In a past blog, we got to touch on how CBD and melatonin may be able to help with sleep. Now that delta 8 is becoming so popular, though, consumers have a new question. Does delta 8 help with sleep, too? 

What can you expect when you start using delta 8 for sleep? We want to dig into the answers in this in-depth guide today.

According to the CDC, 1 in every 3 American adults don’t get enough sleep. 

That’s about 70 million people that suffer from sleep problems of some kind. 

And when we don’t get enough sleep, the rest of our personal worlds can suffer, too. Lack of rest is associated with a loss in work productivity, an increase in healthcare costs, and more. Injuries, poor quality of life, chronic diseases, and lessened mental wellbeing can all stem from a lack of good sleep.

So, the easy solution would be to get better sleep, right? 

Unfortunately, it’s not so simple. 

Many are plagued by insomnia, restlessness, and more that keeps them up or tossing and turning at night. 

If it were easy getting to sleep, you probably wouldn’t be reading this guide. We want to take a look at delta 8 THC and how it might help your sleepless nights.

What is Delta 8?

We’ve answered this question in previous guides. However, we want to catch up with those that are just now joining us here. 

Delta 8, or delta 8 THC, is a form of THC. THC, of course, is the chemical compound in cannabis plants that causes their psychoactive effects. 

Typically, when people talk about THC, they mean the delta 9 variant. Delta 9 THC is found abundant in marijuana, while delta 8 is found in significantly smaller quantities.

The biggest difference between delta 8 and delta 9 is their potency levels. As you can imagine, the delta 9 in marijuana is quite strong. Delta 8 is found in smaller quantities. It’s also found to be 50% to 75% less potent than delta 9.

To get more specific about the compound, delta 8 is derived from hemp. As cannabinoids do, this THC can interact with the body through our endocannabinoid system. Our ECS is a system in our body that plays a massive role in helping us to regulate important functions. 

In fact, the endocannabinoid system may help regulate functions that play a role in:

  • Anxiety
  • Digestion
  • Inflammation signals
  • Pain signals
  • Sleep
  • And so much more

That’s because the ECS’ main goal is to help our body maintain homeostasis. This relies heavily on but isn’t limited to maintaining healthy sleep cycles.

Now, cannabinoids like delta 8 can interact with our ECS. That means they can impact the balance our ECS plays on the rest of our bodies. It starts with our circadian rhythm, which is what helps us detect daytime and urges us to sleep at night. 

Does Delta 8 Get You High?

If delta 8 is a THC, does that mean it can get you high? Well, technically yes. 

Just keep in mind, it’s not likely to be as strong of a high as you’d get with marijuana. In fact, some users say it offers a high that’s unique to delta 8 all its own.

Like we said, the biggest difference between delta 8 and delta 9 lies in the potency. While delta 8 can get you high, it’s not going to railroad you as a dab might. To feel similar effects, it often takes more delta 8 compared to its delta 9 counterpart.

So… Is Delta 8 Legal, Then?

If delta 8 can get you high, is it legal? Thanks to the 2018 Farm Bill, the answer is yes. Hemp, delta 8 THC, and all of hemp’s other derivatives were made legal. 

The bill also brought forth a new way to define hemp. Industrial hemp is any cannabis plant that contains 0.3% delta 9 THC or less.

Where Can You Get Delta 8?

Once you learn how to find high-quality delta 8 products, you can confidently get them online. Shopping online for delta 8 is easy once you know what you’re looking for! 

A reliable delta 8 brand will provide lab results of each product. They’ll also demonstrate on their website where their product is cultivated, extracted, and then produced.

That’s why you can reliably get your delta 8 products from Ounce of Hope. We dedicate our time and effort to ensuring you know about every step of our hemp’s journey. 

The only thing we spend more time and effort on is crafting the best products possible. With natural ingredients, pure extracts, and a solventless process, our delta 8 products stand in a league of their own.

Can Delta 8 Help with Sleep?

Now that we’re all caught up, it’s time to answer the important question of this guide. Can delta 8 help with sleep? We don’t have a ton of research on the topic, but what we do know might point to yes. Delta 8 THC could very well help with sleep.

What the Research Says About Delta 8 for Sleep

Cannabis has been used by humans for thousands of years. In fact, its first reported use as medicine dates back about 3,000 years on its own. It’s long since been promoted for various properties, including:

  • Analgesic
  • Sedative
  • Anti-inflammatory
  • Anticonvulsant
  • And more

It was introduced into Western medicine in the 1840s, promoted by Dr. W.B. O’Shaughnessy. Since then, Cannabis sativa has made quite a name for itself.

We’re not talking about cannabis, though. We’re talking about a single cannabinoid inside of cannabis. Can delta 8 help with sleep?

If we look at research from other cannabinoids, the answer still points to yes. CBD, for example, is known to help with both anxiety and sleep. It’s also very likely that CBD can play a positive role in your circadian rhythm

Now, CBD does this by interacting with our endocannabinoid system. Since delta 8 also interacts with that system, even down to the same receptors, it makes sense that it could also help with sleep. 

Once your body becomes regulated with delta 8, the less-potent form of THC could act as CBD does, easing your sleep cycle and promoting rest. Of course, everyone is different, so it comes down to the individual. There’s a good chance that delta 8 can help with sleep, so it’s certainly worth giving it a shot.

Can Delta 8 Help with Things that Hinder Sleep?

This might be a more helpful explanation for how delta 8 helps with sleep to begin with. Is delta 8 actually lulling us to sleep, or is it tackling symptoms that help hinder our sleep? It may be doing a bit of both.

While there’s potential that delta 8 THC can help promote rest, there’s also the potential for it to help with other things that keep you up at night.

  • Many users report that delta 8 helps ease their anxiety, working as a powerful stress reliever. 
  • Others say it helps with certain types of pain, both chronic and temporary. 

Since these are each a stressor that can keep you up at night, it makes sense how delta 8 can help with sleep.

How to Use Delta 8 for Sleep

Next, we want to explore exactly how you might use delta 8 for sleep. We want to offer a few tips that will help you optimize using delta 8 for sleep. 

Disclaimer: Keep in mind, this is not medical advice. We’re not doctors, so we always recommend you consult a medical professional if you’re unsure about a product. 

It’s always good to let your physician know when you’ve added a new supplement to your routine, anyway. This goes especially if you’re already taking prescription medication. Now, onto how to use delta 8 for sleep.

1. Combine Delta 8 with Other Natural Ingredients

Delta 8 isn’t the only thing in the world that can help ease you to sleep. For centuries and, in some cases, millennia, there have been countless ingredients used to help promote relaxation, sleep, or something in between.

Melatonin is still relatively well-known as a sleep aid. In fact, it’s a natural hormone that our bodies already produce at night. Melatonin services as a time cue to tell us when it’s time to sleep. It also promotes sleep anticipation in the brain’s default mode network, or DMN.

Using delta 8 in combination with a melatonin supplement may help promote sleep even better.

Likewise, lavender might be your friend in the evenings. Growing in popularity, more users are mixing lavender in their flower at night. Lavender is well-known to promote relaxation. Research also shows better sleep quality in those that use it.

If you’re looking to use delta 8 for sleep, you might try combining it with one or more other natural sleep aids. Imagine grinding up some lavender with some of our delta 8 flower for a powerful, sleep-stimulating blend.

2. Combine Delta 8 with CBD or Other Cannabinoids

Now that you’re getting creative with blends, you might add some CBD flower to the mix, too. Combining cannabinoids increases your chance at an Entourage Effect, which means a much more intense experience. When it comes to sleep and relaxation, that just means you’ll feel the effects that much easier and faster.

Alternatively to flower, you might also try our CBD + Melatonin softgels. Meant for evening use, each capsule contains 25mg broad-spectrum CBD, 3mg CBN, and 3mg melatonin. That’s a powerful combination already for sleep. Just imagine combining it with delta 8!

3. Choose the Right Strength

We’ll next stop emphasizing that everyone is different. The perfect dosage strength for your friend may be wildly too much for you — or not enough! It takes time to find your ideal dosage size. 

The type of delta 8 product you choose also plays a role. 

Some users find it’s easier to build up and find what’s comfortable with a product like a delta 8 edible. This lets them break down how many milligrams of delta 8 THC they’re consuming at a time. 

When it comes to delta 8 flower or a delta 8 vape cartridge, you base it more on how many puffs you’re taking in one sitting.

4. Start Low and Go Slow

One of the best ways to find your ideal dosage strength is to start low and go slow. Especially if this is your first time trying delta 8 or hemp products, in general, proceed with caution. 

Of course, getting “too high” might just mean you’ll take a nap, or get some munchies. Regardless, it’s much more effective for you to start at the lowest dosage and work your way up slowly. 

  • If you’re eating a delta 8 edible, wait about two hours before you eat another piece. This should give you enough time to see if the first piece is enough or if you do need another one.
  • If you’re puffing on some flower or a vape cartridge, try one to three puffs to start out. It’ll vary depending on your tolerance, but give it about 10 minutes in between each session. That should be enough time for you to get your bearings and decide if it’s going to hit you any harder or not.

5. Find Your Favorite Delta 8 Product – AKA the Right Delivery Method for YOU

There are so many delta 8 products out there nowadays. While that might seem overwhelming, we like to think of it as a pro instead of a con. That just gives you the power to decide on which delta 8 product is truly best for you!

The right delivery method will deliver the effects you want at the intensity level that you want them. 

Maybe that’s two delta 8 gummies

It could be a square of a delta 8 dark chocolate bar.

Maybe you prefer the brownie bites one week because you’ve got a sweet tooth.

Some people don’t like edibles, so the delta 8 softgel capsules might be more your speed. They offer the precise milligrams of an edible without chewing.

Tinctures are a classic option that some users will always be behind. Being able to feel the effects faster by putting the oil directly under the tongue is a huge bonus, after all.

Vape cartridges are also becoming popular in the cannabis world — even in the smaller world of delta 8.

6. Time Your Dosage

Think about when you want to take your delta 8. If you’re using it to help with sleep, taking it in the morning or afternoon won’t make sense. 

You want to time your dosage so that when it kicks in is around the time you’re going to sleep. Depending on the product, you want to take it 30 to 90 minutes before you lay down for bed. 

This is a loose rule, of course. Only time will help you learn how much time you should take your delta 8 before bed.

Final Thoughts: Where to Get Delta 8 for Sleep

So, does delta 8 help with sleep? Because everyone is so different, it’ll take you trying it out to see for yourself. It’s likely that it can help with sleep in some way, especially if you use it like we’ve demonstrated in this guide. 

We hope we were able to inform you on parts of delta 8 for sleep you didn’t know. Try out our delta 8 products today to see if they can improve your sleep throughout the night.