Potcast 235: Sleep and Cannabis

We’re getting in the weeds on sleep hygiene and the various outcomes of using cannabis as a tool for getting better zzz’s. I’m mostly a rockstar sleeper except during those bouts when I’m overly stressed or ruminating on something that’s not serving my highest good.

Almost everyone I know uses at least one form of a sleep aid every single night.

And many take a combo of things like alcohol, narcotics, various forms of cannabis, herbal tea remedies, melatonin, magnesium.

**Codi Peterson, PharmD**
Pharmacist, Cannabis Science Expert, Advocate, Chief Science Officer - The Cannigma
@cannabispharmd | Connect on LinkedIn

I’ve most recently been noodling on solutions for a certain North Carolina teen and her parents who’d reached out to me for coaching on how to approach cannabis for sleep responsibly.

And since I’m all about finding solutions rather than slapping on bandaids, I called up Dr. Codi Peterson, a pediatric pharmacist, educator, and cannabis science expert. Between his Doctor of Pharmacy and MS in cannabis science and therapeutics, Codi is well equipped on his mission to de-stigmatize and demystify cannabis. As Chief Science Officer of The Cannigma and founding member of The Pharmacists' Cannabis Coalition of California, Dr Peterson's work is focused on providing accurate, digestible, actionable information about cannabis to healthcare providers and to the public.

So if you and everyone else at your house is tired of you waking up on the wrong side of the bed, this potcast is for you. It’s also for anyone who loves an insomniac and wants to help them sleep better so they can live their best life. There is so much good and actionable information about sleep in this potcast. We even discuss how to cautiously approach THC use and cannabinoid therapy in teens struggling with sleep issues. And we touch on cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome - which we’ll dive deeper on in an upcoming potcast.

It’s difficult to solve a problem without understanding the nuts and bolts of the situation. So, today we’re defining types of sleep issues, what good sleep looks like and how our body regulates our sleep cycle. And then we dive into tips and tricks around both cannabis and non-cannabis sleep remedies you might be using - and how layering your experience might bring you a more restful night’s sleep. We also explore some non-medicated sleep hygiene practices worth integrating into your daily routine. We also discuss how to transition safely from prescription meds to natural options.

Our sleep needs evolve over the course of our lives and these days, more and more teens are struggling to get a good night’s sleep. So we also spend time discussing cannabis use among teens and highly responsible ways to utilize minor cannabinoids for sleep and anxiety without the overuse of THC. We also touch on the synthetic cannabinoids readily available in non-cannabis legal states, and how they’re made. Knowledge is power my friend, and I want you to understand the big picture so you can make the right choices for you and your family.

Alright, I’m so excited to share this conversation with you. So smoke ‘em if you got ‘em, and settle in. It’s time to get casually baked.