The short answer
No cannabis strain is approved to treat insomnia. The plant compounds change sleep, and the strain name on a label tells you little about those compounds. THC shortens the time to fall asleep. CBD at 300 mg or more may add sleep time in small trials. Myrcene and linalool appear in dried flower at about 1% to 2% of total weight. Effects differ by person, dose, and tolerance.
What each compound does
THC
Tetrahydrocannabinol binds CB1 receptors in the brain. Reviews of sleep lab studies report a shorter time to sleep onset and less REM sleep. Slow wave sleep increases in some studies. Daily users who stop report worse sleep for 1 to 2 weeks.
CBD
Cannabidiol binds CB1 receptors with low strength. Trials use 300 mg to 600 mg per dose. Babson and colleagues gave 300 mg to 72 adults and recorded better sleep scores than placebo. Doses under 150 mg may cause alertness in some users.
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Terpenes
Myrcene, linalool, and caryophyllene carry the smell of flower. Rodent studies show sedation from myrcene at high doses. Human data on inhaled terpenes is thin. One joint holds about 0.5 g to 1 g of flower, so the terpene dose stays small.
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Indica, sativa, and CBN
Stores group flower into indica, sativa, and hybrid. Lab tests of the three groups show overlap in THC, CBD, and terpene levels. CBN comes from aged THC. The claim that CBN causes sleep rests on a 1975 rodent study. Human trials are absent.
What to check at the store
- Certificate of analysis for the batch. Look for THC percentage and total terpenes.
- Terpene list. Myrcene and linalool appear on many sleep products.
- Dose. Edibles start at 1 mg to 2.5 mg in states with limits.
- Form. Inhaled products act in minutes. Edibles take 30 to 120 minutes.
Risks
Daily THC use builds tolerance in about 2 to 4 weeks. Sleep problems during withdrawal last up to 2 weeks or more. THC raises heart rate and can worsen sleep apnea. CBD can raise blood levels of some drugs, including blood thinners. About 1 in 3 US adults sleep less than 7 hours a night, per the CDC. Talk to a clinician before mixing cannabis with sedatives.