“Happiness consists of getting enough sleep. Just that, nothing more.”

– Robert A. Heinlein, U.S. Science-Fiction Author

 

We live in troubled times – for some people, stressful times.

Cities on total lockdown, regular social interactions that we have taken for granted all our lives are now frowned upon (and are even being legislated against), and governments constantly talk of “flattening the coronavirus curve of infection.” And if this curve isn’t flattened, we’ll lose thousands and thousands more.

The world has never seen anything like it, certainly not on such an all-encompassing global scale, and we used to think that it was the digital age and its social media that had suddenly made our world so much smaller.

There’s plenty to concern us all, and plenty you could seriously lose sleepover.

Maybe, 3 or 4 months ago, you were even then struggling to get a good night’s sleep – things on your mind, physical pain that’s hard to manage, or anxiety and stress over those things we realize are out of our control anyway. All of these issues can contribute to a disturbed night’s rest. We’ve just had another one added now.

And maybe, just maybe, this is all water off a duck’s back to you, all this death and illness potentially on your doorstep, and nothing can affect you from that sweet moment your head hits the pillow. Lights out. See you in the morning. If you are one of these kinds of people, count yourself lucky. Many people out there will be just plain jealous of you.

Whoever you are, and whatever you feel about what’s going on around you with the coronavirus pandemic, finding a natural way to relax, especially at night, is going to be of significant benefit. For many, an appreciated and much-needed benefit – one that could drastically improve their lives, and their outlook in these troubled times.

We’ve all been there. Getting yourself into bed at a reasonable time, possibly in preparation for a testing day to follow, only to simply lie there, staring blankly at the ceiling. Sleep seems a million miles away. And, to top it all, when it does come, it’s broken and unrestful. You surface the following day feeling more tired than when you hit the hay 8 hours ago.

If this sounds like a typical scenario, maybe a little lateral thinking is called for, and maybe the use of CBD oil for better sleep will be the difference your troubled mind is looking for.

Important: If you are currently taking any form of prescription medicine, it is vital that you first consult your family physician to guard against possible negative interactions between these and the CBD oil.

What is Cannabidiol (CBD)?

Cannabidiol (CBD) is one of the many cannabinoid substances found in cannabis. However, the substance itself doesn’t usually produce the “high” that cannabis smokers have long enjoyed. CBD medical studies have pointed with evidence to the fact it can be medically beneficial in treating certain neuropsychiatric disorders, such as anxiety, epilepsy, and even schizophrenia.

CBD Oil Sleep Benefits

The evidence found shows that CBD exerts a calming effect on a person’s central nervous system. It is for this very reason that new researchers have studied the effect of CBD on those will disturbed sleeping patterns.

#1. Enhanced, Deeper Sleep

Pharmacology researchers from the Department of BioMolecular Sciences at the University of Michigan specifically looked into CBD’s effect upon the daily physiological patterns of circadian rhythms in its clinical study.

Circadian rhythms are physical, mental, and behavioral changes that follow a daily cycle. Responding primarily to light and darkness in an organism’s environment, sleeping is a prime example of a circadian rhythm. Think of them as your biological clocks.

In this and other studies, CBD demonstrated a positive enhancement in subjects, with most of them reporting 7 hours of uninterrupted sleep. The ability to recall dreams significantly decreased, pointing to a far deeper sleep than normal, as dreams occur during the crucial REM stage of sleeping.

#2. Anti-Anxiety & Anti-Depressant Effects of CBD

As mentioned above, studies have found that CBD has a positive medical effect on those who suffer with anxiety – one of the biggest factors when it comes to disturbed sleeping. By calming the mind of the anxious person, overthinking at night is significantly reduced, and therefore enables sleep to come and, just as importantly, stay.

This calming response to the CBD also has another beneficial element – the less anxious you are, the better and clearer your cognitive thinking and rationalization skills, meaning you can resolve issues more adeptly and faster, and so allow for better sleep.

#3. Pain Management

CBD has been proven to both help rebuild brain cells and to improve the natural serotonin levels in trial subjects. Furthermore, it also affects anandamide levels and the brain’s opioid receptors. All of these are known to positively affect our perception and management of physical pain.

Many people are unable to sleep deeply and fully because they are, in some small way, easily affected by pain. With improved natural pain management, this becomes much less of an issue come lights out at night.

To recap, CBD has been proven to produce enhanced, deeper sleep, even for those who suffer from anxiety and physical pain. So, on that note, sweet dreams and sleep well.

Research published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) revealed that the number of American senior citizens who consume cannabis has increased from 2015 to 2018. Market Watch said that the reasons for the increased use are unclear.

The JAMA research evaluated data of around 14,896 individuals from 65 years old and up based on records from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health. These people reported using “marijuana, hashish, pot, grass and hash oil.”

According to the study, there was a 75% jump in just three years. This means that from 2.4% of the senior population who used cannabis and related products in 2015, the figure spiked to 4.2% in 2018. This is a huge leap from the mere 0.4% in 2008.

Highest among racial and ethnic minorities

An interesting finding from the research is that the highest recorded surge in marijuana consumption is among racial and ethnic minorities. According to data, there was a whopping 336% increase in use in this group.

This is followed by senior citizens who have diabetes with an increase of 180%. Other groups that showed notable spikes in marijuana consumption include seniors who were treated for mental health issues (157%), individuals with $20,000 to $49,000 income (139%), those with incomes of $75,000 and up (129%), college-educated seniors (114%), married individuals (100%), and women (93%).

Unclear reasons

In a report by Market Watch, it was noted that the researchers, headed by Dr. Benjamin Han, did not include questions a Because of this, the study did not include a conclusion as to why the respondents consumed the plant. Dr. Han, who is an assistant professor at the NYU Grossman School of Medicine, said that the figures could be higher.

This is because while 11 states and the District of Columbia have legalized recreational marijuana, there remains a stigma against the plant. According to the geriatric medicine and palliative care specialist, respondents could have hesitated to reveal their cannabis use.

Moreover, it is important to note that the newly-published study failed to ask medical conditions such as chronic pain, Parkinson’s disease or arthritis. Market Watch remarked that this could have provided valuable insight into the reasons for using the plant as medical marijuana is known for treating chronic and debilitating medical conditions and symptoms.

Meanwhile, Dr. Han expressed concern over possible negative interaction effects of cannabinoids with current medications taken by seniors.

Citizens of Alabama may soon welcome legal medical marijuana after an Alabama Senate committee approved a bill on Wednesday, February 19,  legalizing the use of cannabis for medical purposes.

The bill, titled “The Compassion Act,” was sponsored by the Republican senator Tim Melson, R-Florence, who introduced the legislation Tuesday.

Under the said proposal, patients suffering from 15 qualifying medical conditions, including anxiety or panic disorder, autism, cancer-related cachexia, chronic pain, Crohn’s disease, epilepsy, and HIV/AIDS, would be eligible for a medical marijuana prescription.

State farmers would also be allowed to cultivate medical cannabis that will be sold through dispensaries. As part of the proposal, smokable and vaping marijuana products would not be permitted. However, tablets, as well as edibles and creams, would be authorized.

To regulate the program, the legislation proposes the establishment of a commission, called Alabama Medical Cannabis Commission, that will focus on administering patient registry, issuance of licenses for growing and dispensing marijuana, as well imposing restrictions on licensee activities.

Melson, who is a physician, already sponsored a similar medical cannabis legalization bill last year. The said proposal, although approved by the Senate, failed to earn approval from the House and instead created a study commission called the Alabama’s Medical Cannabis Study Commission, which Melson chaired himself.

If the latest proposal is to be adopted, Alabama would emerge to become the 34th state to legalize the use of marijuana for medical purposes, joining the ranks of its neighboring states Florida and Louisiana.

Medical Marijuana Law in Alabama

Under the current law, first-degree unlawful possession of marijuana equates to one up to 10 years in prison, while second-degree unlawful possession of the drug in the second degree is punishable to up to one year in prison.

As part of the bill, tighter regulations would be imposed, especially to those cultivating and selling medical cannabis. Products would also be taxed at a rate of 9 percent, which would be used to fund a Medical Marijuana Commission.

The Senate Judiciary Committee was reported to have cleared the bill in an 8-1 vote, with one abstention. With this, the bill is now set to advance to the Senate floor.

To date, it remains unclear whether the House will give a similar vote to the bill. However, Mac McCutcheon (R-Monrovia), Speaker of the Alabama House of Representatives, said last Thursday that he is still “in a wait and see mode.”

“It brings up a legal question when you get a legal opinion from the attorney general office,” McCutcheon said. “It answers some of my questions and also on the pro and the con there were some questions raised in the legal community.”