Marijuana and Morpheus: Why does pausing cannabis use spark vivid dreams? – Medical Marijuana Program Connection

In a dream that has stuck with him long after waking, Eric was caught in the middle of a flood. As he helplessly watched the water rise around him, he felt an overwhelming sensation of panic. He tried to find his wife while dodging debris and fragmented pieces of glaciers around him, but he had the sinking sensation that he was experiencing his imminent demise. At last, he found her, and a deep calm washed over him. He no longer worried about the rising waters surrounding him — he was at peace with death.

Eric, who asked to be referred to by only his first name, attributes the vivid dream to not smoking marijuana, which he does habitually. In periods when he is smoking, he rarely remembers any of his dreams. But once he stops, the dreams come back more frequently and in more detail.

“When I’m not using, I will always remember more dreams,” Eric told Salon in an email. “Not every night, but definitely more often, and the memories are more vivid.”

This is a common phenomenon involved in marijuana cessation, said Dr. Ryan Vandrey, a professor in the department of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at John Hopkins School of Medicine. Many people, including Eric, use marijuana in part to help them fall asleep. While some evidence suggests that marijuana may help with the onset of sleep, there are still some unknowns around its impact on the quality of sleep.

What is known is that the main intoxicating ingredient…