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Last updated: September 2026.
The short answer
Some people say they have more vivid or memorable dreams after taking CBD, especially in the evening, while others notice no change. There is very little research on CBD and dreaming. In a study of healthy adults, a 300mg dose of CBD did not change the structure of sleep, including dream (REM) sleep (Linares et al., 2018). The most likely explanation for more vivid dreams is simpler: if you sleep more deeply or wake less, you are more likely to remember your dreams.
Why might CBD affect your dreams?
- Better or longer sleep. Most dreaming happens in REM sleep, which gets longer towards the morning. If CBD helps you feel calmer and sleep through, you spend more time in those later REM periods and may remember more.
- Waking up at the right moment. We mostly remember dreams we wake up during or just after. Changes in your sleep pattern can change what you remember.
- Less stress at bedtime. Stress affects both how you sleep and what you dream about. Many people take CBD as part of a wind-down routine.
CBD vs THC and dreams
It is worth separating CBD from THC, the compound in cannabis that causes a high. THC is known to reduce REM sleep, and people who stop using cannabis often report a rebound of intense, vivid dreams. CBD does not act like THC in this way, and our CBD products contain no THC.
What does the research say about CBD and sleep?
- Healthy adults: 300mg of CBD taken before bed did not change sleep stages or sleep quality compared with placebo (Linares et al., 2018).
- Adults with anxiety or poor sleep: in a 2019 case series of 72 adults, about two thirds reported better sleep in the first month, though scores varied over time (Shannon et al., 2019).
- Dream-enactment behaviour: a very small 2014 study of four people with Parkinson’s disease found fewer episodes of acting out dreams while taking CBD (Chagas et al., 2014). This is too small to draw conclusions from.
What about reishi mushroom and dreams?
Reishi (Ganoderma lucidum) is a mushroom that has been taken in the evening in China and Japan for centuries to help people wind down. Some people who take it report more vivid dreams too. Human research on reishi and sleep is limited, so treat these reports as experiences rather than proven effects.
Is it bad to have vivid dreams on CBD?
Usually not. Vivid dreams are common and harmless for most people. If dreams become unsettling or you wake up feeling unrested:
- Take your CBD a little earlier in the evening.
- Reduce your amount by a drop or two.
- Avoid alcohol and heavy meals late at night.
- Keep a regular bedtime and wake-up time.
If you have nightmares that disturb your sleep regularly, speak to your GP.
How to use CBD in your evening routine
Most people take CBD oil 30 to 60 minutes before bed. Start with around 25mg (5 drops of our 10% CBD oil) and adjust slowly. Our CBD Oil for Sleep bundle is designed for evening use, and our CBN Snooze Oil is our dedicated night-time formula. Read CBN vs CBD for sleep to compare them.
A quick guide to sleep stages and dreaming
To understand why anything can change your dreams, it helps to know how a night of sleep works. Sleep comes in cycles of roughly 90 minutes, and most adults go through four to six cycles a night. Each cycle moves through light sleep, deep sleep and REM (rapid eye movement) sleep.
- Light sleep takes up about half the night. Your breathing and heart rate slow and your body temperature drops.
- Deep sleep comes mostly in the first half of the night. It is the hardest stage to wake from.
- REM sleep is when most vivid, story-like dreams happen. REM periods get longer as the night goes on, so the longest ones are in the early morning.
Whether you remember a dream depends mostly on whether you wake up during or just after a REM period. People who sleep a little lighter, sleep in later, or wake briefly in the early hours tend to remember more dreams, even if they are not dreaming any more than usual.
Why you might remember more dreams
If you notice your dreams more after starting CBD, the CBD may not be the only reason. Common things that change dream recall include:
- a new routine or bedtime, which changes when you wake in your sleep cycle
- sleeping in at the weekend, which adds extra REM in the morning
- cutting back on alcohol, which can lead to a short “REM rebound” with intense dreams
- stress or a busy period at work
- some medicines, including certain antidepressants
This is why it is worth tracking a few nights before deciding what is causing the change.
Sleep habits that matter more than any supplement
No supplement can make up for poor sleep habits. These simple changes are the ones sleep experts recommend first:
- Get up at the same time every day, including weekends.
- Get daylight in the morning, even a 10-minute walk.
- Stop caffeine by early afternoon. Tea, coffee, cola and energy drinks all count.
- Keep alcohol light, and not close to bedtime.
- Keep the bedroom cool, dark and quiet.
- Put screens away for the last half hour and give yourself a wind-down routine.
CBD fits into that routine; it does not replace it. Many customers take their CBD oil for sleep or CBN Snooze oil as part of a regular wind-down, at the same time each evening.
CBD vs melatonin
People often ask how CBD compares with melatonin. They are very different things. Melatonin is a hormone your body makes to signal that it is night-time, and in Ireland melatonin products are prescription-only medicines. CBD is a hemp compound sold as a food supplement, and it does not act as a sleep hormone.
If you have been prescribed melatonin or any other sleep medication, speak to your doctor or pharmacist before adding CBD.
Keep a simple sleep and dream diary
If you want to know how CBD affects your sleep and dreams, a two-week diary is the most useful thing you can do. Each morning, jot down:
- what time you took CBD and how much
- when you went to bed and when you woke
- whether you remember any dreams, and what they were like
- how rested you feel, on a scale of 1 to 10
- anything unusual: caffeine late in the day, alcohol, a stressful day
After two weeks you will usually see a pattern. If vivid dreams bother you, try taking your CBD earlier in the evening, or reduce the amount, and see what changes.
Frequently asked questions
Does CBD give you weird dreams?
Some people report more vivid or memorable dreams; many notice no change. There is no good evidence that CBD itself causes strange dreams.
Does CBD stop you dreaming?
There is no evidence that it does. In a study of healthy adults, CBD did not change the amount of dream (REM) sleep.
Can CBD cause nightmares?
Nightmares are not a commonly reported side effect of CBD. If you notice them, try taking CBD earlier, lowering the amount, or stopping to see if they settle.
Disclaimer: CBD and functional mushrooms are sold as food supplements. They are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease and are not a substitute for medical advice. Always consult a healthcare professional before starting a new supplement, especially if you take medication, are pregnant or breastfeeding.
Can CBD help with nightmares?
There is not enough research to say CBD helps with nightmares, and we do not make that claim. If you have frequent or distressing nightmares, speak to your GP, as they can have many causes that are worth looking into.
Should I take CBD in the morning if it gives me vivid dreams?
You can. Some people find that moving their CBD to the morning or afternoon makes their dreams feel more normal. Others prefer an evening routine. Try one change at a time and note what happens in your diary.
Do CBN products affect dreams?
Some customers say they dream more vividly with CBN, others notice no change. There is very little research on CBN and dreams, so treat any change as personal to you.
Will stopping CBD change my dreams?
Some people notice their dreams change for a few nights when they stop or change their routine. This usually settles quickly as your sleep pattern finds its normal rhythm.
Can I take CBD with sleeping tablets?
Speak to your GP or pharmacist first. CBD can interact with some medicines, including sedatives and sleeping tablets, and together they could make you drowsier than expected.
References
- Linares, I.M.P. et al. (2018) “No acute effects of cannabidiol on the sleep-wake cycle of healthy subjects: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover study.” Frontiers in Pharmacology
- Shannon, S. et al. (2019) “Cannabidiol in anxiety and sleep: a large case series.” The Permanente Journal
- Chagas, M.H.N. et al. (2014) “Cannabidiol can improve complex sleep-related behaviours associated with rapid eye movement sleep behaviour disorder in Parkinson’s disease patients: a case series.” Journal of Clinical Pharmacy and Therapeutics
