Rediscovering Dreams: The Hidden Cost of Marijuana and the Power of REM Sleep
Since quitting marijuana, something amazing has returned to my life—something I hadn’t realized I was missing: my dreams. I had forgotten what it was like to dream, but now, every night, I find myself lost in vivid, long-lasting dreams. It's as if I’ve rediscovered a whole new part of life. For years, I used to think marijuana was harmless. Sure, it relaxed me and helped me cope with stress, but what I didn’t realize was the cost it had on my sleep, specifically on my REM sleep. Marijuana significantly reduces the amount of REM sleep you get, the stage of sleep when most dreaming occurs. Without it, your brain doesn’t get the full chance to process the events of the day, leaving thoughts and emotions unorganized. Since I quit smoking, my dreams have come back—every night. And it’s not just that I dream; my dreams are vivid, rich, and incredibly long. In fact, dreams seem to have their own time dilation, extending what feels like a few hours into a longer experience. In a way, it fe...