Pullman, WA: Many consumers report using cannabis as a substitute for conventional sleep aids, including melatonin and benzodiazepines, according to survey data published in the journal Exploration in Medicine.
Researchers affiliated with Washington State University surveyed over 1,200 individuals who reported using cannabis for sleep.
More than 80 percent of respondents said that they had eliminated their use of over the counter and prescription sleep aids after switching to cannabis. Respondents were more likely to use herbal cannabis rather than edible products prior to bedtime. About half of those surveyed reported using products that contained CBD and/or the terpene myrcene. Myrcene is reported to possess sedative effects.
The survey’s findings are consistent with those of others concluding that patients frequently consume cannabis to mitigate sleep disorders, including insomnia. Data published in the journal Complementary Therapies in Medicine reports that the enactment of adult-use marijuana legalization laws is associated with a significant reduction in the sales of over the counter sleep aids among the general public.
Full text of the study, “A large-scale survey of cannabis use for sleep: Preferred products and perceived effects in comparison to over the counter and prescription sleep aids,” appears in Exploration in Medicine. Additional information on the use of cannabis for insomnia is available from NORML’s publication, Clinical Applications for Cannabis and Cannabinoids.