Have you ever noticed that when you get high, you are insanely sleepy while a friend is energized?
It can be frustrating to feel that you cannot function while high. Why does this energy dip happen, and what can you do to ensure that you aren’t dozing off during your next high?
We did some digging to find out why some people get tired while high, while others don’t.
Turns out, science can explain this phenomenon—at least in part.
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One big reason weed is making you tired could be the strain you’re using. If you are smoking Indica-dominant strains, these strains are more likely to make you feel like you need to crawl into bed. If you are looking to relax while you are high, then Indica is the way to go. Producers of Indica strains often claim they are able to aid with sleep and muscle relaxation.
Indica is known to give you more of a “body high,” meaning that you can expect to feel relaxed throughout your whole body. It is the quintessential “couch high.” If you struggle with insomnia, it could help shorten the time it takes for you to fall asleep.
If you are not aware of the strain you are using, check if you’ve been using an Indica-dominant strain. If so, it could explain why it is hard for you to do anything besides relax when you’re high. While an Indica strain might be great for a chill evening at home while watching movies, it might not be what you are looking for when you are socializing with friends.
Sativa-dominant strains, on the other hand, are known for producing an anxiety-reducing “mind high.” It’s why some people use Sativa-dominant strains for productivity. Sativa is reported to be the more energizing of the two strains. If you want a boost while writing a paper or working on a new creative project, it’s probably the strain for you.
This also means Sativa-dominant strains are generally best for social functions. It is known as one of the better strands for daytime use, meaning that it won’t slow you down all day. Many users say it can help reduce fatigue and stimulate one’s appetite.
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The difference between Indica and Sativa strains mostly depends on the type of plants bred to create the strain. Indica strains generally have a higher amount of CBD and lower levels of THC, because CBD is known to create a feeling of relaxation. Because of the CBD levels, Indica is often more relaxing.
Sativa, on the other hand, grows in warmer climates like Mexico. The plant grows in very particular conditions making it one of the hardest cannabis plants to grow as the conditions must be just right to get it to flower.
However, these strain stereotypes should be taken worth a grain of salt. Dr. Kenneth Weinberg, a Manhattan-based cannabis clinician, told GreenState that, while the original strains of Sativa and Indica would certainly have these stereotypical mind and body highs, the strains of today have become so distorted over the years (as hybrid strains became more popular) that it’s impossible to say with any certainty what effects they will produce.
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Weinberg also emphasized that because everyone has a different endocannabinoid system (ECS), the bodily system that processes cannabis, the effects of weed will be different for everyone depending on your genetic makeup. “It is just like any medicine,” Weinberg said. “If you’re taking antihypertensive medicine, how’s it gonna affect you?”
Your ECS has two primary receptors throughout the body, and they have been linked to your motor function, appetite, mood and sleep. These receptors, CB1 and CB2, are in the central and peripheral nervous systems.
Frontiers released critical findings on cannabinoid receptors in 2017. What they found was that “The ECS has emerged as one of the key regulatory mechanisms in the brain controlling multiple events such as mood, pain perception, learning and memory among others.”
Everyone’s body reacts differently to foods and medicines, including cannabis. Your ECS will differ from someone else’s, meaning a strain that gives them energy and creativity boosts could make you sleepy and lethargic. Like with many things, it all comes down to how your individual body reacts and functions.