to stop and built up my tolerance I literally can't sleep, or can only sleep a few hours and I give in and smoke a bowl.

I wish people like us could get MMJ cards! It's the only drug that has effectively worked for me that has been non-addictive and doesn't seem to interrupt my REM sleep. Hang in there you aren't alone

Hell yes, i love sleeping high.
it feels so natural and easy, and doesn't take 30 mins +

I myself have been dealing with insomnia for a while. I also have other conditions that can be the cause but I tried melatonin for a while and it worked. But after a while I think my body got used to it. Then I started smoking before I went to bed and it helped make me tired and eventually put me to sleep.
The only hint that I can tell you is to put everything to rest at least 15 minutes before you go to sleep. Don't just turn the TV/computer off and hope to get to sleep in 5 minutes. I find myself laying there for a while.

If you haven't tired melatonin I would try it first try the pills about 3-6mgs. Be careful one time I took more and ended up waking up "drunk" in the morning, not a fun time. I once opened the pills and put them in apple sauce and they worked faster and actually put me to sleep (this was after I found them not working and decided to try anyway).
Good luck and keep on dreaming