THC, and cannabis in general, are often reported (anecdotally) to improve sleep. In a survey of Canadians who used cannabis for therapeutic purposes, 85% of people reported using cannabis for sleep, making it the most frequently reported use.[1] Despite this, the research is limited, and the results have been fairly mixed.
THC may improve self-reported sleep quality, including reducing the time to fall asleep (sleep latency) and increasing total sleep time. These effects have been the most notable in people with chronic pain but appear less consistently in other populations.[2][3] However, there seems to be a mismatch between subjective and objective measurements of sleep quality. In studies that have monitored brainwave activity, THC has been found to suppress rapid eye movement (REM) sleep and possibly slow-wave sleep (which is important for memory consolidation) with chronic use, and some studies have found increases in sleep latency rather than the self-reported decreases.[2][4][5]
References
- ^Zach Walsh, Robert Callaway, Lynne Belle-Isle, Rielle Capler, Robert Kay, Philippe Lucas, Susan HoltzmanCannabis for therapeutic purposes: patient characteristics, access, and reasons for useInt J Drug Policy.(2013 Nov)
- ^Velzeboer R, Malas A, Boerkoel P, Cullen K, Hawkins M, Roesler J, Lai WWCannabis dosing and administration for sleep: a systematic review.Sleep.(2022-Nov-09)
- ^Wang L, Hong PJ, May C, Rehman Y, Oparin Y, Hong CJ, Hong BY, AminiLari M, Gallo L, Kaushal A, Craigie S, Couban RJ, Kum E, Shanthanna H, Price I, Upadhye S, Ware MA, Campbell F, Buchbinder R, Agoritsas T, Busse JWMedical cannabis or cannabinoids for chronic non-cancer and cancer related pain: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised clinical trials.BMJ.(2021 Sep 8)
- ^Bhagavan C, Kung S, Doppen M, John M, Vakalalabure I, Oldfield K, Braithwaite I, Newton-Howes GCannabinoids in the Treatment of Insomnia Disorder: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.CNS Drugs.(2020-Dec)
- ^Born JSlow-wave sleep and the consolidation of long-term memory.World J Biol Psychiatry.(2010-Jun)