A lot of people have trouble sleeping, and there are countless treatments out there that claim to help us get better rest. However, for those who turn to cannabis in hopes of easing insomnia, a recent extensive review published this week suggests that there isn’t much solid evidence supporting its effectiveness.
The review, found in the Cochrane Library, analyzed various randomized clinical trials focused on medical-grade cannabis for treating insomnia. The scientists concluded that the evidence isn’t strong enough to back the idea that cannabis can reliably improve sleep issues. Although it’s conceivable that the drug might help some, more rigorous studies are necessary to truly determine its effectiveness.
According to Lucia Varela, the lead author and a neurologist at the University of Manitoba in Canada, “I wouldn’t take this as proof that medical cannabis is ineffective. These findings merely indicate that current research is too limited and uncertain to provide clear answers for patients and doctors.”
An uncertain treatment
Cochrane is a reputable organization known for publishing independent reviews of clinical trial literature on various health issues, including insomnia. This particular review was led by researchers from the Cochrane Associate Center at the Universidad Hospital Italiano de Buenos Aires, Argentina, and the University of Manitoba, and it was released on Monday.
The team examined nine studies that involved a total of 537 individuals aged 18 to 76 who were being treated for insomnia, most of whom had primary insomnia, which isn’t linked to other health issues. While eight studies compared medical cannabis to a placebo, one compared it to the antidepressant amitriptyline. Across the board, cannabis didn’t demonstrate a clear advantage over these control treatments.
Varela pointed out, “In our review, we didn’t find trustworthy evidence of significant improvements in key sleep indicators, such as sleep quality, total sleep time, or daytime functioning.” There were also more side effects reported by those taking medical cannabis, though these were mostly mild, like dry mouth and dizziness, and overall safety data was limited too.
Better data needed
A significant issue highlighted in the review is the overall low quality of the studies analyzed. Many suffered from small sample sizes and a notable risk of bias. Additionally, the studies used different cannabis types and often had short follow-up periods—usually no longer than 12 weeks.
That said, Varela does believe that it’s possible for cannabis to be an effective insomnia treatment and thinks more definitive studies can be conducted. She emphasized, “We need not just more studies, but larger and more consistent ones. Most have been small and short, making it difficult to draw confident conclusions.” She added that future trials should use clearly defined products and doses, measure sleep in similar ways, and transparently report their methods to facilitate easier comparison and application.
Varela also noted the importance of targeting studies toward groups particularly affected by insomnia, like the elderly and those with chronic pain, and emphasized the need for longer study durations to assess sleep patterns effectively.
There’s definitely a need for better data on this topic. Other research suggests that about 18% of American adults under 30 have recently tried using cannabis to improve their sleep. While it doesn’t mean cannabis is ineffective for sleep issues, the authors recommend it be discussed with healthcare providers.
“I think it’s important for patients to be aware of this uncertainty and to talk about the possible benefits and risks with their healthcare provider, rather than assuming that because these products are commonly used for sleep, their effectiveness has been proven,” Varela stated.
