How to Avoid Feeling Sleepy When Consuming Cannabis

Cannabis is known to have many different therapeutic properties, such as being antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and analgesic. It helps people suffering from chronic pain, arthritis, depression, anxiety, PTSD, and so much more. Individuals living with life-altering medical conditions, such as epilepsy, Crohn’s disease, and ALS, often find relief through medicinal cannabinoid therapies.

However, cannabis has one effect that not everyone appreciates: It often makes you sleepy. Many people wonder if there’s a way to enjoy the benefits of cannabis without feeling sleepy, and the answer is yes.

Your method of consumption, the time of day, the product you’re consuming, the amount you’re consuming, and many other factors determine how cannabis affects you. One of the most important things you can do when consuming cannabis is to ensure you are hydrated before, during, and after consumption.

Will staying hydrated keep you from getting sleepy when consuming cannabis? No one really knows the exact answer. Some people say yes, and some people say no. Let’s take a closer look at how cannabis works and some potential ways to avoid feeling sleepy when consuming cannabis.

How Cannabis Works

Cannabis can work differently for everyone. Each person’s unique physiology and chemical profile can cause slightly different reactions from the same cannabis strains.

When you consume cannabis, the phytocannabinoids inside, such as THC, CBD, CBG, CBN, and others, bind to cannabinoid receptors that are part of the body’s endocannabinoid system. These receptors absorb certain amounts of cannabinoids. This results in improved communication between nerves and cells or increased cell signaling. The body’s endocannabinoid system works to help the body run more efficiently and toward achieving and maintaining homeostasis.

If you were to put it in the simplest terms, when you consume cannabis, it should make you feel good. If you’re battling anxiety and depression, you should notice a difference. If you’re fighting pain and inflammation, you should notice a difference after consuming cannabis. This applies to headaches, nausea, and many other symptoms that cannabis is reported to help with. Like anything, a person can build a tolerance to cannabis. This means the more of it you consume, and the more frequently you consume it, the more of it it will take to achieve the desired results you are after.

If you’re new to cannabis, remember to go low and slow, learning how it affects you and finding the right amount for the results you’re looking for. This amount is different for everybody. Not everyone has to be Cheech and Chong. One thing people can agree on is that cannabis can definitely help you relax. This isn’t always the case though. Sometimes cannabis can actually trigger anxiety. It is also known to give you energy.

Five Ways to Avoid Feeling Sleepy When Consuming Cannabis

Let’s explore some ways to consume cannabis without feeling sleepy.

CBD

If you’re looking to enjoy some of the benefits of cannabis without feeling sleepy, CBD is a great alternative. CBD is available in isolate, full spectrum, and broad spectrum. A CBD isolate is 99% pure CBD. Full Spectrum CBD contains everything found in cannabis, including 0.3% THC or less. Broad Spectrum THC contains all cannabinoids found in cannabis minus THC.

Any of these three options are great ways to receive benefits from cannabinoids without the worry of feeling sleepy or tired. In fact, many people report feeling clear-headed and energetic from CBD. Just be sure not to consume too much CBD, as some people report it causing restlessness and insomnia.

Consume at Night Before Bed

Consuming cannabis at night before you go to sleep is another great way to avoid feeling sleepy. You won’t feel sleepy because you’ll be asleep. You’ll still receive the benefits of cannabis while getting a good night’s rest. Waking up refreshed can give you a whole new outlook on your day.

Microdose

Consuming cannabis isn’t always about taking copious amounts of it. Microdosing with cannabis-infused edibles, tinctures, or capsules is a great way to maintain your cannabinoid level while avoiding unwanted side effects, such as feeling tired or sleepy.

Find the Right Strains

Finding the right cannabis strains is essential to avoiding that sleepy feeling. Some strains are stronger than others, and many of them carry effects that are similar yet different. Indica, sativa, and hybrid cannabis varieties all produced slightly different results.

Get to know cannabinoid profiles and terpene profiles to find strains that help you avoid that sleepy feeling. For example, look for cannabis strains with lower levels of THC and avoid the terpene linalool (a calming terpene commonly found in lavender) in your strains. Remember, indica and sativa don’t necessarily mean sleepy or perky. Indica and sativa are more so growing characteristics of plants rather than descriptions of their effects, but that’s an entire topic of its own.

Live a Healthy Lifestyle

By eating healthy foods, staying properly hydrated, and partaking in light-to-moderate exercise, you can avoid the potential of getting tired from consuming cannabis. Instead of getting tired, you might just find yourself feeling energized. When we discover a healthy lifestyle that works for us, it changes all kinds of things about our daily lives, including how much energy we have each day.

Cannabis can work differently for everyone. Keeping a cannabis journal is a great way to learn and remember what works best for you. By using tips like these and others, you should be able to enjoy cannabis without feeling sleepy.