Why Does Weed Make You Sleepy? The Real Reasons (and How to Snap Out of It)

Weed makes you sleepy mainly because of THC, the compound behind the high, with help from sedating terpenes like myrcene, aged buds where THC has broken down into CBN, how much you smoke and whether you eat it instead. Science still hasn't nailed down exactly why it happens, but it's widely accepted that cannabis, especially in big amounts, can leave you drowsy. So if you rolled a joint and you're still fading hours later, you're not imagining it.

Why do I get sleepy when I smoke weed?

Plenty of smokers say that sometimes (or most of the time) weed leaves them a little drowsy, even sluggish. So why does cannabis tire so many people out? What decides how long the high lasts, and why does it hit some people harder than others? Here are some of the main reasons:

Cannabinoids and terpenes

Logic says the plant's active compounds are the prime suspects behind this famous side effect. Here's a quick look at both groups.

Cannabinoids

Cannabis contains more than 100 known cannabinoids (113 is the figure you'll often see quoted), and there may be plenty more that haven't been identified yet.

Cannabinoids made by plants, called phytocannabinoids, interact with the body's endocannabinoid system (ECS), the network of receptors that helps regulate things like mood, appetite and sleep. The two best known are THC and CBD. THC is the one responsible for getting you high, and it's also the main culprit behind the sleepy side. There are lots of theories about why THC makes people drowsy, and many of them involve dopamine.

CBD, along with several other cannabinoids, has also been linked to sleepiness. The results so far aren't conclusive, but some studies have pointed to a connection between CBD and changes in sleep.

Terpenes

Terpenes get less attention, but they're everywhere in nature, not just in cannabis. They're the aromatic compounds that give weed (and plenty of other plants) its huge range of smells and flavors.

One theory is that myrcene, a terpene that shows up in a lot of cannabis, might make the blood-brain barrier more permeable. That could change how fast cannabinoids get across it and, in turn, amplify their effects. It's a popular idea, but it hasn't been proven in humans.

The quality of your weed

Quality can make a big difference. It's hard to define, and it can get pretty subjective, but once you look at how the cannabis was grown, cured and stored, you start to understand why the high lasts longer for one person, why another feels like weed doesn't work on them, or whether smoking before bed might actually help someone sleep.

The final stage, after the grow is over, matters a lot: drying and curing the buds can shape the effect. Buds harvested a little early and cured in airtight jars in the dark tend to keep more of their THC. On the other hand, if buds stay on the plant longer or get cured in plastic bags exposed to light, THC can break down into other cannabinoids such as CBN, which is believed to make people feel sleepier. That's where a lot of the “weed makes you sleepy” talk comes from.

How much you smoke

It goes without saying: the more you smoke, the stronger the effects. A small amount will probably give you a light buzz that fades without much fallout. Rip bong after bong, though, and you'll be out of it no matter what strain you're smoking.

And if you smoke every day or very often, the effect can stack up. So a big session with a few joints can make weed far more likely to knock you out and leave you in a constant fog.

How you consume it

Your method matters a lot too. When you smoke weed, the compound that reaches your brain is delta-9-THC. It's potent, but it breaks down fairly quickly, so your body gets back to baseline relatively fast.

When you eat cannabis, though, your liver turns delta-9-THC into 11-hydroxy-THC. This form of THC is more potent and harder for the body to clear, which is why edibles hit so hard, last so long, and tend to leave people sleepy for much longer.

How to stop feeling sleepy after smoking weed

If you're already in deep, try a few of these to come back up:

• Try a CBD-rich strain to take the edge off the THC high. Some people find it helps clear their head.
• Get moving. A little exercise gets your blood flowing and helps you wake up.
• Have a coffee for a quick energy boost.
• Take a shower. It's one of the fastest ways to feel awake again.
• Stay off the couch and keep active as much as you can. Couch-lock is real.
• Talk to people. A good conversation can bump your energy back up.
• Cut back on how much you smoke or consume. Microdosing is a great way to keep smoking regularly without the constant fatigue.