Sleep is one of the most common reasons people consume cannabis. Mountains of edibles are formulated to induce rest, and certain cannabis varieties are honored for their perceived ability to get people to bed. Medical marijuana has been a godsend for some people struggling with insomnia or other sleep disorders, but not everyone has the same response.
Like all weed experiences, whether someone sleeps after a toke or gummy is entirely up to their unique endocannabinoid system, organ function, and even what they ate that day. The outcome of cannabis for sleep may go either way, and new research shows that the longer the consumer, the less restful the slumber.
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Could medical cannabis eventually work against you?
People with cannabis-use disorder (CUD) and non-users self-reported their sleep and memory to researchers for this study. CUD is a disorder diagnosed in those who seek cannabis to their detriment. It is treated with psychotherapy to identify why someone abuses weed and providing alternative coping mechanisms. Comparing between the 141 people with CUD and 87 without, researchers observed cannabis may not be the sleep aid it is believed to be.
A grant from the National Institute on Drug Abuse/National Institute of Health funded the project. Teams from the University of Texas Center for Brain Health and the University of Amsterdam conducted the analysis.
The cross-sectional study showed that those with CUD reported more sleep problems compared to the non-consuming crowd. Cannabis consumption over the long-term was believed to be the culprit. Participants self-reported sleep problems over the previous seven days, and those with more issues sleeping also showed memory deficiencies. Analysts took sex into account, finding no difference between male and female participants.
Researchers concluded that those consuming cannabis for sleep must be conscious of the potential impact of long-term use. They concluded, as usual, that more research is needed on CUD patients, sleep, and brain health.
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Moderation and balance are key
The study has limitations, like self-reporting and a small data set. However, it also hones in on a legitimate issue among cannabis consumers. Those who take a 420-friendly approach to sleep health could ride a fine line between helping and hurting.
With more understanding of the endocannabinoid system and how modern weed products interact with it, using the plant for sleep will feel like less of a balancing act.
