**Sydney, July 10** (The Conversation) – There’s a growing narrative about the benefits of cannabis and cannabinoid products for sleep. Data reveals that many users turn to cannabis for its purported sleep benefits. However, the body of high-quality research on the actual impact of medicinal cannabis on sleep is sparse. In a bid to unravel this mystery, our research team undertook a small-scale pilot study with 20 participants to compare their sleep patterns after consuming a medicinal cannabis product against a placebo. Published today in the Journal of Sleep Research, the findings surprised us. We discovered that a single oral dose of a cannabinoid product resulted in decreased total sleep time and reduced REM sleep (the dream phase of sleep). Interestingly, we did not observe any changes in objective alertness the following day after treatment. Given the limited sample size and the singular dosing in our study, further investigation is warranted. Still, our results suggest that cannabinoids might acutely influence sleep by primarily suppressing REM sleep without noticeable next-day impairment. The study involved 20 participants, 16 of whom were female, all clinically diagnosed with insomnia disorder. This means they experienced difficulties in falling or staying asleep, impacting their social, work, or other significant areas of life. The average age of participants was approximately 46 years. After medical history assessments and overnight diagnostic sleep studies to confirm insomnia (excluding other conditions such as sleep apnea), participants participated in two sleep sessions at the lab, separated by at least a week. During these sessions, they were randomly administered either a placebo or a single oral dose of medical-grade cannabis oil containing 10 mg THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) and 200 mg CBD (cannabidiol). Utilizing a product with precise, known dosing renders the results clinically relevant to prescriptions in Australia. Participants were unaware of whether they received the treatment or the placebo. Each session involved sleeping in the lab with a high-density EEG cap, equipped with 256 monitors, to track brain electrical activity during sleep. The following morning, participants underwent a driving simulation test to assess morning commute impact. Additional tests evaluated their ability to remain awake in calm, dim environments. These assessments were repeated four times with the high-density EEG cap to evaluate alertness the day after treatment or placebo. Our findings challenged our expectations. The THC/CBD treatment reduced total sleep time by an average of 24.5 minutes, significantly affecting REM sleep. Participants not only experienced a reduction of 33.9 minutes of REM sleep but also delayed entry into this phase. The treatment did not help participants maintain sleep throughout the night. Curiously, this decline in sleep quality wasn’t evident to participants; their subjective sleep assessments remained unchanged. Despite reporting feeling marginally sleepier post-treatment, their ability to stay awake in relaxed settings and their cognitive and driving performances didn’t reflect this. This raises important questions: what might be the long-term sleep effects from regular cannabis usage over weeks, months, or years? We currently lack comprehensive answers, particularly with medical-grade cannabis products. Our findings reveal a significant gap between public perceptions and the nuanced reality of cannabis use for sleep. A review we published in Current Psychiatry Reports highlights that the evidence base is still scant. After reviewing 21 studies between 2021 and 2024 on cannabinoids for insomnia and other sleep disorders, we found insufficient research support for medical cannabis as a treatment for sleep issues. This underscores the imperative for more research. Comprehensive, well-funded clinical trials with larger cohorts and more extended treatment durations are urgently needed to provide both doctors and patients with clear, evidence-based guidance on the long-term effects of medicinal cannabis on sleep and daytime functioning. (The Conversation) – GRS GRS
Sydney, July 10 (The Conversation) – There’s a growing narrative about the benefits of cannabis and cannabinoid products for sleep. Data reveals that many users turn to cannabis for its purported sleep benefits. However, the body of high-quality research on the actual impact of medicinal cannabis on sleep is sparse.
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