Marijuana can affect how often you dream by
rearranging your sleep cycle.
People who
smoke marijuana before bed often struggle to recall their dreams the next
morning. Yet, when these individuals stop smoking, they tend to experience more
vivid dreams than before.
Marijuana is
known to affect various aspects of sleep, including activities that are not
involved with dreaming. But there’s a simple reason why marijuana users tend to
have less dreams.
This
phenomenon can be explained by how marijuana affects the sleep cycle,
specifically a stage known as rapid eye movement (REM) sleep.
Marijuana
and REM Sleep
The brain is
most active during REM sleep and most dreaming is thought to occur during this
stage. Numerous studies have shown that using marijuana before bed reduces REM
sleep. Researchers believe this is why marijuana users report fewer dreams.
During the
night, the brain cycles through 4 different stages of sleep, spending the most
time in deep sleep (or slow-wave sleep) and REM sleep. The amount of time spent
in these two stages is closely related. In fact, studies show that marijuana
lengthens the time the brain spends in deep sleep, which leads to less REM
sleep.
Ingesting
THC or marijuana before bed also appears to reduce the density of rapid eye
movements during REM sleep. Interestingly, less REM density has been linked to
more restful sleep.
Most studies
on marijuana and REM sleep have looked at the effects of THC. However, other
compounds in marijuana may interfere with THC’s effect on sleep. For example,
CBD has been found to promote wakefulness compared to taking THC alone.
What
Happens When Quitting
Regular
users of cannabis experience an abnormal increase in REM sleep when use is
stopped. This is called the REM rebound effect, which leads to longer and
denser periods of REM sleep. The REM rebound explains why cannabis users often
experience highly vivid dreaming when trying to quit.
The sleep
disturbances that occur during cannabis withdrawal usually begin 24-72 hours
after quitting and can persist for up to 6-7 weeks.
Interestingly,
the REM rebound is not unique to cannabis use. Other substances that interfere
with sleep, such as alcohol and sleep medications, can cause REM rebound too.
What’s more, people who are sleep deprived often undergo a rebound in non-REM
sleep.
The rebound
effect appears to be the body’s way of coping with being deprived of certain
stages of sleep.
The
Importance of REM Sleep
While
healthy people should avoid taking substances that alter their sleep, it’s not
clear whether the effect of marijuana on REM sleep is actually harmful. In
fact, experts are still not sure why we need REM sleep.
On the other
hand, deep sleep is believed to be the most important sleep stage for repairing
and restoring the body. Likewise, studies show that when deprived of sleep, the
brain prioritizes deep sleep over REM sleep.
While more
research is needed, it’s possible that the ability of marijuana to increase
deep sleep, even at the expense of REM sleep, might turn out to be a good
thing.
Source= www.leafscience.com
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