As an insomniac for more or less my entire adult life, I have tried most every over the counter sleep aid, and sampled the major Z-drugs. For me, I have found that zolpidem (brand name Ambien) and eszopiclone (brand name Lunesta) work very well for getting to sleep, but do little or nothing for my quality of sleep, and I often dream more vividly on those drugs. Good old diphenhydramine (the active ingredient in classic Benadryl, and the primary ingredient in many over the counter sleep aids) works pretty well at both getting me to sleep and keeping me that way, but tends to wear off about halfway through a night of sleep. There is also some evidence that diphenhydramine and other anticholinergic drugs may increase the risk of dementia. As ever, it is wise not to rush to conclusions, but if you have a family history of dementia, that potential risk is worth considering.

Nevada, my previous state of residence, has legal recreational cannabis, and despite a strong aversion to stoner culture, while I was living there I decided to give some cannabis edibles and tinctures a try for a better night of sleep. For the first time in my adult life, I was able to sleep soundly through a full night. With some trial and error, I eventually hit on a 5:1 THC:CBD tincture that produced the best results. But then in August of 2023, I moved from Nevada to a state that will sooner legalize cannibalism than cannabis, and found myself back to a cocktail of diphenhydramine, melatonin and a 2.5 oz over-pour of Henry McKenna Sour Mash Bourbon. That combination is the most effective over the counter solution I have thus far found, but I still typically find myself waking up halfway through the night, and then tossing and turning until waking up like a zombie. I had read previous reporting that thanks to the 2018 Farm Bill, delta-9 THC products were brought into nationwide, if not legal, then “not-explicitly-illegal” status, as long as the delta-9 THC is derived from hemp with a THC content of 0.3% or less. The hunt was on. Delta-9 THC is the hypnotic, euphoria-producing chemical in cannabis that is generally being referred to when one makes reference to “THC.” Delta-8 THC had been (questionably) legal even prior to the 2018 Farm Bill, but delta-9 is the “good” or “bad” chemical, depending on who you ask.

After comparing products from several suppliers, I found The Hemp Doctor Delta9 THC/CBD/CBN Full Spectrum Nighttime Gummies. The dosage of THC and CBD was the most similar to the tincture I had been using than any of the others I found, so I decided it would be the most suitable option to try. The gummies are available in watermelon, tangerine or “berry blast” flavors. I opted for the tangerine. The gummies are available in a 10 count or 30 count package, for $17.95 and $47.95, respectively. Despite a smaller quantity being better suited for a trial run, I opted for the 30 count in hopeful anticipation that they would be legitimate and effective. Shipping is by USPS Priority Mail and costs an additional $8.95. The site was running a 5th anniversary promotion when I placed my order, so I got $5 off, for a total order amount of $51.90. That is more expensive than a thirty day supply of generic prescription sleep aids, which seems a bit absurd. There are less expensive hemp-derived delta-9 THC edibles available from other suppliers, but about the lowest price I was able to find for the same total amount of THC and count of gummies was around $28. Eventually, I may explore some of those options, but I wanted to try to find a product that would most closely approximate the one I was using in Nevada, and decided to absorb the higher price to obtain it.

The Hemp Doctor advertises that its products are made in the USA from organically grown hemp, with certificate of analysis and potency reports being verified through third party laboratory testing. A cannabinoid certificate of analysis is available at the website for the Delta9 THC/CBD/CBN Full Spectrum Nighttime Gummies, but the date on that document is 11/18/2022. Call me a cynic, but I would take any of The Hemp Doctor’s marketing claims with a grain of salt. In fact, I would not be shocked to find out that they, and many other suppliers in this legally murky market, are using synthetic cannabinoid analogues, such as those that were formerly sold as potpourri before being chased off the market by drug enforcement agencies and police. While it would be ideal to know the provenance of the substances one ingests, frankly, at this point, I am more concerned that the product does what it says on the tin.

 

The Hemp Doctor Delta9 THC/CBD/CBN Full Spectrum Nighttime Gummies – open package.

 

I placed my order, and 6 days later, I had a small plastic tub of tangerine flavored gummy squares with ~12.5 mg THC, ~15 mg CBD and ~5 mg CBN per square. The tangerine flavor is reminiscent of the artificial orange flavoring one encounters in many over the counter cold remedies, vitamin C lozenges, and the like. It is not unpleasant, and does not linger long, but also not noteworthy for its deliciousness. But then, no one is eating these for a delicious snack. The flavoring is more than adequate to the task. The tincture I had been using in Nevada was, depending on the batch, ~12 mg to ~15 mg THC and ~3 mg CBD per milliliter serving. The dosage of THC being so similar, I took a full gummy a couple of hours before bed to see what kind of results I would get. Unlike smoking cannabis, edibles and tinctures take longer to take affect as they are absorbed into the bloodstream primarily through the intestine and processed by the liver (tinctures are partially absorbed sublingually, so effects can be felt a bit sooner than with a chewable gummy). The tincture I had been using usually took around 35-45 minutes to begin taking effect, with peak effects kicking in after about an hour to an hour and 15 minutes. I expected similar results, if not a bit longer, from the gummies, and was not disappointed. It took about an hour to begin feeling noticeable effects, with peak effects at right about the second hour. Having been using my previous tincture for several years at the same dosage, I expected similar results, even despite a roughly 5 month abstention. Here, I was mistaken. Whether my cannabinoid receptors were sharpened by the absence, or perhaps the delivery mechanism, origin of THC, or the so-called entourage effect with the additional CBD and CBN plays a role, when that second hour rolled around, my happy stupor was substantially fuzzier and heavier than that to which I am accustomed. Shortly thereafter, I laid down to go to sleep.

I was able to fall asleep quickly, but the real test for me is staying asleep without disruptive dreaming, tossing and turning. The next morning, I woke up to the sound of my alarm clock for the first time in at least a month, as I had been waking up anywhere between 20 and 45 minutes prior to the alarm, usually after having spent the previous 2-3 hours vividly dreaming, tossing and turning. I remembered no dreams, and woke up on the same side on which I had fallen asleep 8 hours earlier. Best sleep I had experienced since I moved. Nevertheless, one cannot rule out the placebo effect, so I was curious to see if the results would be durable. The next night, and every night since, I reduced the dosage to a half gummy, and obtained a less dramatic result much more similar to the tincture I had been using previously. Unsurprisingly, the time frame of action is unaffected, the intensity of the result is just lower. A mellower buzz is sufficient to get to me to sleep, and also just more pleasant for me, subjectively. It also means 30 gummies will last me 2 months, which is a nice unexpected cost savings. On the half gummy, the results in terms of sleep have not been substantially different. In the roughly 2 and a half weeks since, I have been consistently sleeping through the night until my alarm goes off, and experiencing much better sleep quality. I typically turn over twice during the night, and have only a sporadic handful of remembered dreams. Upon waking, I have yet to experience any hangover effects or grogginess. In fact, after a night of quality sleep, I find that I am much more alert and functional when I get up. I begin my day with a cup of caffeinated tea, but lately I had been taking an additional 200 mg caffeine pill before clocking in to work in order to stay alert, with a second pill added at lunch as needed. With the improved sleep I have been getting, I have been able to dispense with the additional caffeine pills, and the accompanying jitteriness.

So, in answer to the question “Does it do what it says on the tin?”, resoundingly yes, it does. I cannot guarantee The Hemp Doctor is, in fact, using lab-certified, organically grown hemp to derive their delta-9 THC, or if they are securing THC from cannabis plants through less than legal means, or if they are using a cheap analogue from a Chinese basement laboratory. Whatever the case may be, the Delta9 THC/CBD/CBN Full Spectrum Nighttime Gummies produce results practically indistinguishable from state-legal cannabis products. This particular insomniac is pleased, and happy to recommend this product to anyone who needs a little pharmaceutical assistance with sleep.

One final note: If you are in a job where drug testing is an issue, these gummies, or any similar type of delta-9 THC product, presuming they are legitimate delta-9 THC and not an analogue, will leave detectable THC metabolites in your urine that will cause you to fail a standard urine drug screening. This is not innocuous CBD, you’re dabbling in the “real deal.” Even if selling and purchasing these products is, at least, “not explicitly illegal,” having THC metabolites in your body is not without legal and professional risks. Plan accordingly.