How does Marijuana disrupt your sleep?

Marijuana, particularly THC, can disrupt sleep patterns and architecture, impacting sleep quality 1. THC can accelerate the onset of non-consciousness and lead to faster sleep initiation, but it's not the ideal type of sleep 1. Notably, marijuana can block REM sleep, leading to fewer dreams remembered during use and intense dreams upon cessation, a sign of REM sleep rebound 2.

THC creates a dependency where the more it is used for sleep, the more is needed for the same effect, and abrupt cessation can cause severe rebound insomnia 2. Long-term consumption of THC can lead to overall mental and metabolic health implications due to impaired mitochondrial function 3. It's also worth noting that THC's high potency in competing with endogenous cannabinoids can lead to dependence and disrupted brain states when not ingested 4.

Thus, while marijuana may help some people fall asleep, the architecture of that sleep is suboptimal compared to natural sleep, potentially resulting in less restorative rest 5.