Cannabinoids and Sleep: Helpful or Harmful?

Abstract

Purpose of Review: Legalization and popular use of cannabis products have historically outpaced scientific literature. There is interest in the effects of cannabis and cannabinoids on human sleep and sleep disorders. This review summarizes research evaluating the relationship between cannabinoids and sleep published after 2016 and references background studies for clarification where no recent publications were available. Recent Findings: Specific to sleep disorders, the most impactful research is arguably in the treatment of sleep disordered breathing though case reports are emerging to address several other conditions such as anxiety-mediated insomnia and restless legs syndrome. Summary: Due to limitations including the Schedule I drug designation of cannabis and the heterogeneity of compounds in the cannabinoid family, current published works are likely insufficient to serve as a basis for clinical recommendations regarding the use of cannabinoids in sleep medicine.