Raw cannabis products were excluded due to limitations in THC and CBD quantification. Patient enrollment records documented demographic variables (including age), sex, height, weight, race, ethnicity, and eligibility for reduced program fees. Sleep (a cornerstone of human health), is a complex physiological process that is vital for cognitive functioning, memory consolidation, and overall well-being 3, 4. Patient-reported symptom responses were obtained from 1962 cancer patients enrolled in the Minnesota Medical Cannabis Program (MMCP) from 2015 to 2023. Despite limited research, cancer patients are opting for compounds found in cannabis, like tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD), to improve their sleep.

No financial interests or conflicts of interest related to any discussed product or service in the manuscript are declared by the authors. Apoorva C. Reddy authored green technology in THC startups the first draft of the manuscript — which received feedback from all contributors regarding earlier versions. The authors take full responsibility for the content, which may not reflect the official opinions of the NIH.

The authors evaluated cognitive function with respect to ADHD symptoms and used self-reported sleep quality surveys. The sixth and final study identified in this review was unique in that it examined associations between reward response — cannabis use, and circadian preference in the same participants at two different ages, 20 and 22 (Hasler et al., 2017). (Figure 1) Four duplicates were identified — leaving 194 reports for the first assessment. A conceptual model demonstrating the hypothesized interactions between cannabis, endocannabinoid signaling, sleep regulation and cognitive function. As our conceptual figure (Figure 1) illustrates — we predict that the existing literature will demonstrate that cannabis, through ECB signaling, has direct effects on cognitive function, and indirect effects by modulating sleep regulation.

Dr. Fariha Abbasi-Feinberg installed as president of American Academy of Sleep Medicine

The effects of cannabis on sleep or cognition have been independently reviewed, however to our knowledge it is yet to be investigated whether effects of cannabis on cognition and sleep are independent of each other. We identified 6 human and 6 animal studies to be eligible for inclusion in this review. While various studies have suggested that chronic exposure to THC and other CB1-activating compounds may lead to slight improvements in sleep, recent meta-analyses, such as one conducted by Mucke et al. (2018) based on Cochrane data, have critiqued the quality of these findings . This is in accordance with a more recent metanalyses of the treatment of insomnia,108 medical cannabis used for impaired sleep,109 and a narrative review.8 The response to cannabis use varies widely (and more extensive), power-adequate, randomized placebo-controlled trials are needed to clarify the role of medical cannabis in the sleep disorders.

Table 2.

Between 2007 and 2017, changes in cigarette smoking and cannabis use among adults in both urban and rural areas of the United States were observed. In adolescent cannabis users, decision-making is correlated with altered volume in the frontal cortex. The impact of cannabis on brain structure over the long term. According to a literature review from 2021 — several studies involving both animals and infertile males indicated that exposure to THC causes a halt in sperm production and spermatogenesis (Ryan et al., 2021). A matched control group of fertile men was absent, limiting the study , Teixeira et al., 2022,.

While randomized controlled trials will be needed to prove that the products are safe and effective, the authors suggest that cannabis-based medical products could improve sleep quality in insomnia patients. They examined the patient’s reports of their sleep quality, anxiety/depression, and quality of life changes between one and 18 months of treatment. About one out of every three people has some trouble getting a good night’s rest, and 10 percent of adults meet the criteria for an insomnia disorder.

A pressing operational requirement: Tackling the concealed health emergency of sleep apnea among both military and civilian groups.

Six studies that provided data on cannabis use and evaluated sleep or CRs alongside cognition were identified by us. Following the second assessment, 12 studies (6.19%; comprising 6 human studies and 6 animal studies) qualified for the review. Out of the original 194 reports, 17 studies (8.76%) were selected for further full text evaluation. AHM and EP completed these ratings using a standardized form that has been previously utilized and described in systematic reviews by our lab group , Pocuca et al., 2021; Walter et al., 2021,. Reports were discovered by conducting searches on PubMed/MEDLINE, Embase, CINAHL, Web of Science, and PsycINFO for articles published up until February 2023. The predicted direction of effects is illustrated by arrows (e.g. (alterations in the ECB system impact sleep regulation), while changes in sleep regulation influence cognition).

Despite the limited research on the use of cannabis for treating sleep disorders, it shows potential for addressing sleep problems. Currently, around 14.5% of individuals in the United States use cannabis products for various reasons. Although research funded by the government regarding CBD and cannabis products is currently in progress — additional studies are necessary to comprehensively understand the effects of CBD on the body. Exhibiting properties of anti-inflammation and pain relief, CBD may provide benefits for certain chronic pain symptoms. Studies involving individuals with PTSD have shown that synthetic cannabinoids helped alleviate nightmares and improve insomnia.