Marijuana Tea Recipe for Sleep: Dose, Steps, Timing

Quick Answer

A marijuana tea for sleep needs three things: decarboxylated cannabis, a fat, and heat. Grind 1 gram of flower. Bake it at 240 F for 40 minutes. Simmer it in 2 cups of whole milk for 20 minutes. Strain. One cup holds roughly 30 to 60 mg of THC, based on flower that tests at 15 to 20 percent THC. A sleep dose is 5 to 10 mg. Drink it 60 to 90 minutes before bed.

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Why Fat Matters

THC and CBD dissolve in fat, not water. Hot water alone pulls out almost no cannabinoids. Whole milk, cream, butter, and coconut oil carry them into the drink. Skip skim milk. The fat content is too low.

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Ingredients

• 1 gram cannabis flower, ground
• 2 cups whole milk, or 2 cups water plus 1 tablespoon coconut oil
• 1 teaspoon honey
• 1 pinch ground cinnamon

Steps

1. Heat the oven to 240 F.
2. Spread the ground cannabis on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
3. Bake for 40 minutes. This step is decarboxylation. It converts THCA into THC.
4. Pour the milk into a saucepan. Warm it to 160 F to 180 F. Do not boil. Boiling burns the milk and degrades THC.
5. Add the cannabis. Simmer for 20 minutes. Stir every 5 minutes.
6. Strain through a fine mesh strainer or cheesecloth into a mug.
7. Stir in the honey and cinnamon.

Dose

Measure before you drink. One gram of 15 percent flower holds about 150 mg of THC. Decarboxylation and straining lose 20 to 40 percent. That leaves 90 to 120 mg in the full batch. Split the batch into 2 cups and each cup holds 45 to 60 mg. That is 6 to 12 sleep doses. Start with 5 mg of THC, which is one quarter cup or less. Wait 2 hours before you take more. Edibles and drinks pass through the liver. The effect arrives later and hits harder than smoking.

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Timing

Drink the tea 60 to 90 minutes before bed. Onset runs 30 to 90 minutes on an empty stomach and 2 hours after a meal. The effect lasts 4 to 8 hours. A morning dose can leave you impaired at work.

What Research Shows

THC shortens the time it takes to fall asleep. It also suppresses REM sleep, the stage tied to memory and dreaming. Daily use builds tolerance in 1 to 2 weeks. Stopping after daily use can cause rebound insomnia and vivid dreams for several days. Evidence for CBD as a sleep aid is mixed. One review found no clear benefit at common doses, and some studies show alertness at low doses.

Storage

Refrigerate the tea for up to 3 days. Freeze it for up to 3 months. Reheat on the stove at low heat. Label the container with the date and the dose per cup. Keep it away from children and pets.

Risks and Cautions

Do not mix cannabis tea with alcohol, benzodiazepines, or opioid painkillers. The combination slows breathing. Do not drive after drinking it. Cannabis impairs balance and reaction time for several hours. Talk to a doctor before use if you take blood thinners, seizure medicine, or medicine for liver or kidney disease. Some people get anxiety, a fast heart rate, or nausea from THC. If that happens, stay seated, drink water, and wait. The effect fades.