The Truth About Cannabis and Sleep
Marijuana and CBD are both promoted as sleep aids, but science has yet to put the issue of their effectiveness to bed
Whether smoked or drunk or ingested in a fruity little treat or a brownie, marijuana has plenty of proponents, from college students to grandpas, busy professionals to laid-back stoners. Many of them swear by Mary Jane’s ability to remedy any number of ailments, not to mention its positive effect on creativity. But the evidence for cannabis as a sleep aid, while encouraging, is mixed.
Cannabis comes in two main varieties relevant to medicine: The psychoactive ingredient in marijuana, tetrahydrocannabinol or THC; and the non-psychotropic cannabidiol (CBD). Both show promise for relieving symptoms of pain, depression and various other conditions, and perhaps to promote sleep. The research is thin, however, in part because study efforts are limited by laws that thwart clinical trials. Also, there’s a lack of funding by drug companies that would rather invest in more lucrative, patentable treatments instead of a drug that’s already sold over the counter in many states.
Anecdotes abound, and I’d love to hear what you’ve found to work for you. But meantime, let’s see what science actually says about both types of cannabis and their ability to…
