When considering all the evidence (it appears that cannabis may lead to temporary), subjective enhancements; however, the presence of tolerance, withdrawal symptoms, and varying results among different studies underscores the necessity for additional investigation. The results were predominantly neutral to somewhat positive. Research in this field remains sparse and inconsistent. Over time, the influence of cannabis on sleep tends to become neutral, and in certain instances, it may deteriorate sleep quality.
The Strainprint app was utilized to gather data (enabling medical cannabis users to log their conditions and symptoms), monitor cannabis consumption, and assess the severity of symptoms both before and after using cannabis. People often consume cannabis products for sleep purposes prior to bedtime. Although limited research has been conducted on the optimal strain for sleep, a small study identified several strains that are favored. Furthermore, individuals who are expecting or breastfeeding should refrain from using cannabis products containing THC or CBD. This is attributable to variations in how different cannabinoids (specifically THC and CBD), interact with the body.
Descriptive statistics for anxiety and sleep scores among adults using cannabidiol treatment Table 1 provides means and standard deviations for sleep and anxiety scores at baseline and during the follow-up period for adults taking CBD. Deidentified patient data were evaluated using descriptive statistics and plotted graphically for visual analysis and interpretation of trends. Side effects and tolerability of CBD treatment were assessed through spontaneous patient self-reports and were documented in case records.
There has been extensive research on the effects of cannabis on the pulmonary system both in the acute and long-term settings. There is suggestion on a molecular level and based on retrospective analyses that cannabis may have a negative impact on the cardiovascular system, but prospective clinical data has not confirmed these suggested findings. However, this study was limited by measuring its variables by self-report, as the outcomes could be subject to recall bias, and the self-reported cannabis use was in poor agreement with biochemical validation (Jeffers et al., 2024). These changes dysregulate stress and anxiety responses, thermoregulation, the transient receptor potential vanilloid system, and several neurotransmitter systems, and thus may mediate the pathophysiology of CHS , DeVuono & Parker, 2020,.
Another key factor to consider regarding cannabis use among teenagers and young adults is its impact on cognitive abilities and intelligence. According to the entourage effect theory, the components of whole-flower cannabis that are non-THC have an effect on the overall influence of cannabis. Nevertheless, a literature review analyzing the relationship between CBD and anxiety concluded that the evidence is both mixed and limited , Lichenstein, 2022,.
Among respondents responsible cannabis awareness in biker culture aged 25 to 44 (45% reported a positive effect of marijuana on sleep), whereas older adults were less inclined to use marijuana. The findings indicate that there are differences in marijuana use and its perceived effects on sleep based on age and gender. Conversely (19% of adults reported that marijuana had no effect on their sleep (11%) or that their sleep quality worsened with marijuana use (8%)), while 47% indicated they do not use marijuana at all. A third (33%) of adults noted that their sleep improved slightly or significantly with marijuana usage.
Sleep is crucial for maintaining cognitive function, suggesting that cannabis may have an interactive or additive effect on cognition through its impact on sleep. The expression pattern of ECB throughout the day implies that regions of the brain related to cognitive functions may be governed in a circadian-like fashion. Growing interest in the ECB system stems from its alleged involvement in regulating sleep and cognitive processes.
These findings support the hypothesis that CBD has more predictable sleep-promoting effects that may be moderated by stress (underlying health conditions), and concurrent medications. Studies have shown that low-to-moderate doses of CBD promote wakefulness in young adults and preclinical models 39 — 40 and improve sleep in adults . This study also confirms that higher doses of CBD result in greater sleep improvement 36, 37, even though, unlike THC, CBD is not thought to alter sleep architecture . During their participation, 75% of cancer patients used enteral (oral) cannabis products, either alone or in combination with inhalation products. Approximately 40% qualified for the reduced program fee, which was used in this study as a proxy for patient financial status.
Methods
The other authors have no competing interests to disclose. We identified twenty-one recent studies of cannabinoids for insomnia (subjective sleep impairment), obstructive sleep apnoea, rapid eye movement sleep behaviour disorder, and restless legs syndrome. There isn’t conclusive evidence on whether CBD or THC is better for relieving insomnia symptoms.While cannabis may help people with insomnia fall asleep easier — heavy or extended use may negatively impact your circadian rhythm and make it harder to fall and stay asleep. Many people use cannabis to successfully manage their chronic pain and insomnia. For people with certain conditions (such as chronic pain), post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and multiple sclerosis, cannabis may help them fall asleep faster, wake up less during the night, and enjoy better sleep quality overall. With the changing legal climate, it is more likely for providers to encounter patients who report the use of cannabis products for sleep.
The limited number of human studies examining the impact of cannabis on sleep and cognition restricts the alignment of findings and indicates a separation between cannabis effects on cognitive function and sleep. This study cohort included 40 articles, of which 28 focused on cannabis’s effects on sleep, 4 assessed both sleep and chronic pain, 3 documented the effects of cannabis on sleep and PTSD, another 3 specifically investigated cannabis’s impact on OSA, and 2 examined cannabis concerning RLS. This research occurred within the Minnesota Medical Cannabis Program (MMCP), which permits patients with particular qualifying conditions to access cannabis products. Nonetheless, these findings align with a cross-sectional survey of medical cannabis users that indicated inhalation as the predominant method of consumption. De-identified data were sourced from Strainprint®, which operates a medical cannabis technology platform in Canada. The final participant sample comprised 991 Canadian medicinal cannabis users suffering from insomnia who used the app to monitor variations in their insomnia symptoms over 24,189 recorded sessions.
While an initial open label trial showed some improvements in the apnea-hypopnea index (AHI), there was substantial heterogeneity in response. About the Survey The American Academy of Sleep Medicine commissioned an onlin3e survey of 2,007 adults in the U.S. The CDC found that 3.7% of adults in the U.S. used marijuana or another cannabis product most days or every day in the past 30 days to help them fall or stay asleep. Studies examining the impact of cannabis products on sleep have produced conflicting results.
Findings from this extensive naturalistic sample of medicinal cannabis users who tracked their insomnia symptoms before and after cannabis use indicate considerable improvements in insomnia, with no observable gender differences in perceived effectiveness. Moreover — studies examining the effects of cannabis on sleep frequently involve individuals with additional health issues. Three studies on animals also investigated the influence of cannabis on sleep-wake patterns and cognitive functioning. In this systematic scoping review, we discovered six human studies and six animal studies that included data regarding the effects of the sleep-wake cycle and the ECB system on cognitive performance and behavior.