In a new survey, cannabis users with sleep problems reported that they preferred marijuana to other sleep aids for getting to sleep. They also reported better results the next day and fewer side-effects. The most popular products were vaping or smoking joints that contained CBD, THC and the terpene Myrcene.
Respondents reported that cannabis was more effective than conventional sleep aids, or not using any sleep aids, in allowing them to feel refreshed and focused the next morning, and with less headaches and nausea. They also reported side effects, such as waking up sleepy, anxious, and irritable.
The study was conducted by two psychology researchers from Washington State University and published in Exploration of Medicine late last month. The authors claim that this is the first study to compare cannabis with prescription sleep aids and over-the counter sleep aids.
In a Monday press release, Carrie Cuttler (a WSU professor, and one of the co-authors of the study) said that “in general, cannabis was seen as a better option for sleep issues than prescription sleep aids or over-the counter medications.” “Unlike alcohol and long-acting tranquilizers, cannabis did not cause a hangover effect. However, some people reported lingering effects, such as sleepiness or changes in mood.”
Over 80% of 1,255 cannabis users who were surveyed as part of the #WSU analysis said they no longer use sleep aids like benzodiazepines and melatonin. https://t.co/PpMuA8CL4V
WSUOfficeofResearch (@WSU_Research). November 13, 2023
Researchers at WSU surveyed 1216 people using Strainprint, a medical marijuana app. Nearly two-thirds (64,9 percent) of participants said that they had been experiencing sleep problems for at least five year. Nearly 70 percent reported using cannabis for sleep since at least one year. A majority of respondents (38%) said that they had been using marijuana to help them sleep for one to three years.
Nearly 82 per cent of cannabis users said that they don’t use sleep medication, whether it is prescription or non-prescription. However, more than half had used them in the past. This indicates that some people see marijuana as the better alternative.
More than half of the sample said they used cannabis to fall asleep every night. The majority of respondents smoke joints (46,1 percent), vape flowers (42,6 percent) or use cannabis oil (42.5%) before bed. However, nearly a third use edibles or vape pens. Another 14.6% said that they consume cannabis capsules.
In general, inhaled cannabis is more popular with consumers. However, those who have sleep problems may prefer vaping or smoking. This is because of the rapid onset of inhalation.
Most respondents chose high-THC products (60%) but 21.7 percent preferred a THC-CBD mix. When asked about the cannabinoids that are used to help sleep, 78.8 per cent chose THC, while 47.1 per cent said CBD, and 18.1 percent selected CBN.
Terpenes were also popular, with myrcene (49.0%) being the most common followed by linalool (26.7%), limonene (24.7%) and beta-caryophyllene (1.9%).
Cuttler stated in a WSU release that “one of the findings I found surprising was that people were seeking out the terpene, myrcene, in cannabis in order to help them sleep.” There is evidence that myrcene can help promote sleep in the scientific literature. Cannabis users have apparently figured this out themselves.
When asked how cannabis helped them sleep, respondents reported that it relaxed their mind (81.0%) and body (83.0%) and prevented interruptions of sleep (36.3%). It also promoted a deeper sleep (56.2%) and a longer sleep (41.6%).
The 526 participants who used prescription and OTC sleeping aids along with marijuana reported feeling more refreshed, focused and better able function the next morning when compared to those using OTC or PSA sleep aids. Participants reported less headaches and nausea in the morning.
Participants reported feeling more focused, less headaches and less nausea in the morning following cannabis use for sleep compared to using conventional sleep aids.
The report states that “significantly more participants reported experiencing nausea, anxiety and racing heart while using OTC sleep medication or PSAs than when they used cannabis.”
It is not surprising that some participants reported side effects. Cannabis, for instance, was more likely to cause dry mouth or red eyes than other sleep aids. However, other unintended effects were more notable. The study found that “significantly more participants reported feeling more sleepy and anxious the morning following cannabis use compared to those who did not use sleep aids.”
These findings are in line with previous research, which has shown that marijuana can cause longer sleep durations and less mid-night awakenings but also lead to more fatigue the next day.
Researchers found that over 60% of participants in the study reported sleeping six to eight hour when using cannabis alone. Less than 20% of study participants reported sleeping six to eight-hours when they used a prescription sleep aid or OTC sleep product, whether combined with marijuana.
The authors concluded that “overall, the literature suggests cannabis may be beneficial in some sleep aspects.” However, they added, “additional objective research is required to determine which sleep aspects are positively affected by cannabis and which sleep aspects are negatively affected.”
Researchers said that despite marijuana’s possible side effects, they may be more tolerable than the side effects of more traditional sleep aids.
The study states that “these side effects may not be as severe or disruptive as the side effects experienced with other sleep aids” and “contribute to the perception of cannabis being superior to more traditional sleep aids.”
The authors noted that the survey was biased towards people who already use cannabis, because they believe it is helpful. Cuttler stated that not everyone will find cannabis helpful for their sleep. Future research should use objective sleep measures in order to gain a better understanding of cannabis’ effects on sleep.
Other studies have looked at the quality of sleep and consumers generally say that marijuana improves their sleep. In two recent studies, one involved people with chronic illnesses and the other looked at people diagnosed with neurologic disorders. Both found that cannabis improved sleep quality.
In a 2019 study, people tend to buy fewer OTC sleeping medications when they are able to access marijuana legally. The authors of the study found that cannabis competes favorably with OTC sleeping aids.
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