Using cannabis and CBD to sleep: an updated review

Purpose of review: Cannabis sativa and constituent cannabinoids are in widespread use for the treatment of sleep disorders where many patients desire pharmacotherapy. Previous reviews highlight a lack of high-quality evidence to support the efficacy and long-term safety of cannabinoids in various conditions. We aim to provide an update of recent original research evaluating cannabinoid-based therapeutics in sleep disorders. Recent findings: We identified twenty-one recent studies of cannabinoids for insomnia, subjective sleep impairment, obstructive sleep apnoea, rapid eye movement sleep behaviour disorder, and restless legs syndrome. We note trends towards the use of minor cannabinoids, studies using decentralised approaches and increased utilisation of objective measures in clinical trials. Summary: The evidence-base does not match widespread use of cannabinoids for the treatment of sleep disorders. There is a growing need for adequately funded well-designed clinical trials with longer treatment durations and decent sample sizes to inform both the clinician and patient.