In popular culture, the typical “stoner” is usually portrayed as someone so high, surrounded by snacks and empty wrappers, that they’re unable to leave the confines of their couch. So potent is the cannabis they consume that their inability to get up and do something with the rest of their day borders on helplessness. While that’s an unfortunate representation of cannabis consumers that has roots in long-running anti-cannabis propaganda, it’s a real phenomenon commonly known as “couch lock.”
What is couch lock?
You know couch lock if you’ve seen or experienced it. If you’ve ever enjoyed some cannabis and were suddenly hit with a heavy body high that left you convinced that you’d never leave your seat, then you’ve experienced couch lock. For many people, this experience makes their extremities feel way heavier than normal, and they may feel lethargic as well. While it may be enjoyable, it can often make for a premature end to your day or evening.
Since this type of extremely relaxing high is something that consumers will actively want to either avoid or experience, it’s something that you, as a cultivator, will want to keep in mind. And while many will swear that indica cultivars high in delta-9 Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) are to blame for couch lock, there is no conclusive scientific evidence to suggest that to be the case, nor is there any evidence that sativa cultivars are less likely to cause it. Yet if you’re searching for the culprit behind couch lock, you’ll need an analytical lab.
Is couch lock a bad thing?
For some consumers, couch lock may be a negative thing — but for other folks, it’s great. Some consumers might want to try a cannabis cultivar that causes couch lock if they struggle to fall asleep at night. Other people might just feel that sinking into the couch while watching an engrossing movie or TV show is the peak of euphoria.
Although couch lock isn’t inherently a bad thing, not all consumers want to feel stuck to the couch or unmotivated to do anything. Given the prevalence of consumers who use cannabis to feel inspired, energized, uplifted, or social, cultivating cannabis that doesn’t contain high levels of CBN (more on why that matters) may be the right move. The good news is that research has somewhat determined what causes couch lock and how you can minimize the likelihood that consumers experience it.
Why does couch lock occur?
To solely put the blame on indica cultivars versus sativa cultivars would be missing a major point. Cannabis is a particularly complex plant, and it owes a lot of that complexity to the myriad of active compounds that provide the desired psychoactive and physical effects. The phytocannabinoids, terpenes, and other compounds that exist within cannabis can affect people in different ways, and that distinction is way more important than simply labeling a cultivar an indica, sativa, or a hybrid of the two.
Due to the lack of any consistent cannabis research over the years, scientists haven’t been able to pinpoint one particular compound as the exact trigger for couch lock. Some believe myrcene to be a main contributing factor because of its sedative qualities. However, testing at the 2015 Cannabis Cup in Amsterdam found that some cultivars with high concentrations of myrcene never caused couch lock. Other terpenes like linalool could also be a factor, but we at Cryo Cure are of the mindset that THC degradation could be a better indicator.
THC degradation and couch lock
As cannabis gets older or is improperly stored, it does more than lose its aroma and taste. Over time, the main psychoactive compound, called tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), breaks down. In truth, THC’s degradation begins the moment the cannabis flower is removed from the main plant. As it dries, cures, and is shipped to dispensaries, the THC content in cannabis continues to break down over time. THC degradation is further influenced by improper storage conditions, overly high moisture content that can fuel cannabis-destroying contaminant growth, and overly low moisture content that makes for a brittle and less potent product.
You can see these changes on your cannabis flower. The milky white trichomes that can be seen glistening on high-quality cannabis flower are full of THC. Over time, though, those trichomes change color to a more amber-like hue. That’s your visual cue that THC has broken down and transformed into an entirely different phytocannabinoid—cannabinol (CBN). This change from THC to CBN is also related to the disruption of cannabinoid biosynthetic pathways, which is how phytocannabinoids and terpenes naturally become other compounds.
Most commonly known for its relaxation-inducing properties, CBN is theorized to be the actual cause of couch lock. Therefore, it should come as no surprise to anyone that researchers have been looking into CBN as a potential sleep aid.
How to prevent couch lock
While THC degradation is an inevitability, that doesn’t mean that it has to happen quickly. By properly controlling the temperature, humidity, air, and light levels while drying and curing cannabis, you can drastically slow the degradation of your plants’ THC so that consumers can enjoy your THC for a longer period. In doing so, you minimize your plants’ CBN content, likely reducing the chances that your consumers experience couch lock.
For consumers, preventing couch lock means choosing cultivars with no CBN or that aren’t associated with couch lock. For the extra cautious, entirely forgoing indica cultivars or those with myrcene among their dominant terpenes may be a smart move. However, the scientific evidence linking indica cultivars and myrcene to couch lock is imperfect.
Some people say that forcing oneself to get up and move around a bit can counter couch lock. Small doses of THC are also less likely to lead to couch lock, so encourage your consumers to start low and go slow. And since CBD is known to modulate THC’s effects, enjoying CBD products during a sedative stretch may help counteract couch-lock.
Strains that may cause couch lock
Northern Lights, OG Kush, and Hindu Kush are especially associated with couch lock, but it’s not because of their CBN levels. Notably, Northern Lights is an indica with myrcene among its dominant terpenes, and OG Kush is an indica-leaning hybrid with high myrcene content. You might be able to see why some people associate indicas and myrcene with couch lock, despite this being an imperfect science.
How Cryo Cure beats couch lock
Several interrelated factors influence flower freshness. Time is one of the biggest obstacles: The longer the time between harvest and sale, the more likely it is that THC degrades. But that doesn’t mean corners can be cut during processing; drying and curing are essential for controlling flower moisture content and stabilizing THC content.
This is where Cryo Cured flower reigns supreme. Our patented process applies the right temperature, time, and pressure to each harvest so that the resulting flower’s THC levels are less likely to degrade into CBN.
Not only does this result in a much shorter drying and curing process – one that’s just two to 10 hours – but it means that the moisture content clocks in at precise, correct levels to ensure freshness and potency. It’s a win-win on all counts: For cultivators, a more potent product reaches market in days instead of weeks, and for consumers, the flower’s THC content has yet to degrade into couch lock-inducing CBN. The result is a more euphoric and energizing cannabis experience.
Cryo Cure can curb the couch
While couch lock is still a phenomenon we don’t fully understand, we do know that CBN plays some part. Preventing THC from degrading into CBN in the first place is one of the best ways to ensure that your cannabis experience won’t result in couch lock. With Cryo Cure, not only will your cannabis stay fresher longer, but its THC content will remain intact, especially when stored properly.
Want to learn more about how Cryo Cure can work for you? Check out our FAQ.
