-
What you will learn in this post:
According to the CDC, 14.5% of U.S. adults have difficulty falling asleep most days. The American Academy of Sleep Medicine estimates that between 30% and 35% of adults experience brief symptoms of insomnia and 10% of adults suffer from a chronic insomnia disorder.
Given the prevalence of sleep difficulties, it’s no surprise that in 2020 the CDC found that 8.4% of American adults took some form of sleep medication.
Melatonin is a popular natural alternative to pharmaceutical sleep aids. It works by utilizing the body’s biological mechanisms to bring about sleep without the use of strong sedatives. Cannabis is another natural substance that people often turn to for help getting a good night’s sleep. There are multiple components in the plant that have demonstrated the potential to help users bring on some much-needed rest.
Melatonin can be found relatively easily over the counter in grocery and drug stores, and it is often added to cannabis edibles marketed as sleep aids. This has left many consumers wondering if combining the two sleep aids is safe.
What is Melatonin?
Melatonin is a hormone that is naturally produced by the body. It plays a crucial role in maintaining the body’s sleep cycles. Though the underlying science is complicated, the basic idea is fairly straightforward. When it gets dark, the body ramps up the production of melatonin to bring about sleep. Once the eyes detect light, the body slows down melatonin production, signaling the body to wake up.
While the body produces its own melatonin, it doesn’t always make enough. Melatonin supplements increase the amount of melatonin in the body to help trigger sleep. Melatonin is also found in certain fruits and vegetables, like bananas and cherries (though the natural sugars in these fruits may counteract any sleep benefits for some consumers).
People use melatonin to help get to sleep for various reasons. Common reasons people turn to melatonin are:
- Insomnia symptoms
- Jet lag
- Traumatic brain injury
- Insomnia brought on by age
- Neurological and neurodegenerative disorders
- Trouble sleeping related to working late or night shifts
Melatonin doesn’t have much in the way of side effects, but the most commonly occurring include:
- Sleepiness during the day / unwanted drowsiness
- Nausea
- Headaches
While melatonin is generally considered safe, experts warn against using melatonin while pregnant or breastfeeding.
Melatonin and Weed: Interactions and Risks
Both cannabis and melatonin are known to promote sleep, so it’s easy to see why people would consider the two a natural pair. However, there hasn’t been much research into the interactions between the two.
A 2016 study investigated the effects of cannabis, melatonin, and vitamin C on male reproductive health. Though it was an animal study, it did find that the combination of cannabis and melatonin could have a negative effect on sperm and testicular health. Interestingly, the study found that adding vitamin C to the mix could actually mitigate the effects.1
Most of the concern around combining cannabis and melatonin comes from the more pronounced drowsiness they can cause when taken together. One study from 1986 suggests that cannabis may increase melatonin production in the body, which could lead to even more tiredness than expected.2
What are the Benefits of Taking Melatonin with Weed?
The benefit of combining cannabis and melatonin is the same as the risk; they both make you sleepy.
If you’re having difficulty falling asleep, combining cannabis and melatonin may lead to more potent effects than either offers independently. Some products marketed for sleep troubles combine cannabinoids, often hemp-derived CBD, with melatonin. And while research is limited, antecdotal evidence suggests that there may not be much risk when both are taken together. However, because the level of drowsiness can be unpredictable, it is generally recommended to speak with your doctor before combining the two.
Precautions to Take When Using Melatonin and Marijuana
While many consumers argue it is safe to take melatonin and cannabis simultaneously, there are steps you can take to ensure a safer experience.
Most importantly, never drive, operate machinery, or do anything potentially dangerous after using cannabis and melatonin. The combination could make you too tired to function properly. It’s also important to remember that cannabis may increase the body’s natural melatonin production. Taking a high dose of melatonin along with cannabis could lead to too much melatonin in the body. While the risks associated with this aren’t generally severe, it can lead to drowsiness the next day.
If you plan on using melatonin along with cannabis, it’s best to speak with your doctor to understand how the combination may affect you (and what you can do to have a safe, healthy experience).
When to Seek Medical Help
If you’re still having trouble getting to sleep and staying asleep with melatonin or cannabis (or both), it’s best to seek medical help. There may be an underlying medical or psychological condition that needs to be addressed to alleviate sleep difficulties.
Both cannabis and melatonin are generally safe. In fact, there’s little to no evidence that either substance can be fatal, even at extremely high doses. That said, high levels of either can cause unpleasant side effects.
Watch out for the following side effects of using too much melatonin:
- Rashes
- Headaches
- Insomnia
- Disturbed sleep and nightmares
- Gastritis
If you experience any of the above symptoms while taking a melatonin supplement, consult your physician. And if you feel seriously unwell or have concerns about your health, seek medical attention immediately.
Which is Better for Sleep Disorders: Melatonin or Weed?
Melatonin is generally a successful supplement to help people get to bed. After all, it’s the same hormone that the body uses to induce sleep. However, melatonin is best for falling asleep rather than staying asleep since the effects don’t last long. Melatonin also may not be potent enough to help manage serious sleep disorders, which may call for prescription medication.
Cannabis isn’t as harsh as prescription sleep aids, but it’s more forceful than melatonin. Cannabinoids can last much longer in the body. Inhaled cannabis typically lasts about 2-3 hours, while edibles can last 6-8 hours, making them ideal for many consumers looking to stay asleep through the night.
There’s a growing body of evidence that cannabis is effective at treating a range of sleep-related conditions, especially insomnia and RLS.3 It’s also widely considered to be effective for more specific conditions, like PTSD, which causes sleep disturbances because of vivid nightmares. Patients with PTSD frequently report that cannabis reduces the frequency of nightmares, allowing them to get better quality sleep.
Cannabis is also commonly prescribed to alleviate chronic pain and inflammation, two major causes of sleeplessness.
It should be noted that for some people, cannabis can negatively affect sleep. And some studies have indicated that longer-term cannabis use may actually decrease sleep quality.
Both cannabis and melatonin are relatively successful sleep aids. Melatonin is a less forceful sleep aid that works with the body’s natural sleep cycles. It’s great for falling asleep, but may not help with staying asleep. Meanwhile, cannabis may help with more substantial sleep troubles, but it might not work for everyone.
Cannabis Alternatives for Melatonin
Certain cannabis cultivars are better for sleep than others. The conventional wisdom has always been that "sativas" are for feeling awake and energized, while "indicas" are for relaxing and getting to sleep. However, more research points to the ratio of cannabinoids and terpenes present in the plant as being more important than an indica or sativa label.4
Terpenes are the natural plant compounds that give cannabis its distinct flavor and smell. It doesn’t stop there, though; these fascinating natural chemicals have their own effects. Common cannabis terpenes, like myrcene and linalool, may promote sleep and relaxation. Look out for cultivars with high concentrations of these terpenes for help getting some shuteye.
For people looking for a non-intoxicating cannabis experience, CBD can also provide sleep benefits. The cannabinoid has been shown effective in many situations, and there are a range of CBD sleep products available. Terpenes also come into play with CBD as well, and you can find CBD products, including flower, that are rich in terpenes best suited for rest.
However you choose to use cannabis for sleep, there are many product options that may help. For some consumers, cannabis can help with sleep itself. For others, it may help alleviate the underlying cause of sleeplessness, like pain or anxiety. If you think cannabis is the right sleep aid for you, find a medical cannabis doctor that can answer your questions and help you build the ideal treatment program for your situation.
References
1. Alagbonsi IA, Olayaki LA, Salman TM. Melatonin and vitamin C exacerbate Cannabis sativa-induced testicular damage when administered separately but ameliorate it when combined in rats. Journal of Basic and Clinical Physiology and Pharmacology. 2016;27(3). doi:https://doi.org/10.1515/jbcpp-2015-0061
2. Lissoni P, Resentini M, Mauri R, et al. Effects of Tetrahydrocannabinol on Melatonin Secretion in Man. Hormone and Metabolic Research. 1986;18(01):77-78. doi:https://doi.org/10.1055/s-2007-1012235
3. Kaul M, Zee PC, Sahni AS. Effects of Cannabinoids on Sleep and their Therapeutic Potential for Sleep Disorders. Neurotherapeutics. Published online February 12, 2021. doi:https://doi.org/10.1007/s13311-021-01013-w
4. Sommano SR, Chittasupho C, Ruksiriwanich W, Jantrawut P. The Cannabis Terpenes. Molecules. 2020;25(24):5792. Published 2020 Dec 8. doi:10.3390/molecules25245792
The information in this article and any included images or charts are for educational purposes only. This information is neither a substitute for, nor does it replace, professional legal advice or medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. If you have any concerns or questions about laws, regulations, or your health, you should always consult with an attorney, physician or other licensed professional.
