Welcome to The Straight Dope, our weekly series that explores the best cannabis products in Michigan.
I found myself tossing and turning the other night, thinking about deadlines, bills, and the state of our country.
Frustrated, I reached for a heavy indica and took a few puffs.
Almost immediately, the storm in my head quieted down, and my muscles eased up.
About 20 minutes later, I was out cold.
Cannabis has long been known for its relaxing properties. But for those struggling to sleep, it can make a real difference. Whether you’re dealing with chronic insomnia, stress-induced restlessness, or occasional bouts of sleeplessness, the right type of cannabis can help you doze off.
But what are the right types of cannabis? As I’d find out while researching this, there are more effective ways to use cannabis for sleep than smoking weed.
And luckily for us, Michigan’s dispensaries are full of products to help you sleep. They range from gummies and tinctures to vapes and transdermal patches.
I visited some dispensaries to learn more.
But first, here’s what we know about cannabis: It interacts with the body’s endocannabinoid system, which plays an important role in regulating sleep, mood, and stress.
Several cannabis compounds are associated with relaxation, stress-relief, and sleep. Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the psychoactive compound in marijuana, can have sedative effects, especially in indica-dominant strains and ones with sleep-inducing terpenes like myrcene.
Cannabidiol (CBD) can help with stress and anxiety, which are common causes of insomnia, while Cannabinol (CBN) is primarily known for its sedative effects.
A lesser-known compound, called Cannabigerol (CBG), is believed to reduce anxiety and stress and relieve muscle tension.
When taken together, these compounds are the most effective because they interact with each other to enhance relaxation and drowsiness.
It’s further proof that cannabis is a dynamic plant with a wide range of benefits that go far beyond getting high.
Sleep has become one of the primary reasons people use cannabis these days, and it represents a significant and expanding share of the market.
And it’s no wonder. Trouble sleeping is a serious concern in the U.S. Approximately 50 to 70 million Americans have sleep disorders, and about one-third of adults do not get enough uninterrupted sleep, according to SleepHealth.org.
A 2022 survey of more than 27,000 medical marijuana users in the U.S. and Canada found that nearly half used cannabis to address sleep issues. Another study published in Exploration of Medicine found that people felt more refreshed, focused, and functional in the morning when they used cannabis to induce sleep, as opposed to relying on a conventional sleep aid.
With so many cannabis products on the shelves, let’s look at what’s available for sleep.
Nature’s Remedy
At Nature’s Remedy, a Ferndale dispensary known for its focus on health and quality, the shelves and display cases are stocked with dozens of products for sleep — gummies, chocolates, tinctures, transdermal patches, a smokable CBN isolate, and more.
“Sleep is probably one of the biggest markets when it comes to cannabis right now,” manager Vincent Chimenti tells me.
Many of the products contain some combination of CBN, THC, CBD, and CBG.
Another popular choice is products with Rick Simpson Oil (RSO), which promotes deep relaxation and sedation due to its high THC concentration and full-spectrum cannabinoid profile.
For those who don’t want to get high, plenty of the products don’t contain THC.
“We have a lot of options for everyone,” Chimenti says.
The Hive
The Hive in Hazel Park is well-known for its high-quality flower grown in-house, but it’s also a great spot for those using cannabis for health reasons.
Carly Gilewski, the dispensary’s director of operations, is well-versed in using cannabis for everything from promoting sleep and a healthy gut to relieving pain, stress, and inflammation. She has become a passionate supporter of cannabis as a sleep aid because of her own experience.
With a history of sleeping troubles, her doctor previously prescribed her medicine to help her sleep, but she wanted something more natural and less dangerous.
“I didn’t feel comfortable taking prescription pulls, and I was worried I would feel the symptoms, like drowsiness, throughout the day,” Gilewski tells me. “I don’t want to destroy my liver to help me fall asleep. Cannabis is a great alternative for that. It has worked better than everything I’ve ever tried.”
Gilewski recommends CBN products that are paired with CBD, THC, or both. The Hive carries indica-enhanced gummies that include THC, CBD, and CBN, as well as other sleep enhancements.
The combination “is good for relaxation and sleep,” she says.
Curious how the combo worked, I bought a pack of 10 solventless hash rosin gummies from the Hive for about $20. The Good Tide gummies by Wyld come in a recyclable paper tube, and each passionate fruit gummy contains 10 mg of THC, 5 mg of CBD, and 5 mg of CBN.
On a recent night when I couldn’t sleep, I ate one of the gummies. About an hour later, I began to feel more relaxed. Within 90 minutes, my body felt light. My eyelids were heavy, and my worries faded away.
It had been a long time since I went to bed feeling that calm. Within 10 minutes of lying down, I was out cold.
I woke up the next morning feeling refreshed.
Lume Cannabis Co.
Lume Cannabis Co., a cultivator and chain of 38 dispensaries in Michigan, produces a packet of gummies for sleep. Called Dream, the indica gummies contain 10 mg of CBN and 5 mg of THC.
The Dream gummies are the company’s most popular edible, says Kevin Kuethe, Lume’s chief cultivation officer.
“We hear testimonies all of the time,” Kuethe says. “They really work well.”
Lume also makes Dream vapes with a high-potency THC distillate and a proprietary blend of CBN.
Kuethe says cannabis has proven to be a safe, effective sleep aid.
“One of the things that was really important to us at Lume is improving quality of life, and most people would agree that sleep is one of the most important ways to be healthy,” Kuethe says. “This product that is helping us is not synthetic. It came from nature. It’s a natural substance.”
Smoking flower
For those who want to smoke cannabis the old-fashioned way, another sleep option is smoking a heavy indica with myrcene or linalool terpenes. Both promote deep relaxation. Terpenes work alongside cannabinoids to enhance or modify the effects of THC, CBD, and other compounds.
But this isn’t for everyone. Many people say they have trouble sleeping after smoking flower or taking dabs, even if the strain is known for its sedative effects.
My favorite myrcene-rich strains to induce sleep are Donny Burger by GhostBudsters Farm, Face Meltz by Michigrown, Sherb Cream Pie by the Hive, Donkey Butter by Fractal Cannabis, Los Muertos by Hytek, and Jar Jar Stinks #21 by Michigan Loud Flower.
If you want us to sample your cannabis products, send us an email at [email protected].
