Please use this link to access this publication. Abstract Background Veterans often use cannabis for sleep despite limited evidence of its efficacy. Moreover, how sleep disturbances impact cannabis use longitudinally is unclear. We applied a behavioral economic framework to examine whether sleep disturbances and cannabis demand (i.e., relative value) were related risk-factors for future cannabis use and problems. Methods Veterans deployed post-9/11/2001 who reported past 6-month cannabis use at baseline (n = 126) completed surveys on their sleep disturbances, demand via the Marijuana Purchase Task (MPT), and cannabis use. Mediation analyses using Hayes’ PROCESS Macro and zero-inflated negative binomial models tested indirect effects of...

Please use this link to access this publication. Abstract Background: Medical cannabis has been increasingly used in Canada after being sanctioned by Health Canada in 2001. Insomnia and sleep disorders are among the most common conditions for which patients report using cannabis. Current research shows cannabis may have a beneficial effect in sleep disorders and may improve patient-reported sleep scores. Methods: A retrospective chart review was conducted at Hybrid Pharm community pharmacy in Ottawa, Ontario, and included patients who were interested in, or already using, medical cannabis for sleep disorders. A qualitative, exploratory approach was taken to evaluate the descriptive efficacy and safety of...

Abstract Background: While popularly consumed for its perceived benefits as a sleeping aid, the impact of cannabis on sleep-wake regulation in clinical studies is inconclusive. The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between cannabis use and nightly sleep duration in a nationally representative dataset. Methods: A cross-sectional analysis of adults was undertaken using the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey data from 2005 to 2018. Respondents were dichotomized as recent users or non-users if they had used or not used cannabis in the past 30 days, respectively. The primary outcome was nightly sleep duration, categorized as short (<6 hours), optimal (6–9...

Abstract The legalization of cannabis for medicinal, and in some countries, recreational, purposes in addition to growth in the cannabis industry has meant that cannabis use and interest in the area has increased rapidly over the past 20 years. Treatment of poor sleep and sleep disorders are two of the most common reasons for the current use of medicinal cannabis. However, evidence for the role of medical cannabis in the treatment of sleep disorders has not been clearly established, thus making it challenging for clinicians to make evidence-based decisions regarding efficacy and safety. This narrative review summarizes the highest quality clinical evidence currently available...

Please use this link to access publication Abstract Phytocannabinoid derivatives are among the several compounds found in the cannabis plant. The phytocannabinoid chemicals Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol are mostly responsible for the drug's behavioral effects. Chronic cannabis administration has been shown to disrupt circadian rhythms and reduce the duration of the deepest phase (stage N3) of nonrapid eye movement sleep. Cannabidiol is thought to be responsible for the disruption of the circadian rhythm, whereas THC is thought to be accountable for the changes in sleep architecture. The quality of one's sleep has a significant impact on cannabis abstinence or relapse. As a result, the...

Abstract Study Objectives We conducted a systematic review to explore the effectiveness of medical cannabis for impaired sleep. Methods We searched MEDLINE, EMBASE, CENTRAL, and PsychINFO to January 2021 for randomized trials of medical cannabis or cannabinoids for impaired sleep vs. any non-cannabis control. When possible, we pooled effect estimates for all patient-important sleep-related outcomes and used the GRADE approach to appraise the certainty of evidence. Results Thirty-nine trials (5100 patients) were eligible for review, of which 38 evaluated oral cannabinoids and 1 administered inhaled cannabis. The median follow-up was 35 days, and most trials (33 of 39) enrolled patients living with chronic cancer...

Please use this link to access this publication. Abstract Sleep disturbances are often cited as a primary reason for medicinal cannabis use, and there is increasing clinical interest in the therapeutic potential of cannabinoids in treating sleep disorders. Burgeoning evidence suggests a role of the endocannabinoid system in regulating the circadian sleep-wake cycle, highlighting a potential avenue for developing novel therapeutics. Despite widespread use of cannabis products as sleep aids globally, robustly designed studies verifying efficacy in sleep-disordered populations are limited. Although some study outcomes have suggested cannabinoid utility in insomnia disorder and sleep apnea, most studies to date are limited by small sample sizes, lack of rigorously controlled study designs,...

Please use this link to access this publication. Abstract Cannabidiol’s (CBD) safety profile and broad action has made it a popular treatment option for anxiety and co-occurring sleep disturbance. However, its efficacy in healthy and clinical populations, treatment duration, formulation and doses for optimal therapeutic benefits remains unclear. Selected databases were examined from inception to October 2022. Study selection, data extraction and Cochrane Risk of Bias assessments were conducted according to PRISMA guidelines and registered on the PROSPERO database (CRD42021247476) with 58 full-text studies meeting the eligibility criteria and administered CBD only or with Δ-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) across healthy and clinical populations. In healthy populations and certain...

Please use this link to access this publication: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/00914150221128971 Abstract Cannabis use is growing among older adults to manage medical concerns including poor sleep. In this study, we characterized how patients seen at a geriatrics clinic use cannabis to address sleep disturbance. Specifically, we conducted an anonymous survey of 568 adults, including 83 who reported cannabis use within the past 3 years, to inquire about such use. We compared cannabis use characteristics between those using it for sleep disturbance versus all other conditions. We considered a p-value <.10 to be statistically significant. Among the cannabis users in our sample, 29% reported using cannabis for sleep disturbance...

Please use this link to access this publication: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11764-023-01474-2 Abstract Purpose Poor sleep is one of the most common side effects of cancer. It can persist for years beyond treatment and negatively impact quality of life and health. Cannabis is increasingly used to manage cancer treatment-related symptoms, including sleep. This study investigated the use and perceived effects of cannabis as a sleep aid in Canadian cancer survivors. Methods Adult Canadian cancer survivors (N = 1464) were recruited via the Angus Reid Institute and completed an online, cross-sectional survey including the Insomnia Severity Index and questions about cannabis use for sleep. Standard descriptive statistics, such as means, standard deviations,...