How Does Cannabis Promote Better Sleep Quality?

Does Hemp-Derived CBD Help Decrease Anxiety Symptoms?

Anxiety, which affects over one-third of adults in the U.S. and is frequently self-treated with cannabis, may be alleviated by hemp-derived CBD oil, as demonstrated in a recently published pilot study. This investigation utilized a commercially available, full-spectrum, high-CBD hemp extract to assess its effect on anxiety symptoms. The open-label study, titled "Clinical and Cognitive Improvement Following Treatment with a Hemp-Derived, Full-Spectrum, High-Cannabidiol Product in Patients with Anxiety: An Open-Label Pilot Study," appeared in the journal Biomedicines in August 2025.

Results: CBD Effects on Anxiety, Mood, and Cognition

Significant reductions in all assessments of anxiety compared to baseline were seen by the end of six weeks. Specific results include:

• After one week of treatment, all anxiety ratings were reduced significantly
• Following one week, 92% of patients achieved at least a 15% reduction on the BAI
• After two weeks, 100% of patients had achieved and then maintained treatment response

Improvements in mood, sleep, and quality of life after six weeks were also reported by the patients. These changes included:

• Reduced depression symptoms
• Increased positive affect and reduced negative affect
• Quality of life improvements included subscales of emotional problems, energy/fatigue, emotional well-being, and social functioning

Cognition also improved after six weeks, specifically faster response times and higher accuracy in some assessments, though visual memory and verbal learning and memory stayed the same.

Can Cannabis-Based Medicines Help Treat Insomnia?

A recent study suggests that cannabis-based medicines may help treat insomnia, a condition that affects roughly 10% of the world's adult population. While current standard treatments include cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT-I) and prescription drugs, both have limitations: CBT-I suffers from a shortage of qualified providers, and the long-term effectiveness of existing medications is poorly understood. This has spurred increased investigation into cannabis's therapeutic potential, though the actual research on its efficacy for insomnia remains limited.

Benefits Reported by Patients

Related Research on Cannabis and Sleep

• Dive into recently published studies on various cannabinoids for insomnia and temporomandibular disorders
• Go in depth on studies on cannabis and sleep apnea and inflammation

Improvements were seen in subjective sleep quality, anxiety, and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) PROMs.

• Single-Item Sleep Quality Score (SQS) improved from baseline (2.66 ± 2.41) to 18 (3.81 ± 2.90) months
• Generalized Anxiety Diorder-7 (GAD-7) scores improved from baseline (9.59 ± 6.31) to 1 month (4.99 ± 4.91), though improvements over the subsequent months were small yet still statistically significant
• The EuroQol-5 Dimension-5 Level health questionnaire dimensions of pain/discomfort, anxiety/depression, and index values were all shown to be significant

Would A High Dose of THC and CBD Reduce Total Sleep Time and REM Sleep?

Research suggests that the effect of cannabis on sleep is dose- and application-dependent. A high dose of THC and CBD (10 mg/200 mg) was found to reduce total sleep time and REM sleep in insomniacs, suggesting a potential for sleep disruption. Conversely, a low-dose cannabinoid supplement (3 mg THC/6 mg CBN/10 mg CBD) combined with a strong terpene blend significantly improved overall sleep quality and reduced anxiety in adults with subthreshold insomnia. Finally, topical CBD applied intraorally (inside the mouth) proved effective in improving sleep quality and reducing migraine disability in patients suffering from bruxism-associated muscle pain.

How Does Cannabis Promote Better Sleep Quality?

Recent research on cannabis and sleep, as summarized in the August 2025 Healer Webinar, yielded three key findings: medical cannabis showed significant efficacy for sleep apnea, with over 60% of Minnesota patients reporting major symptom reduction; THC-dominant formulations were found to be more effective for overall sleep improvement than CBD-dominant types, underscoring the need for individualized treatment; and crucially, a randomized trial indicated that using cannabinoids did not increase daytime sleepiness, suggesting they can improve nighttime rest without causing daytime impairment.