Survey: Patients Frequently Report Using Cannabis to Combat Sleep Disorders

SYDNEY, Australia-–Cannabis is increasingly being consumed by patients to treat sleep-related issues, particularly insomnia, according to survey data published in the journal Nature and Science of Sleep. Researchers affiliated with the University of Sydney surveyed 1,600 Australians regarding their use of medical cannabis, and found that 64% of those surveyed used cannabis to mitigate symptoms of a sleep disorder, typically insomnia.

The study found that most respondents reported that cannabis greatly improved their sleep quality, which is consistent with other studies that have been conducted on the subject. The respondents also reported that they decreased their consumption of benzodiazepines and alcohol after using cannabis, which suggests that cannabis could be a safer and more effective treatment for sleep disorders.

The authors of the study concluded that randomized, placebo-controlled trials using quality-assured products are necessary to better understand the safety and efficacy of cannabinoid treatment in patients with clinician-diagnosed sleep disorders. Such studies would help provide more definitive evidence of the benefits of cannabis for treating sleep disorders.

The survey’s findings are consistent with other studies that have shown that patients with insomnia and other sleep disorders report subjective improvements following cannabis use. Data published in the journal Complementary Therapies in Medicine reported that the enactment of adult-use cannabis legalization laws is associated with a significant reduction in the sales of over-the-counter sleep aids among the general public. This suggests that cannabis could be a safer and more effective alternative to traditional sleep aids.

The use of cannabis for medical purposes is becoming increasingly popular, and there is growing evidence to support its use for a variety of medical conditions. In Australia, medical cannabis was legalized in 2016, and since then, there has been a steady increase in the number of patients using it to treat a variety of conditions, including chronic pain, multiple sclerosis, and epilepsy.

However, despite the growing evidence of the benefits of cannabis for medical purposes, there are still many challenges that need to be overcome. One of the biggest challenges is the lack of consistent regulations and guidelines for the use of medical cannabis. This has led to confusion and uncertainty among patients and healthcare professionals, and has hindered the development of high-quality research on the subject.

Despite these challenges, the use of cannabis for medical purposes is expected to continue to grow, as more and more patients discover its benefits. As such, it is important for governments and healthcare professionals to work together to develop clear and consistent regulations and guidelines for the use of medical cannabis, and to support high-quality research on the subject.