How Much Delta 8 Should You Take For Sleep?

It’s no secret that using THC for sleep has been deemed beneficial. As Delta 8 THC grows in popularity, people are wondering how they can utilize this cannabinoid for getting a good night’s rest.

Less well known than its more potent cousin, Delta 9 THC, Delta 8 is best known for promoting relaxation and offering calming effects. When using this cannabinoid to improve your sleep, you want to be sure you’re taking healthy doses of Delta 8 THC to get the most out of its benefits and avoid side effects.

What is Delta 8 THC?

Delta 8 THC is a minor cannabinoid found in low concentrations of cannabis plants. Even though Delta 8 has roughly half the potency of Delta 9, it can still have psychoactive effects when taken in high doses. When used in low doses, Delta 8 induces mild euphoria without making you feel “high.” While Delta 8 is found in cannabis in trace amounts, it is most commonly extracted from CBD from the hemp plant through a chemical conversion process.

There are many potential benefits of using Delta 8 THC, some of which are:

• Relief from pain and inflammation
• Lower anxiety
• Induced relaxation and calmness
• Improved sleep

Delta 8 interacts with the body through the endocannabinoid system. This cell-signaling system in the brain consists of neurotransmitters called endocannabinoids that send messages to cannabinoid receptors (CB1 and CB2). These receptors assist in maintaining the body’s overall homeostasis.

The endocannabinoid system plays a key role in some major bodily functions, including:

• Immune responses
• Pain and inflammatory control
• Learning and memory
• Emotional processing
• Body temperature
• Sleep

There are more CB1 receptors than any other receptors in the brain. This receptor focuses on things like memory, emotion, and pain regulation. CB2 receptors are found mostly in the body’s immune tissue, assisting in immune and pain responses.

Cannabis compounds like Delta 8 THC can interact with the CB1 and CB2 receptors in this system much like endocannabinoids do. Delta 8 THC binds to the cannabinoid receptors in the body to generate a response and help control receptor activity levels.

If you want to try Delta 8 for sleep, grab some of our Delta 8 gummies, made from 100% American-derived hemp that has been third-party lab tested for quality assurance and all-natural ingredients. Each vegan Delta 8 THC gummy has a low dose of just 12.5 mg of THC per serving in passion fruit and wild peach flavors. These gummies, along with all of our edibles, are made in compliance with the 2018 Farm Bill meaning that they are federally legal across the US.

Delta 8 THC and Sleep

When it comes to improving your sleeping habits, Delta 8 THC could be your saving grace as a natural sleeping aid. Its calming and sedative properties help relax the mind and body before you fall asleep. Using Delta 8 can help you realign your circadian rhythms and regulate your sleep-wake cycle. By helping you fall asleep faster and stay asleep longer, you can kickstart your sleep patterns and improve your sleep hygiene.

A 2014 study strongly associated chronic pain with sleep disruption (no big surprise there). Given that Delta 8 helps regulate pain, it stands to reason that it can improve sleep in those plagued by pain. By helping to control pain signaling, Delta 8 can help those suffering from inflammatory conditions to relax and wind down. For example, many people with multiple sclerosis use THC because it calms the associated inflammatory pain and brings a mild euphoria to help them get a good night’s sleep.

People with anxiety are prone to experiencing sleep issues. A 2023 article revealed what everyone already knew: anxiety can lead to insomnia. Delta 8 improves anxiety by interacting with CB1 receptors. These receptors are known to produce anxiolytic-like behaviors that assist in reducing restlessness, irritability, and overactive thinking, which, in turn, benefits your sleep.

When purchasing Delta 8 products as a natural sleep aid, many people will look for hybrid or indica strains. Indica cannabis plants are known to be more sedating than their sibling plant, the sativa strain.

Read our guide about sativa vs. indica edibles to learn more about how to find a strain that meets your needs.

Dosing Delta 8 THC for Sleep

Delta 8’s effects on healthy sleeping are not the same for everyone. Deciding how much Delta 8 THC to take depends on a variety of factors, like:

• Your tolerance to THC
• Your current health and genetics
• Your delivery methods
• Your dosing amount

If you’ve never used Delta 8 for sleep before, it’s best to start with the lowest dose possible. As with most substances, the body builds a tolerance to them over time. In the beginning, taking too high a dose could lead to unwanted side effects, especially if you have other health conditions. When you start low, you can establish a baseline for how you react to Delta 8 products and increase your dose slowly.

When it comes to Delta 8 THC dosing, we’re big fans of microdosing. You can get all the benefits without any of the downsides. We recommend 5-15 mg doses.

Proper dosing of Delta 8 products for sleeping also depends on the product type you choose to consume. Some of the common ways to use Delta 8 THC for sleep are:

• Tinctures and oils
• Capsules and pills
• Gummies and edibles
• Vape cartridge

If you’re feeling uncertain about how you may react to different Delta 8 products, consider doing a trial run by taking half a serving size. Instead of taking the one recommended THC gummy, take half of it, or just one-half of a dropper of a THC tincture as opposed to the whole dropper.

How Long Does Delta 8 Take to Work for Sleep?

THC tinctures are usually taken as droplets under the tongue. Using Delta 8 this way has a quick onset, meaning you will start to feel the effects in as little as 10–15 minutes, and they can last for about two to four hours. This makes it great for those who need assistance falling asleep faster.

THC capsules are just as convenient to use, though they have a longer onset. You can expect to feel the effects between 45 minutes and two hours after consumption. Effects can last between four and six hours.

Our Extra Strength Sleep Drops are a full-spectrum cannabinoid product made from terpene-rich hemp extracts to offer you the epitome of a euphoric dream state. Our capsules are nano-infused, which improves the bioavailability of cannabinoid products, making them more enjoyable and potent.

THC vapes are hard to dose because of the challenges in measuring smoke puffs. Though they have the quickest onset of about 5–10 minutes, vaping is unhealthy due to the carcinogens consumed upon inhalation and is not generally recommended for use.

Using THC gummies and edibles has grown to be the most popular way to consume cannabis. Though the onset can be anywhere from 30 minutes to two hours because it must go through a digestive process, edibles are known to be the best option because their effects last between six and eight hours. This is especially useful for people suffering from sleep disruption in the middle of the night, a common side effect of many sleep disorders.

At nama, we pride ourselves on offering naturally tasty, high-quality cannabis edibles. Try our Euphoria THC Sour Gummies to experience the uplifting effects for yourself with a low dose of 10 mg of THC per serving. Our transparent labeling makes dosing our products easy and reliable with lab results to prove their efficiency.  

Side Effects of Delta 8 THC

Delta 8 THC is generally tolerable in low and moderate doses and is not known to cause a life-threatening overdose. However, using too much THC could cause side effects such as:

• Dry mouth
• Increased anxiety and heartbeat
• Dizziness
• Nausea

Thankfully, these side effects should only last a few hours, and hydration will help them subside. Consume Delta 8 safely by buying products from companies and brands that focus on quality and third-party validation.

When taking the recommended dose of our sleep gummies, you’ll know exactly what you’re getting with our full ingredient panel and instructions for consumption. Infused with customized ratios of cannabinoids, terpenes, and melatonin, this collection of edibles has broad-spectrum and full-spectrum products, so you can choose if you want THC blends or not.

If you want a sleep aid that doesn’t include THC, our melatonin gummies for adults are worth a try. These broad-spectrum gummies contain just 3 mg of melatonin and 25 mg of CBD in wild strawberry flavors. With our customized blend, you’ll never worry about feeling groggy in the morning.

Microdosing THC for Sleep

While some people use cannabis to feel high, cannabis does not have to be synonymous with psychoactivity. As more people discover the benefits of microdosing THC, it’s becoming more evident that when taken in low doses, THC will not cause you to feel high. Microdosing THC means using a very low dose to feel its effects without the psychoactivity.

A little THC goes a long way to improving sleep. A microdose of THC is 1-5 mg. 2.5mg to 5 mg of Delta 9 can induce mild euphoria and relaxation but are still considered microdoses of THC.

Delta 8 Legality

Delta 8 is federally legal when derived from hemp. The 2018 Farm Bill created a legal distinction between hemp and marijuana, making hemp production became federally legal because it contains no more than 0.3% THC by dry weight. However, some states do have their own restrictions on this law. For more on this, see our article about where Delta 8 is legal. Marijuana is still a controlled substance and is against the law at the federal level, even though some states have made it legal.

Every form of THC in nama’s edibles is a 100% American hemp product made in compliance with the Farm Bill’s regulations. Even our ever-popular THC drinks are made with microdoses of quality hemp THC, offer reliable dosing with minimal taste, and can be added to any drink.

Be mindful that even low amounts of Delta 8 can show up on your drug test.

Delta 8 vs. Delta 9 THC for Sleep

Delta 8 and Delta 9 have slightly different chemical structures. These THC molecules have a double bond in one of their carbon atoms at different places on the chain. Delta 9’s double bond is on the 9th carbon atom, and Delta 8’s double bond is on the 8th carbon atom.

Delta 9 THC is the major psychoactive cannabinoid in the cannabis plant and the type of THC most associated with the high feeling users are known to experience. Delta 9 has about double the potency of Delta 8 THC, so dosing the products for sleep is a bit different.

Both Delta 8 and Delta 9’s impacts on the CB1 receptors are linked to sedative properties. But whether Delta 8 or Delta 9 is better for improving sleep depends on tolerance. Delta 8 is more tolerable in higher doses than Delta 9. Taking too much Delta 9 could cause increased energy and a faster heart rate, which is counterproductive for sleep. If you want to use Delta 9 to promote a better night’s rest, microdosing is the only option we recommend.

Delta 8 THC vs. CBD for Sleep

Cannabidiol (CBD) is the main non-psychoactive cannabinoid in the cannabis plant. It is a well-tolerated substance offering a wide range of health benefits, including sleep.

Some of the most common ways to use this cannabinoid for sleep are:

• CBD topicals
• CBD capsules
• CBD tinctures
• CBD vapes
• CBD oils
• CBD edibles

Many people use CBD for stress and anxiety relief because it works with the body’s serotonin receptors to help reduce symptoms of panic and anxiety disorders. Much like THC, CBD can alleviate symptoms of inflammation and chronic pain disorders. By calming the mind and soothing pain, CBD products are useful for improving your sleep cycles. A 2019 study mentions that people who took CBD for sleep at high doses experienced higher quality and longer durations of rest.

The primary difference between CBD and THC is the way they interact with the body. CBD does not directly bind to CB1 and CB2 receptors as THC does. Instead, it indirectly interacts with the receptors, antagonizing them to trigger a response.  

CBD will not get you high and is well-tolerated even in high doses. Users might choose to take CBD instead of THC for sleep to avoid experiencing impairment from the “high” feeling associated with too much THC. This can be done by taking a broad-spectrum product, which has CBD, minor cannabinoids, flavonoids, and terpenes but no traces of THC.

Like our broad-spectrum CBD gummies, made from a terpene rich hemp extract with just 10 mg of CBD and no traces of THC.

However, research is pointing to the idea that cannabis compounds work best when taken together. This idea is known as the entourage effect, and it hypothesizes a cannabinoid synergy between THC, CBD, and other cannabis compounds. Whether the entourage effect is real or not is still being studied, but there is some evidence of its scientific validity.

One achieves the entourage effect by using a full-spectrum CBD product. You want a product, such as cannabis gummies, that contains CBD, THC, and other terpenes and flavonoids from the plant, as opposed to using a CBD isolate that contains only cannabidiol.

Our full-spectrum CBD gummies are highly beloved by our customers, from our Energy gummies for an elevated boost to our Relax Plus gummies for a sense of calm. Each of our CBD edibles is crafted with hybrid hemp flower strains in precise doses for your microdosing pleasure.

Citations:

• Farm Bill. (n.d.). Farm Bill | USDA. https://www.usda.gov/farmbill
• Finan, P. H., Goodin, B. R., & Smith, M. T. (n.d.). The association of sleep and pain: An update and a path forward. PubMed Central (PMC). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpain.2013.08.007
• Anxiety and Sleep | Sleep Foundation. (2020, September 18). Sleep Foundation. https://www.sleepfoundation.org/mental-health/anxiety-and-sleep
• Shannon, S., Lewis, N., Lee, H., & Hughes, S. (2019, January 7). Cannabidiol in Anxiety and Sleep: A Large Case Series. PubMed Central (PMC). https://doi.org/10.7812/TPP/18-041
• 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
• Chen, A. (n.d.). Some of the Parts: Is Marijuana’s “Entourage Effect” Scientifically Valid? Scientific American. https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/some-of-the-parts-is-marijuana-rsquo-s-ldquo-entourage-effect-rdquo-scientifically-valid/

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