Sleep quality is essential for overall physical and mental wellbeing. According to the Mayo Clinic, insomnia is “a common sleep disorder that can make it hard to fall asleep, hard to stay asleep, or cause early awakening.” Chronic insomnia is defined as persistent symptoms lasting more than one month.
Globally, 16.2% of the population suffers from insomnia, while 7.9% experience severe insomnia, with higher prevalence in females across all age groups.
Study Overview: Cannabis for Insomnia
A team of public health researchers in the United Kingdom recently conducted a review of medical cannabis use among insomnia patients. Their findings were published in PLOS Mental Health.
The study analyzed patients diagnosed with primary insomnia from the UK Medical Cannabis Registry (UKMCR). Outcomes were assessed at 1, 3, 6, 12, and 18 months, with participants primarily using THC-dominant medical cannabis products.
Key Findings
Researchers found that cannabis use was associated with improvements across multiple metrics:
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Better sleep quality reported by patients
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Reduced anxiety levels
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Enhanced health-related quality of life (HRQoL)
Adverse effects were reported by fewer than 10% of participants, with the most common being dry mouth and fatigue.
Conclusions and Future Research
The study concluded that medical cannabis shows a promising association with improved sleep outcomes and general wellbeing. Researchers emphasized that these findings could guide future randomized controlled trials (RCTs) to confirm efficacy and optimize treatment protocols.
“This case series study investigated insomnia patients prescribed cannabis-based medicinal products over 18 months. Findings indicate a positive link between treatment and sleep-specific outcomes as well as HRQoL improvements,” the study noted.
