CBD flower is an excellent natural alternative to OTC drugs. It offers more benefits and has fewer side effects. These are the most sleepy strains for 2022.
9 CBD Strains for Sleep
As I peruse the many large CBD flower websites, looking for new strains, I am struck by the complexity of lab results and strain names.
Is it really necessary to make buying CBD flower so complicated? How can I find the best CBD strain for anxiety, sleep, and other symptoms?
People smoke CBD flower to relieve a particular pain point in their lives. It could be stress, anxiety, or pain. Most people turn to CBD flowers to aid in sleeping and dealing with insomnia.
I would rather skip turning to OTC prescriptions for sleep that make me feel drowsy, in a fog, or worse, cause dependence. I want a natural remedy for my sleep problems.
When it comes to CBD and sleep, oils and tinctures are most commonly recommended. Not smokeable flower. Also, there is no clear way to help consumers navigate and know the difference between Frosted Kush and Pineapple Haze.
The questions in this article will help you make an informed decision regarding your next CBD flower purchase.
9 CBD Strains for Sleep: What To Expect
It can be difficult to understand what to expect from CBD flower. This is because every individual responds differently to CBD and cannabinoids in general.
To help you fall asleep at night, it is important to first calm your mind and relax your body. Avoid checking your phone and try to focus on your breathing to help with spiraling and racing thoughts.
To get the most out of smoking your CBD flower for sleep, turn off your phone and let yourself be completely immersed in the experience of smoking a CBD joint.
9 CBD Strains for Sleep: Don’t Expect THC
We must also address those who expect similar effects from CBD and THC flowers.
Many people have expressed their concerns about CBD. Claiming that it is disappointing and has no effect. This is largely due to people expecting THC from CBD…
There is a large misconception within parts of the cannabis community that CBD is here to compete with THC.
This is simply false.
THC and CBD are two completely different compounds with varying chemical compositions. If it had the same effects as THC, CBD would be regulated in the same way.
CBD is federally legal and THC is not.
Although they come from the same plant, they produce very different effects.
You can instead look at THC vs. CBD like grape juice vs. wine. They are consumed for different reasons and yield completely different results.
Wine is intoxicating, like THC. Grape juice is non-intoxicating and is used mainly for its health benefits or cooling off on a hot day.
I recommend that anyone who is interested in CBD flower and smoking cannabis should get creative. If you are already a THC user, mix in the CBD flower in different ratios and see how it affects you differently.
If you want a little buzz but have things to do, go for a 50/50 ratio of CBD flower to THC flower and see how the CBD balances out the buzz from the THC. CBD is not psychoactive, but instead, it causes relaxation and can help counteract the effects of a strong THC high.
A Sleep Aid That is Quick and Easy
Contrary to CBD oils that are for sleep, which can take up to 30 minutes to feel the effect, CBD flower can give you almost immediate relaxation.
This is because tinctures must enter your bloodstream through blood vessels under your tongue and edibles must pass through your liver before they can enter your blood.
However, smoking is effective almost immediately. Your shoulders, neck, and back will begin to relax and soften. You might notice your eyebrows dropping and your eyelids getting heavy depending on the strain (more details below).
If you are not a fan of smoking flower, you can opt for gummies or oils. We recommend taking them around an hour before bed to help with sleep.
CBD in Lower Doses May Boost Energy
There are some studies that show that CBD in low doses can actually increase energy levels and leave you feeling more alert than sleepy.
So, if you are looking to use CBD as a sleep aid, it is advised to take a higher dose rather than starting slow.
One full CBD pre-roll should be enough to get your body feeling relaxed and sleepy enough to enjoy a good night’s rest.
Potentially the Best Natural and Most Effective Sleep Aid
Yes, prescription and over-the-counter sleep medicine may be more effective. But, the real question is what else might be in the bottle? What other side effects are possible and how might they affect you?
CBD flower taps into the body’s endocannabinoid system using 100% natural methods to provide a peaceful night’s sleep. It does not force melatonin levels to increase or dull our natural energy levels and systems.
Taking CBD for sleep is a more natural and holistic approach to calming the body and the nervous system.
CBD flower has no known side effects and no long-term dizziness associated with many prescription drugs.
Selecting the right CBD flower variety for sleep
As we mentioned earlier, it can be quite daunting to choose the right CBD strain for you. Vendors are not always the best at breaking down the differences between strains and their effects.
You might get a response from them indicating whether the strain is an Indica or Sativa or maybe even what the dominant terpenes are in each strain.
What does it all mean for the general consumer? How can we tell which strain will increase my energy and which will get me to sleep?
To make informed decisions about your CBD flower, you should learn about the CBD percentage, total cannabinoid %, and terpene profiles.
CBD Percentages
It is easy to become obsessed with the CBD percentage the same way we get addicted to CBD oil or gummies. When buying CBD flower, it is easy to mistakenly believe that the CBD percentage is the Alpha or Omega of effects.
Yes, the CBD percentage can give you an indication of the strain’s potency. However, it does not tell you how CBD acts in concert with other cannabinoids, terpenes, and phytonutrients in the plant.
The Indica/Sativa dichotomy does not capture the whole picture.
CBN and CBG are other cannabinoids that have great effects on your sleeping patterns and the body’s anti-anxiety and inflammatory mechanisms.
Since these cannabinoids are different than CBD, they are not counted in the total CBD percentage in the flower. Despite having an important role in the overall effects of the flower.
Why Looking at Total Cannabinoids is Important
Cannabinoids deliver the most healing benefits when they are working in synergy together. This has been proven in the phenomenon known as the ‘entourage effect.’
So, when you are looking for CBD flower, look for the complete cannabinoid breakdown.
Look for the strain’s total cannabinoid percentage in the third-party lab test. Always make sure wherever you are sourcing your CBD flower from that the vendor provides a third-party lab test. This is important to ensure quality, potency, accuracy, and safety.
In addition, source from a credible CBD vendor.
The total cannabinoid content usually includes CBG, CBN, CBC, THC-a, THC-v, etc. You should also be able to see the terpenes present in that particular strain.
As we mentioned earlier, the way that all of the cannabinoids and terpenes work in concert together is known as the entourage effect and is known to deliver the most potent healing effects.
Furthermore, it is important to see the lab tests and distinguish which cannabinoids and terpenes are present in the strain you are purchasing. This will help determine if the strain is good for sleep or not.
In addition, it is the only real way to accurately measure the potency of CBD flower.
Terpenes
Cannabis, along with other botanicals has volatile compounds that are responsible for their aromatic profiles. These are called terpenes.
We go over what terpenes are in more depth in this article: Cannabis and Terpenes: What Are Terpenes?
Terpenes are organic compounds that are common in nature. They are responsible for the scent and flavor of plants, flowers, trees, and other organic substances. Cannabis and hemp are naturally high in terpenes, which is why they can be so therapeutic and aromatic.
There are hundreds upon hundreds of terpenes present in the hemp plant, but the most well-known and therapeutic are typically boiled to these 13.
These 13 main terpenes include some that can boost mood and stimulate the immune system and others that can be sedating or tranquilizing.
- Bisabolol
- Borneol
- Beta-caryophyllene – SLEEPY
- Farnesene
- Geraniol
- Humulene
- Limonene
- Linalool – SLEEPY
- Myrcene – SLEEPY
- Ocimene
- Pinene
- Terpineol – SLEEPY
- Valencene
When you are looking for a CBD strain for sleep, be sure to look at the terpene profile to verify that the strain matches your individual needs.
9 CBD Strains for Sleep
While keeping in mind everything we covered so far in this article about cannabinoid profile and potencies, and terpenes, here are some of the best strains known for helping with sleep.
Here is a guide to some strains that are known to help with sleep in case you don’t have access to terpene profiles and the like. However, we strongly recommend that you always look at the lab results before consuming them.
Most strains with a name that contains Kush will help you sleep. Avoid strains that have Haze as their name, as these strains can be very energetic and uplifting.
Bubba Kush
This strain is an excellent option for sleep as it has a high cannabinoid content and very potent effects.
9 CBD Strains for Sleep
- Bubba Kush
- The Wife
- Special Sauce
- Sunset Road Sherbet
- Magic Bullet
- Frosted Kush
- El Jefe
- Remedy
- CBG Flower