What Is the Best Indica Strain for Better Sleep?
Experienced cannabis consumers know that there's nothing like a 420 break to help you wind down before going to bed, and when it's sedative effects you're after, the best strains are definitely indicas. For a good night's sleep, our top picks include indica-dominant members of the kush family, indica-dominant purple strains, and award-winning indicas including Northern Lights and Girl Scout Cookies.
Kush Strains
All of the indica-dominant kush strains are great strains for sleep. Whether you personally prefer to smoke pre-rolls or dab cannabis concentrates based on classics like Afghan Kush, Hindu Kush, and Kosher Kush, or try newer cultivars like Obama Kush and Tropical Kush, all of these strains are said to be deeply relaxing and sedating.
Spotlight Kush Strain #1: Obama Kush
Named after Barack Obama, this 65% indica, 35% sativa strain is described as relaxing, calming, sleepy, and happy with powerful physical and sedative effects and a cerebral lift. This strain has approximately 14-21% THC and the terpenes caryophyllene, limonene, and pinene combine to create a unique flavor that is reminiscent of grapes with sage and plum.
Spotlight Kush Strain #2: Tropical Kush
Tropical Kush is an indica-dominant strain with an unknown lineage. In addition to inducing sleep, Tropical Kush can heighten creativity and make you tingle. It is often used to ease insomnia, cramps, and mood problems. Enjoy the aromas of blue cheese, tropical fruits, and lemon as your mind calms down and your body prepares to drift off to sleep.
Other Indica Strains for Sleep
Aside from the kush-derived varieties, many of the best indica strains for sleep are also the strongest indica strains. GG4, Granddaddy Purple, Purple Punch, Northern Lights, Skywalker OG, and Wedding Cake are popular weed strains for sleep, and you can read about them in our guide to the strongest indica strains.
If you've tried the cannabis strains on our strong indica list and are looking for new flavors to try—or perhaps you haven't yet found the right strain—these sleepy marijuana strains are popular in Seattle, WA, and we personally think they are some of the best.
Blueberry
An award-winning indica-dominant hybrid with 16-24% THC and myrcene as its dominant terpene, Blueberry is a great choice for sleep. This popular strain has a delicious blueberry vanilla flavor and brings on a sense of calm and ease.
Do-Si-Dos
Do-Si-Dos is a colorful award-winning indica-leaning hybrid with 20% THC and limonene as its primary terpene. This sweet, earthy, and pungent-smelling strain is reported to bring on a full-body feeling of relaxation that melts over you and radiates outwards.
Forbidden Fruit
As the name suggests, Forbidden Fruit has a delectable fresh fruity taste that combines grapefruit, lemon, sweet berries, and pine. With 23-26% THC and plenty of myrcene, this indica-dominant hybrid eases discomfort for a happy and contented sleep.
Girl Scout Cookies
Girl Scout Cookies, or GSC, is renowned as a powerful and deliciously sweet indica-dominant strain with high levels of THC. After savoring the dessert-like minty flavor of this multiple-award winner, expect to feel euphoric, hungry, and sleepy.
GMO Cookies (Garlic Cookies)
GMO Cookies is 90% indica with high THC levels (between 20-28%) and plenty of caryophyllene. Taken in concert, the result is a long-lasting sedative high followed by total relaxation and sleep.
God's Gift
Another strain with 90% indica and high THC levels (around 27%), God's Gift may just be a heaven-sent remedy for anyone who struggles to sleep. With Granddaddy Purple as a parent strain, expect strong grape and berry flavors and a strongly relaxing sedative high.
Mochi
Mochi is the offspring of Sunset Sherbet and Thin Mint Girl Scout Cookies, which explains its mouth-watering sweet and minty flavor. This indica-dominant hybrid has lower THC levels—around 10%—but offers potent sedative effects.
How Indica Strains Might Help with Sleep
The indica/sativa denomination mostly refers to the shape of the leaves on the plant (and not the strain's chemical makeup). However, the best strains for sleep usually carry a decent percentage of indica in their genetic lineage, and the strongest sativa strains are typically energizing.
The sedative effects of the most potent indica strains are ultimately thought to be the result of each strain's unique cocktail of cannabinoids and terpenes and the way these chemicals combine (known as the entourage effect).
Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). In the short term, THC appears to help with falling asleep and increases the amount of deep sleep, which is the kind of sleep that helps you wake up feeling refreshed. Long-term consumption may decrease REM sleep or dream sleep, so this cannabinoid may be best used as a short-term measure or with breaks to prevent tolerance from building up.
Cannabidiol (CBD). Self-perceived anxiety and trouble falling asleep are two of the main reasons people try CBD. Small doses appear to help with wakefulness, whereas high doses may promote sleep. CBD-dominant strains and tinctures could be especially helpful for people who can't sleep due to anxious thoughts or a racing mind.
Cannabinol (CBN). Cannabinol is often present in sleepy strains and is typically included in tinctures intended to promote sleep. Research has found that CBN has sedative effects in animals but further studies in humans are needed.
Terpenes. Caryophyllene and myrcene are two of the terpenes you'll frequently find in sleep-promoting strains. However, science shows sedative potential in other terpenes as well, including terpinolene, limonene, alpha-pinene, humulone, and linalool.
Sweet Dreams!
Indicas in general have a reputation for being relaxing and sedating, and with this large variety of strains to try, you can look forward to several deep, refreshing nights of sleep.
If you have long-term sleeping problems—perhaps due to anxiety, chronic pain, or one or more general sleep disorders—see a healthcare professional who can help you get to the bottom of the problem and monitor your treatments and progress over time.