Best Indica Weed Strains for Sleep

Most cannabis products work wonders for aiding sleep, whether Indica THC, Sativa THC, or just plain CBD. But, if you walk into a dispensary and tell them you’re looking to use marijuana as a sleep aid, you’ll probably get pointed towards the Indica strains, as these are known to have soothing effects. But, there are so many Indica strains; what are the best Indica weed strains for sleep?

Indicas and Sleep     

Marijuana is known to relax users, but Indica strains, in particular, have a reputation for taking that relaxation to the next level by making users feel sleepy and completely knocking some people out at higher doses.

Marijuana is helpful for sleep because it contains cannabinol (CBN) which acts as a sedative. The sedative effect occurs because of how CBN binds to our natural endocannabinoid receptors and releases adenosine, a substance that our bodies use to tell us it’s time to go to sleep. Adenosine is essential for calming our bodies, and it’s been made into a medication to be prescribed for certain heart conditions, such as rapid heart rate.

But, all cannabis contains CBN, so why are Indica strains the ones specifically associated with couch-lock? How can Indicas soothe your mind and, more importantly, your body better than any other strain?

Indica strains contain a terpene called myrcene, which contains natural sedative chemicals. In fact, it has been used for decades throughout different cultures as herbal medicine to aid sleep. 

Further, Indica relieves the stress that is often the root cause of insomnia without causing anxiety like some other strains. When your mind is at ease, you can sleep much better. This allows Indica to give users a higher quality of sleep, with less tossing and turning throughout the night. 

When shopping for Indica strains to improve sleep, look for products with a high THC to CBD ratio. While CBD products for sleep are great, you will get a deeper sleep from products that get you high.

When utilizing the relaxing effects of Indicas as a sleep aid, make sure to consider the duration of time that different types of cannabis products take to enter your bloodstream and start working. You will start feeling drowsy pretty quickly if you’re smoking, but if you take edibles instead, it’ll take a little while to get through your digestive system. In this case, you’ll want to eat your edibles about half an hour to an hour before going to bed. 

Top 5 Indica Strains

Understanding why Indica aids in relaxation, we can look at some of the best Indica weed strains for sleep.

OG Kush

Straight from 1990s Florida, OG Kush is a mix of a few Amsterdam strains and a Northern California strain. The aroma offers notes of spice, skunk, and fuel, and it’s known to be one of the more intense strains out there. Any strains that have “kush” in the name will be great for sleep, as most are known to have a strong relaxing effect. 

WiFi OG

WiFi OG, or White Fire OG, is a cross between Fire OG and The White. It has an earthy aroma with a flavor profile of citrus and pepper. While this strain is known to give you a boost of energy immediately upon smoking it, you will shortly be ready to crash in bed for the night.

Birthday Cake

With the name “birthday cake,” this strain doesn’t disappoint; the flavor is as sweet as the real thing. And to make it better, the full name of this strain is “birthday cake kush,” so you know it’ll be great for sleep. The best thing about this strain is that it makes you physically tired without numbing your mental state. 

GMO Cookies

GMO Cookies, a cross between Girl Scout Cookies and Chemdawg, also known as Garlic Cookies because of the flavor, is a relaxing strain with a strong diesel aroma. This strain is known to lift your mentality while dropping your energy; it will provide a strong couch-lock and an overall sedated effect if you consume a large amount. 

Skywalker

Skywalker, also known as Skywalker Kush, is a cross between Blueberry and Mazar, crafted in Amsterdam to create a strain with an appealing fruity aroma and strong growing ability. This strain incorporates the best of both worlds, as it has both Sativa and Indica traits. However, it is technically an Indica strain and provides the utmost relaxation that Indicas offer.

Forbidden Fruit

Forbidden Fruit is just as exotic as she sounds, coming from ultra-sweet and sour parents Cherry Pie and Tangie. At first, it tastes like citrus and honey, but the exhale takes you on a ride through berry bushes deeply planted in rich soil. 

Grape Ape

Grape Ape contains a super-potent blend of THC-B, THC-H, and THC-P. Promoting sensations that settle firmly throughout the body, relaxing muscles, and pacifying the mind in dreamy euphoria.

These statements have not been evaluated by the Food & Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. This product is in compliance with section 10113 of the 2018 farm bill and contains <0.3% Delta 9 THC.