Cannabis use linked to poor sleep quality despite user perception

A Cochrane review of nine clinical trials involving 537 adults found that medical cannabis produced little to no clinically meaningful improvement in sleep quality, total sleep time, or daytime functioning compared to a placebo. The review noted that while some users reported better quality of life, the certainty of this evidence remains very low due to small, short, and inconsistent studies.

Further research published in JAMA Network Open, analyzing 35 years of data from the CARDIA study, suggests a disconnect between objective sleep quality and user perception. While participants using cannabis did not report feeling negatively affected, objective measures indicated poorer sleep quality. Researchers noted that the findings challenge the common belief that cannabis serves as an effective sleep aid, suggesting the drug may actually be associated with sleep disruption.