Millions of people around the world struggle with sleep problems every night.
Some lie awake for hours trying to fall asleep, while others wake up again and again during the night.
Poor sleep can affect almost every part of life, including mood, energy, memory, work performance, and physical health. For many people, insomnia becomes a long-term problem that is difficult to escape.
Now, a new study from the United Kingdom suggests that medical cannabis may help some people who suffer from insomnia sleep better and improve their mental health.
The research was published in the journal PLOS Mental Health and followed patients for up to 18 months. The findings offer new hope for people who have not found relief from traditional sleep treatments.
Insomnia is one of the most common health conditions worldwide. Experts estimate that around one in three people regularly experience sleep difficulties.
About one in 10 adults are diagnosed with insomnia disorder, which means their sleep problems are severe enough to affect daily life. Many people with insomnia also struggle with anxiety, depression, stress, or chronic pain.
Doctors often recommend treatments such as better sleep habits, relaxation methods, talking therapies, or sleep medications. While these approaches can help, they do not work for everyone.
Some sleep medicines may also cause unwanted side effects, including daytime tiredness, dizziness, memory problems, or dependence after long-term use. Because of these concerns, scientists have been searching for new treatment options.
The new study focused on cannabis-based medical products, sometimes called medical cannabis. Researchers wanted to see whether these products could help people with insomnia over a long period of time. The research team was led by Arushika Aggarwal from Imperial College London.
The study followed 124 patients who had insomnia and were treated with medical cannabis products. Researchers asked the patients about their sleep, mental health, pain levels, and overall quality of life during the treatment period.
They continued tracking the participants for as long as 18 months, making this one of the longer studies on medical cannabis and sleep problems.
The results were encouraging. Many patients reported that their sleep improved during treatment. Some said they fell asleep more easily, while others said they stayed asleep longer and woke up feeling more rested. Better sleep can have a major effect on overall health because the body and brain need proper rest to recover and function well.
The researchers also found that patients often experienced improvements in anxiety and depression symptoms. Many people with insomnia feel trapped in a cycle where stress and anxiety make sleep worse, and poor sleep then increases stress and anxiety even more. Better sleep may help break this cycle for some patients.
In addition, some participants reported lower pain levels and a better quality of life overall. Chronic pain is another condition that often interferes with sleep. People who live with pain may struggle to get comfortable at night, leading to repeated sleep disruption. If medical cannabis can reduce pain for some patients, it may indirectly help improve sleep as well.
Like all medical treatments, however, cannabis-based products can also cause side effects. About 9% of patients in the study reported problems such as tiredness, dry mouth, or even insomnia itself. Even though some side effects occurred, researchers said there were no serious or life-threatening complications reported during the study.
Dr. Simon Erridge, one of the study’s co-authors and the Research Director at Curaleaf Clinic, said the findings suggest that medical cannabis could become an important option for people who have not responded well to standard sleep treatments. He explained that the study showed long-term improvements in sleep and mental health for many patients.
At the same time, Dr. Erridge stressed that more research is still needed. He said scientists need stronger evidence from randomized controlled trials, which are considered the gold standard in medical research. These studies help researchers compare treatments more carefully and understand both the benefits and risks.
The researchers also noticed signs that some patients may develop tolerance to cannabis treatment over time. This means the body may gradually become less responsive, possibly requiring changes in dosage or treatment plans. Because of this, doctors would need to monitor patients closely and adjust treatment based on each person’s needs.
Medical cannabis remains a controversial topic in many countries. Some people see it as a promising medical treatment, while others worry about safety, long-term effects, or misuse. Studies like this may help provide clearer scientific evidence to guide future decisions by doctors, researchers, and health authorities.
The findings do not mean that medical cannabis is a proven cure for insomnia. However, the study suggests it may become a useful alternative for some patients, especially those who have not found success with traditional treatments.
As scientists continue to study cannabis-based medicine, researchers hope to better understand who may benefit most and how to use these products safely.
For people who have spent years struggling with sleepless nights, the study offers cautious optimism. Better sleep can improve mental health, physical wellbeing, and daily life. While more research is still needed, this long-term study provides an important early look at how medical cannabis may help people sleep better and feel healthier overall.
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The study was published in PLOS Mental Health.
