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Updated on June 17, 2024
Weed is a regular part of many people’s nighttime rituals. For some, it’s a recreational activity to enjoy before bed, while for others, its express purpose is better sleep.
Marijuana is also a mind-altering substance and can have an impact on dreams in ways that users should know about. In the sections that follow, we’ll explore this connection between marijuana and dreams, starting with what science has revealed…
The Science Behind Marijuana and Dreams
Research has only begun to uncover the science behind marijuana and dreams, largely because there is still quite a bit of speculation about dreaming, its purpose, and where it comes from. Scientists are divided on this point. Some believe dreams serve a mental housekeeping function or to build memories or process emotions, while others think dreams are no more than random by-products of sleep, without meaning or purpose.
A region of the brain known as the hippocampus appears to play a key role in the brain’s construction of dreams, according to research. This part of the brain, located in the limbic system, governs memory, emotions, motivation, and imagination. At the same time, perplexingly, dreams involve the whole brain—not just the limbic system, but the cortex and brain stem as well.
How Marijuana Affects the Brain
Meanwhile, marijuana affects some of these same regions of the brain. For example, cannabis use reduces hippocampal volume. Less hippocampal volume is associated with impaired memory and fewer, less detailed dreams.
The hippocampus is just one area of the brain affected by marijuana. A study in 2022 found that the drug can cause “structural, molecular, and functional alterations of brain circuits, particularly in the prefrontal cortex and hippocampus.”
Relationship Between Marijuana Use and Sleep Patterns
Research elsewhere has found that heavy marijuana use disrupts sleep patterns, by increasing the time it takes to fall asleep and by shortening deep sleep. This critical stage of sleep fulfills a very important reparative function for body and mind. It boosts the immune system, repairs bones, muscles, and tissues, and is critical for learning, memory, and motor skills.
The Impact of Marijuana on REM Sleep
Most people dream for about two hours every night. Dreams are most intense during the rapid eye movement stage known as REM sleep. During the REM stage, your eyes move rapidly behind your eyelids and your brain becomes much more active. Dreams during the REM stage are often far more vivid or bizarre, while non-REM dreams tend to be significantly more coherent. Because REM sleep is the lightest level of sleep, you are most likely to wake up in this period and remember your dreams.
Older studies claim that marijuana decreases REM sleep due to one of its main psychoactive components, THC. According to the research, smoking or consuming active marijuana causes a person to have fewer periods of REM sleep. This means fewer vivid and realistic dreams, which are harder to remember once you wake up.
Some studies show interference of REM sleep causes memory issues. There is evidence that heavy marijuana use leads to a decline in short-term memory, causing the user to forget their dreams.
On the other hand, many scientists contend that these findings come from outdated studies that were poorly controlled. Several years ago, researchers from Wayne State University School of Medicine had participants smoke marijuana with three percent THC on some days and placebo pot on others. During the study, neither variety of marijuana impacted REM sleep. However, after smoking the placebo joints, participants had lower amounts of slow-wave sleep and even showed signs of insomnia.
When we wake up during REM sleep, we are far more likely to remember our dreams. If we sleep through REM cycles, we tend to forget them. According to the experts who ran this sleep study, it’s not that weed causes people to stop dreaming or forget their dreams. They may just be getting better sleep, and the natural consequence of that is remembering fewer dreams.
The Role of Cannabinoids in Dreaming
There is also conflicting evidence about the role of cannabinoids in dreaming. THC and CBD, marijuana’s two main ingredients, are “cannabinoids” and derive this name from their mechanism of action; they act on the brain’s endocannabinoid system, which governs sleep and circadian rhythm.
Some research suggests that cannabinoids can reduce the intensity and frequency of nightmares in patients with PTSD, but there is also evidence to suggest that, while THC can suppress dreaming, CBD can cause more vivid dreams.
Types of Dreams Associated with Marijuana Use
Vivid and More Lucid Dreams
In contrast to the loss of dreams many people have while using various forms of weed, some individuals have significantly more vivid dreams. This effect is particularly common after abstaining from marijuana following a period of heavy use.
Some experts refer to this as “REM rebound.” Essentially, if marijuana does inhibit REM sleep, suddenly stopping weed use causes vivid and unusual dreams as the brain begins to enter REM sleep more often.
Nightmares
During this period, nightmares become far more common and feel significantly more real. Sometimes these vivid dreams may have nothing to do with REM sleep and instead may stem from issues like anxiety, insomnia, or PTSD, which a marijuana user may have been self-medicating. Whatever the explanation, one thing is certain: For people with a marijuana use disorder, REM rebound can be a significant obstacle on their path toward sobriety.
Factors Influencing Dreams on Marijuana
How is it that people can have such different types of dreams on marijuana? The answer has to do with factors like:
- Dosage and frequency of marijuana use, as well as strain and potency of marijuana – Certain strains can affect dreams differently, and depending on the strain, higher potency strain or a higher dose may be more likely to cause bizarre or vivid dreams.
- Individual differences, such as metabolism and tolerance, or co-occurring factors such as stress and mental health conditions – Those with certain mental health conditions, such as bipolar disorder, are at higher risk of marijuana-induced psychosis. Psychosis can entail more distressing and more frequent nightmares.
Personal Experiences and Anecdotes
Two common themes emerge from the anecdotal experiences of marijuana users, as reported on the internet. Many say that they either do not dream or do not remember their dreams. On the other hand, forums like Reddit abound with questions like “what’s the deal with CBD and lucid dreaming?” or “anyone get weird dreams on CBD?”
Risks and Challenges for Sleep of Marijuana
Those who use marijuana for sleep may benefit from knowing some of its risks and challenges:
- Disrupted sleep patterns – Research in 2021 found that marijuana alters circadian rhythms and therefore negatively impacts sleep. The researchers arrived at this conclusion after analyzing 31 studies of marijuana and sleep.
- Intensified anxiety – While some people report that marijuana reduces their anxiety, others experience the very opposite: more anxiety.
- Difficulty distinguishing between dreams and reality – Marijuana can cause a phenomenon known as “depersonalization.” It is the sense that those around you are not real and that you are living in a dream-like state.
Tips for Managing Dreams on Marijuana
If you are experiencing vivid or distressing dreams from marijuana that are interfering with your sleep, these tips may help:
- Consider scaling back your marijuana use. Moderation may help reduce the drug’s effects on dreaming.
- Keep a consistent bedtime schedule. Going to bed at the same time every night can rebalance your circadian rhythm and promote better sleep.
- Incorporate relaxation techniques like breathing meditation before bedtime.
If you used to remember your dreams before marijuana, here are some techniques that, experts say, may improve your recall:
- Change when you take marijuana – Don’t take it at bedtime. Instead, take it during the day or early in the morning.
- Wake up during the REM phase of your sleep. (If you are not sure when that is, get a REM app or sleep tracker.) Waking up during REM sleep increases one’s chances of remembering dreams.
- Take a break from the marijuana. If you’ve been using it for a while, you may experience the REM rebound effect and more lucid dreams.
Marijuana can have a complex and conflicted relationship with sleep, including dreaming. It can cause you to lose all recollection of your dreams or trigger nightmares.
If you are having issues with marijuana use, sleep, nightmares, or dreams, reach out to our experts at FHE Health. We have innovative experience in treating addiction, mental health, and sleep problems, via the latest neuro technologies and evidence-based therapies. For more information on treatment options that can help you or a loved one, contact us today.
