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Study finds cannabis improves sleep where other drugs fail

Patients reported better sleep as well as decreased anxiety and pain over 18 months of treatment.

Date:
September 2, 2025
Source:
PLOS
Summary:
A long-term study following insomnia patients treated with cannabis-based medical products revealed sustained improvements in sleep quality, mood, and pain management over 18 months. Most participants reported better rest and less anxiety or depression, while only a small fraction experienced mild side effects such as fatigue or dry mouth.
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Insomnia patients taking cannabis-based medical products reported better quality sleep after up to 18 months of treatment, according to a study published August 27 in the open-access journal PLOS Mental Health by Arushika Aggarwal from Imperial College London, U.K., and colleagues.

About one out of every three people has some trouble getting a good night's rest, and 10 percent of adults meet the criteria for an insomnia disorder. But current treatments can be difficult to obtain, and the drugs approved for insomnia run the risk of dependence. To understand how cannabis-based medical products might affect insomnia symptoms, the authors of this study analyzed a set of 124 insomnia patients taking medical cannabis products. They examined the patient's reports of their sleep quality, anxiety/depression, and quality of life changes between one and 18 months of treatment.

The patients reported improved sleep quality that lasted over the 18 months of treatment. They also showed significant improvements in anxiety/depression as well as reporting less pain. About nine percent of the patients reported adverse effects such as fatigue, insomnia, or dry mouth, but none of the side effects were life-threatening. While randomized controlled trials will be needed to prove that the products are safe and effective, the authors suggest that cannabis-based medical products could improve sleep quality in insomnia patients.

Co-author Dr. Simon Erridge, Research Director at Curaleaf Clinic, summarizes: "Over an 18-month period, our study showed that treatment for insomnia with cannabis-based medicinal products was associated with sustained improvements in subjective sleep quality and anxiety symptoms. These findings support the potential role of medical cannabis as a medical option where conventional treatments have proven ineffective, though further randomised trials are needed to confirm long-term efficacy."

He adds: "Conducting this long-term study provided valuable real-world evidence on patient outcomes that go beyond what we typically see in short-term trials. It was particularly interesting to observe signs of potential tolerance over time, which highlights the importance of continued monitoring and individualized treatment plans."


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Materials provided by PLOS. Note: Content may be edited for style and length.


Journal Reference:

  1. Arushika Aggarwal, Simon Erridge, Isaac Cowley, Lilia Evans, Madhur Varadpande, Evonne Clarke, Katy McLachlan, Ross Coomber, James J. Rucker, Mark W. Weatherall, Mikael H. Sodergren. UK Medical Cannabis Registry: A clinical outcomes analysis for insomnia. PLOS Mental Health, 2025; 2 (8): e0000390 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pmen.0000390

Cite This Page:

PLOS. "Study finds cannabis improves sleep where other drugs fail." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 2 September 2025. <www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/09/250901104658.htm>.
PLOS. (2025, September 2). Study finds cannabis improves sleep where other drugs fail. ScienceDaily. Retrieved September 2, 2025 from www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/09/250901104658.htm
PLOS. "Study finds cannabis improves sleep where other drugs fail." ScienceDaily. www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/09/250901104658.htm (accessed September 2, 2025).

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