Patients frequently report consuming cannabis to treat sleep-related issues, particularly insomnia, according to survey data published in the journal Nature and Science of Sleep. Sixty-four percent of those surveyed by the University of Sydney acknowledged consuming cannabis to mitigate sleep disorder symptoms, typically insomnia. Most respondents said that cannabis significantly improved their sleep quality. A majority of respondents also said that they decreased their consumption of benzodiazepines and alcohol following their use of cannabis – a finding that is consistent with other studies.
The survey’s findings are similar to numerous other studies documenting that patients with insomnia and other sleep disorders report subjective improvements following cannabis use. Data published in the journal Complementary Therapies in Medicine reported that enacting adult-use marijuana legalization laws is associated with a significant reduction in the sales of over-the-counter sleep aids among the general public.
This trend continues to be a positive development for the normalization of cannabis in our society. As the stigma around it fades out, consumers are realizing the health benefits cannabis can have.
