How to Not Fall Asleep After Smoking Weed

Weed is notorious for a lot of things: giving people the munchies, making people laugh, and making people super sleepy. For some people, that’s exactly the point; many people attribute using cannabis to helping them with better sleep and relief from things like insomnia.

But what if being super sleepy isn’t the kind of cannabis experience you’re looking for? Some people (wake and bakers, most specifically) want to be able to function with high energy after smoking weed.

Thankfully, there are ways to do that! You don’t have to call it a night (or a day) after your smoke sesh. We’re here to teach you all of the tips and tricks we know on how to not fall asleep after smoking weed.

 

Key Takeaways

• Cannabis is linked to sleepiness primarily because THC communicates with receptors in our brain that are involved in the sleep/wake cycle.
• To avoid getting sleepy after smoking weed, try to use low THC strains, avoid drinking alcohol or consuming tobacco with the cannabis.
• If you’re feeling sleepy after smoking, try things like going on walks or doing yoga to get your energy back up.

 

Why Does Cannabis Make Me Feel Sleepy?

One of weed’s most notorious effects is how tired it can make you. While there are many reasons people use cannabis, one of the most common reasons is to help with sleeping issues such as insomnia. THC communicates with the receptors in your brain that are related to your sleep/wake cycle, causing feelings of sleepiness.

Additional research shows that a compound called myrcene may contribute to weed’s sedative effects and can even relax the muscles. Combined, myrcene seems to enhance the effects of THC, making its tiresome and sedative effect stronger.

Cannabis has also been said to increase the production of melatonin, what some people call the body’s natural “sleep chemical.” Increased levels of melatonin combined with THC and myrcene can easily be the body’s recipe for a good night’s sleep.

 

How to Not Fall Asleep After Smoking Weed

Even though weed naturally makes us sleepy, some people don’t want to fall asleep after smoking weed. Productive stoners will tell you there’s nothing worse than smoking before getting something done but accidentally getting too tired to do it! Thankfully, even though cannabis can have highly sedative effects, there are a few ways to keep yourself from falling asleep after smoking weed.

Choose a Cannabis Strain Low in THC

Potent THC can be the culprit behind that “knock-out” type of high, so choosing a strain that’s lower in THC may be helpful for you to stay awake and alert after smoking. You can even experiment with different cannabinoids: both delta 8 THC and HHC (hexahydrocannabidiol) can be helpful alternatives if you want a more uplifting or energizing cannabinoid experience.

Check your CBD to THC Ratios

If you want to stick with traditional THC, you should make sure to check your CBD-to-THC ratios. THC (tetrahydrocannabinol), including delta 8, delta 9, and delta 10, has psychoactive effects, while CBD (cannabidiol) does not.

While both THC and CBD have sedative effects, THC’s sedative effects have a tendency to be much stronger than CBD’s. Many users report a “crash” after the initial high of THC, which for some, can result in a much-needed weed nap. For others, it just makes it harder to get through the day.

Thankfully, if you have a more balanced CBD-to-THC ratio, you may be able to enjoy the high without getting too high. This will reduce the chances of a drastic energy crash in the middle of the day while still giving you the satisfaction of smoking cannabis/eating a THC-infused edible.

Avoid Alcohol Before Smoking

Truthfully, if you want to stay awake after smoking weed, you should avoid alcohol altogether. Alcohol is considered a depressant, which means it’s a drug with extremely sedative effects, especially in high doses. Alcohol’s sedative effects are also specially compounded when mixed with other substances, such as marijuana. Drinking alcohol before or even after smoking can put you to bed quickly!

Toss the Tobacco Products

Avoid smoking weed out of or mixed with tobacco leaves. Inhaling tobacco can interrupt your oxygen intake and cause fatigue, creating an even more tiresome experience after smoking weed. If you’re smoking nicotine products, this can make you even more tired. Even though nicotine is a short-term stimulant (it increases heart rate, blood pressure, etc.), it becomes a long-term depressant. Prolonged nicotine use has been linked to prolonged feelings of fatigue, which will only become stronger after smoking weed.

 

How to Wake Up After Smoking Cannabis

If you’ve already smoked and are feeling the weed hit you like the Sandman in a pickup truck, you’re not out of luck! Thankfully, if you’re in a bind and need to perk up quickly, there are a couple of things you can do to wake up after smoking cannabis.

Full-Body Yoga Stretches

Doing some full-body yoga stretches can help to stimulate blood flow which naturally creates energy in the body. Exercise, in general, is great for waking you up, but sometimes doing a workout that’s too intense can have the opposite effect. Gentle, full-body yoga stretches can help to ease you into a state of wakefulness and alertness.

Fresh Air

When you’re super sleepy, there’s almost nothing better than getting some fresh air. Especially if it’s cold fresh air! If you can, take advantage of breathing in some fresh air to wake you up if you’re feeling tired. Getting extra oxygen in your blood can help to make you feel more awake and alert. (Pro tip: This is extra helpful if it’s wintertime and you live somewhere where it gets really cold. That jolt of freezing cold air should wake you up almost immediately!)

Take a Walk

Another gentle physical activity, taking a walk, is a wonderful way to wake yourself up if you’re feeling tired. Talking walks have been proven to be a natural way to boost energy (among a bunch of other wonderful benefits) and can be the perfect way to get your blood pumping without overexerting yourself and making yourself more tired in the long run.

Hydrate

Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate; there’s nothing more detrimental to your energy levels than being dehydrated! Being dehydrated can affect your mood by making you tired, cranky, irritable, or easily agitated. Drinking water helps to flush out any excess toxins, transports nutrients and oxygen throughout the blood, increases energy, and helps fight fatigue. (Don’t believe us? Just ask r/hydrohomies. They’ll tell you all about it.)

High-Protein Meal

Eating a meal that’s high in protein is a great way to help increase your energy levels if you’re feeling especially tired after smoking weed. The body is fueled by vitamins and minerals, one of the most important ones being protein. Protein gives you energy by repairing and building tissues on a cellular level in the body. Meals high in carbohydrates will also give you energy but in a much more short-term way. Unlike carbohydrates, protein will give you energy in the long-term instead of a rapid boost of energy followed by a crash.

 

How to Choose the Right Cannabis for the Right Occasion

Even though weed is predisposed to making people sleepy, there are ways to master the art of choosing the right cannabis for the right occasion. This includes strain type, cannabinoid type, and even method of consumption.

• Strain type. If you’re looking for energy instead of relaxation, you’ll want to find a Sativa or a Sativa-dominant hybrid instead of an Indica. Sativas are naturally more uplifting strains and can stimulate the mind and body with their psychoactive experiences. Indicas, on the other hand, are utilized much more for their sedative effects and are generally used late in the evening or at night to help with relaxation and sleep.
• Cannabinoid type. Traditional THC isn’t the only cannabinoid on the block anymore! Cannabis science and innovation have evolved a lot in the time since the federal cannabis prohibition was lifted in the United States, leaving a lot of room for new cannabinoids to come into the scene and make a name for themselves. Delta 8 THC (a slightly less potent cannabinoid sibling of delta 9 THC) and HHC (a hydrogenized version of THC) have become extremely popular within the past couple of years. The introduction of cannabinoids that provide a myriad of effects has helped to elongate the spectrum of cannabis use and, therefore, cannabinoid users. While traditional (delta 9) THC can cause extreme sleepiness, cannabinoids like delta 8 and especially HHC have been shown to have less sedative effects than their more seasoned cannabinoid sibling.
• Method of consumption. Did you know that the way you consume cannabis can have a huge impact on how it effects you? Eating edibles is roughly five times stronger than smoking cannabis flower! This is because when you eat edibles, they have to be digested by the stomach and metabolized by the liver, turning THC into 11-hydroxy-THC, a metabolic byproduct of THC that is 5 times stronger than it’s predecessor.

Thankfully, here at Delta Munchies, we have something that’s perfect for everyone! Whether you’re looking for delta 8 gummies that provide a high similar to delta 9 without the crash, or HHC vapes that create a uniquely energizing and uplifting cannabinoid experience, we have you covered.