Cochrane review finds uncertain benefits of medical cannabis for insomnia

A new Cochrane review has found that current evidence is too uncertain to determine if medical cannabis improves sleep quality, sleep satisfaction, or daytime functioning for individuals with insomnia.

Led by researchers from the Universidad Hospital Italiano de Buenos Aires and the University of Manitoba, the review analyzed nine studies involving 537 adults aged 18 to 76. Most trials focused on primary insomnia. Eight studies compared regulated medical cannabis against a placebo, while one compared it to the antidepressant amitriptyline.

The findings indicated little to no clinically meaningful improvement in sleep metrics compared to placebos. Furthermore, participants using medical cannabis were more likely to report mild adverse effects, such as dizziness and dry mouth. While some data suggested a slight improvement in quality of life, the researchers noted that the certainty of these results is very low.