Cannabis Use Linked to Worse Sleep Quality

A comprehensive 35-year study involving 1,266 participants has revealed that cannabis use may be detrimental to sleep quality, contradicting its common use as a sleep aid. Researchers from Northwestern Medicine found that individuals with a history of cannabis use, as well as recent users, exhibited objectively poorer sleep.

Participants wore wrist monitors and completed surveys, allowing scientists to compare objective sleep data with subjective reports. The findings indicated that greater lifetime exposure to marijuana was associated with reduced sleep efficiency and increased sleep fragmentation. Recent users were also more prone to sleeping longer than eight hours, with more disrupted sleep patterns.

Even when accounting for factors like age, sex, and alcohol consumption, the correlation between cannabis use and objectively worse sleep persisted. This disconnect between objective sleep measures and users' own perceptions raises significant questions about the long-term efficacy of cannabis for sleep management. Another recent study linked cannabis use to an increased risk of stroke and cardiovascular disease.