Delta 8 THC and Sleep

There are tons of sleep aids currently on the market, but people are turning to healthier alternatives like Delta 8 THC to promote better sleeping habits—and for good reason.

Delta 8 THC is a lesser-known cannabinoid that is gaining popularity for its relaxing and calming effects. Using Delta 8 for sleep offers a natural, plant-derived approach with little to no side effects compared to many other prescription medications and over-the-counter sleep aids. Whether you want to fall asleep faster, stay asleep longer, or prevent sleep disruption, Delta 8 THC could be beneficial for you. 

Get our Delta 8 gummies and experience the benefits yourself.

What is Delta 8 THC? 

Delta 8 THC is a minor cannabinoid found in low concentrations in cannabis plants. It has mildly psychoactive effects with about half the potency of its more well-known companion, Delta 9 THC. People use Delta 8 because it promotes relaxation, enhances mood, relieves pain and anxiety, stimulates appetite, and improves sleep. 

How Can Delta 8 Help You Sleep? 

Ending your sleepless nights is crucial for your overall health and well-being. Incorporating Delta 8 THC into your nightly routine could help you create more healthy sleeping habits. Delta 8 interacts with the endocannabinoid system (ECS) in the body. This system plays a critical role in regulating various physiological functions, including your sleep cycles. The ECS consists of neurotransmitters and cannabinoid receptors (CB1 and CB2 receptors). 

When Delta 8 is consumed, it binds to these receptors to influence their activity in various parts of the central and peripheral nervous systems. The binding affinity Delta 8 has with CB1 receptors is what helps this cannabinoid regulate sleep. 

Delta 8 can modulate your sleep-wake cycle by regulating the release of neurotransmitters that are involved in sleep regulation, like melatonin. Melatonin is known as the “sleep hormone” and is produced by the body to regulate your internal clock. 

Studies have shown melatonin is effective in increasing REM sleep percentages to maintain balanced sleep patterns throughout the night. Low levels of melatonin could result in sleep issues like insomnia and other sleep disorders. 

Our collection of melatonin gummies is fast-acting, plant-based edibles made with natural ingredients and flavors. They come in full-spectrum and broad-spectrum CBD options so you can find a natural sleep routine that works for you. 

Delta 8 promotes sleep by reducing anxiety and stress that could impact sleep quality. When Delta 8 binds to activate the CB1 receptors, it regulates the release of neurotransmitters like serotonin and dopamine. 

Serotonin is involved in mood and happiness. Dopamine is involved in reward and pleasure. Low levels of serotonin and dopamine could cause depression, anxiety, and sleep disturbances. (Read more about using THC for depression.) By relaxing the mind and body, Delta 8 can help people feel a sense of calm before bedtime. 

People who experience ongoing pain may feel discomfort, restlessness, and difficulty relaxing their bodies at night. Delta 8’s analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties could potentially alleviate pain and discomfort that makes it hard to fall asleep. Studies have offered high-quality evidence to support THC’s ability to treat chronic pain conditions. 

Preliminary studies show THC has the potential to treat people with sleep apnea. Low doses of THC stabilized respiratory patterns during sleep, but more research needs to be done on humans to determine its effects. 

Incorporate our CBD gummies for sleep into your nightly routine to help you create a healthy sleep cycle. All of our sleep gummies are derived from hemp extracts that are federally compliant based on the 2018 Farm Bill. 

How Can You Use Delta 8 THC for Sleep? 

There are many ways you can take Delta 8 THC to get a good night’s sleep. Some of the most popular THC products include:  

• THC flower: This refers to the dried buds of the cannabis plant. Traditional THC usage involves breaking up the buds, rolling them in paper, and smoking them. Some people also infuse THC flower into teas and other extracts. 
• THC vapes: Vaping involves inhaling Delta 8 extracts through a vape pen or vape cartridge. This method allows for quick absorption in the bloodstream but is difficult to properly dose. THC vape cartridges are not the preferred method of consumption due to the carcinogens you’re exposed to when inhaling. 
• THC capsules: These are gel capsules or pill forms of cannabis that are convenient and easy to take. Capsules make for a more consistent dosing of cannabis. 
• THC drops. Try our Extra Strength Sleep Drops for a custom-formulated blend of American hemp-derived CBD, THC, and other rare cannabinoids.
• THC drinks: THC drinks can come in pre-made beverages or as tinctures. Tinctures are liquid extracts that can be taken under the tongue or added to a drink. Our THC drink mix is a great addition to any beverage. 
• THC edibles: Edibles are cannabis-infused treats that often come in chocolate or THC gummy form. They’re known to have the longest-lasting effects of any other consumption method and offer the most precise dosing. Try our Sleep Plus gummies with CBD, Delta 9 THC, and melatonin. 

When choosing the best delivery method for you, look for products from reputable brands that prioritize quality and safety. All of our vegan gummies have been tested by a third party with lab results to ensure their purity and are made with 100% organic hemp that is pesticide-free. (Read more about the best THC microdosing products.)

How Much Delta 8 THC Should You Take to Sleep? 

When using Delta 8 for sleep, starting low and going slow is the best approach. You can gradually increase your dose as needed. Each person responds to THC differently, so finding the optimal dosage that promotes sleep without unwanted side effects is key. (Read more about dosing Delta 8 products.) 

That’s why people choose to microdose THC. Microdosing is the practice of taking ultra-low doses of THC (10 mg or less) to avoid adverse effects of psychoactivity. By taking small amounts, people can still experience the benefits of THC without feeling intensely high or impaired. (Read more about the benefits of microdosing THC.) 

You don’t need more than 10 mg of THC for sleep. Starting low with 1-2 mg of THC could be enough for you. 

How Long Does it Take for Delta 8 THC to Kick In? 

How long Delta 8 will take to kick in depends on a variety of factors including how you’re using it and your metabolism. Your metabolism will impact how quickly the body breaks down and processes Delta 8. 

Your method of consumption also affects the onset time of using cannabinoid products. Smoking cannabis with disposable vapes or Delta 8 flower enters the bloodstream rather quickly because they do not have to go through a digestive process. You can begin to feel the effects in as little as 10 minutes. Tinctures also have a quick onset of about 5-10 minutes after ingestion. 

Capsules and gummies take longer to feel the effects because the product has to be broken down by the digestive system before entering the bloodstream. You can expect edibles to kick in around 30-60 minutes after use. Even though the effects of edibles take longer to occur, the advantage is that they have longer-lasting effects than other methods of consumption. 

Is Delta 8 Legal? 

After the 2018 Farm Bill created a legal distinction between hemp and marijuana, hemp-derived THC products became federally legal. Hemp refers to cannabis plants that have no more than 0.3% THC by dry weight. Marijuana refers to cannabis plants that have more than 0.3% THC by dry weight. This means Delta 8 is federally legal when derived from the hemp plant. 

All of our full-spectrum CBD gummies are made in compliance with this bill. 

Is Delta 8 or Delta 9 Better for Sleep? 

Deciding whether to take Delta 8 vs. Delta 9 for sleep varies from person to person. Both cannabinoids have potential sedative effects but impact the body differently. This is due to a slight difference in their molecular structure. Delta 8 and Delta 9 both have a double bond on one of their carbon atoms. Delta 8’s is on the 8th carbon atom and Delta 9 is on the 9th carbon atom. 

Research has shown that Delta 8 offers many of the same benefits as Delta 9 THC with fewer side effects. This is because Delta 8 has half the potency of Delta 9, making it more tolerable in higher doses. Delta 9 has a positive influence on sleep when taken in microdoses because it offers a milder experience. (Learn more about whether Delta 8 or Delta 9 is better for you.) 

Our Relax Plus Gummies in all-natural fresh watermelon flavors are perfect for calming the mind and body with a light buzz. 

Is THC or CBD Better for Sleep?

Both CBD and THC have sleep benefits. CBD is the major non-psychoactive cannabinoid in the plant. It interacts with the ECS by indirectly influencing the activity of the CB1 and CB2 receptors. 

Like THC, CBD can promote relaxation, reduce anxiety, alleviate pain, and help regulate the sleep-wake cycle. Studies show promise for CBD in improving sleep and dream issues caused by PTSD. People using CBD experienced fewer nightmares and sleep disturbances. 

Since THC is the most psychoactive component of cannabis, it’s a more dose-dependent option for sleep. (Read more about microdosing THC for sleep.)

There are many CBD products on the market, like CBD vapes and other oil extracts. Our sleep gummies are top-tier vegan, gluten-free, 100% USA hemp-derived edibles that will help you conquer your sleep issues. 

When deciding between CBD vs. THC for sleep, it could be best to consider taking the two cannabinoids together. Research points to a cannabis synergy that occurs between the compounds of the plant. This scientific hypothesis is known as the entourage effect. 

Though more studies need to be done to further prove if the entourage effect is real, it refers to how taking multiple compounds of cannabis together can enhance each other’s benefits. While the entourage is not something you can feel, this whole-plant medicinal phenomenon offers a more balanced cannabis experience with a wider range of effects than when taking an isolated cannabinoid by itself. 

This synergy includes CBN, too, a minor cannabinoid that has sedative effects. Using CBN for sleep can regulate the sleep-wake cycle, enhancing one’s ability to fall asleep and stay asleep longer. (Read more about taking CBN gummies for sleep.) 

We have a collection of CBN sleep gummies that contain CBD and melatonin, but no THC.

Citations:

Melatonin in patients with reduced REM sleep duration: two randomized controlled trials - PubMed. (2004, January 1). PubMed. https://doi.org/10.1210/jc.2002-021057

Medical Marijuana for Treatment of Chronic Pain and Other Medical and Psychiatric Problems: A Clinical Review - PubMed. (2015, June 1). PubMed. https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.2015.6199

Kaul, M., Zee, P. C., & Sahni, A. S. (2021, February 12). Effects of Cannabinoids on Sleep and their Therapeutic Potential for Sleep Disorders. PubMed Central (PMC). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13311-021-01013-w

Farm Bill. (n.d.). Farm Bill | USDA. https://www.usda.gov/farmbill

Kruger, J. S., & Kruger, D. J. (2022, January 4). Delta-8-THC: Delta-9-THC’s nicer younger sibling? PubMed Central (PMC). https://doi.org/10.1186/s42238-021-00115-8

Kaul, M., Zee, P. C., & Sahni, A. S. (2021, February 12). Effects of Cannabinoids on Sleep and their Therapeutic Potential for Sleep Disorders. PubMed Central (PMC). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13311-021-01013-w

Russo, E. B. (n.d.). Taming THC: potential cannabis synergy and phytocannabinoid-terpenoid entourage effects. PubMed Central (PMC). https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1476-5381.2011.01238.x

The National Cancer Institute and Cannabis and Cannabinoids Research - PubMed. (2021, November 28). PubMed. https://doi.org/10.1093/jncimonographs/lgab014

New Insights into Antimetastatic and Antiangiogenic Effects of Cannabinoids. (2014, December 18). New Insights Into Antimetastatic and Antiangiogenic Effects of Cannabinoids - ScienceDirect. https://doi.org/10.1016/bs.ircmb.2014.10.005

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