THC & CBN for Sleep: New Study Finds Non-CBD Cannabis Formulations May Improve Sleep Quality | Cannabis Science and Technology

A latest research revealed within the journal Sleep Medicine Reviews, explored hashish formulations that contained the cannabinoids tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabinol (CBN) (1).

Researchers in Brazil analyzed knowledge stemming from six randomized trials that concerned round 1,077 members. In the research, research organizers defined that cannabinoids have been “associated with improvements in sleep quality in individuals with or without insomnia,” (1,2).

To analyze the info (2), “Searches were conducted in MEDLINE, Embase, and Cochrane databases for randomised controlled trials comparing cannabinoids vs. placebo for improving sleep quality in adults with or without insomnia or poor sleep. The primary outcome was self-reported sleep quality (PROMIS, PSQI, LSEQ, Sleep Diary). Secondary outcomes included actigraphy parameters, anxiety (GAD-7, STAI-T), well-being (WHO-5 index), and insomnia severity (ISI). Additional analyses focused on sleep quality in (1) participants with insomnia or poor sleep, and (2) cannabidiol (CBD) vs. non-CBD interventions. Statistical analysis was performed using RevMan 5.4.1, with p 

“Our findings indicate that only treatments incorporating THC and/or CBN were associated with a significant improvement in subjective sleep assessments compared with placebo, whereas interventions with CBD alone did not demonstrate a statistically significant effect,” researchers reported (1,2). “These results support the hypothesis that different cannabinoids may exert distinct roles in modulating sleep-related therapeutic benefits.”

“Cannabinoids, particularly non-CBD formulations, improve sleep quality, justifying further investigation as therapeutic options for insomnia or poor sleep.,” the research’s authors conc;uded (1,2). “The results are encouraging and provide support for further investigation of cannabinoid therapies for the treatment of poor sleep.”

Harris Polling Survey Finds Cannabis Sleep Aid Results

An April 2025 Harris polling survey sponsored by Green Thumb Industries (3), reported that one in six adults expressed that they utilize cannabis as a sleep aid. The ballot consisted of greater than 2,000 respondents. Data confirmed that 16% of ballot members talked about that they’ve used the consumption codecs of both inhaling or ingesting hashish “to help them sleep.” 10% of ballot respondents expressed that they make the most of commercially out there cannabidiol (CBD) merchandise to assist them sleep.

Study Unveils Adult-Use Cannabis Access Linked to Decrease in OTC Sleep Aid Sales

A research revealed in 2019 within the journal Complementary Therapies in Medicine, investigated if there was a connection between adult-use retail hashish entry and over-the-counter (OTC) sleep assist medicines (4).

Researchers from the University of New Mexico (Albuquerque, New Mexico) and California Polytechnic State University (San Luis Obispo, California) analyzed knowledge from years previous to and after the legalization of adult-use hashish in Colorado. ““For the first time, we show a statistically significant negative association between recreational access to cannabis and OTC sleep aid sales, suggesting that at least some recreational purchasers are using cannabis for therapeutic rather than recreational purposes … [O]ur results indicate that enough individuals are switching from OTC sleep aids to recreational cannabis that we can identify a statistically significant reduction in the market share growth of OTC sleep aids in conjunction with access to recreational cannabis using,” researchers talked about (4).

In conclusion, research investigators expressed (4), “Our results show that the market share growth for sleep aids shrank with the entry of recreational cannabis dispensaries… and the strength of the association increased with each subsequent dispensary… Our results are consistent with evidence that legal access to medical cannabis is associated with reductions in Scheduled II-V prescription medications, many of which may be used in part as sleep aids.”

References

1. Norml. Clinical trials: Cannabis formulations dominant in THC and CBN, however not CBD, related to improved sleep high quality https://norml.org/news/2025/10/09/clinical-trials-cannabis-formulations-dominant-in-thc-and-cbn-but-not-cbd-associated-with-improved-sleep-quality/ (accessed Oct 9, 2025).
2. Santos da Silva, G. H.; Barbosa, E. C.; Ribeiro de Lima, F.; et al. Effectiveness of cannabinoids on subjective sleep high quality in folks with and with out insomnia or poor sleep: A scientific overview and meta-analysis of randomised research https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1087079225001091?via%3Dihub (accessed Oct 9, 2025).
3. Norml. Adults incessantly acknowledge utilizing hashish merchandise for sleep https://norml.org/news/2025/04/10/survey-adults-frequently-acknowledge-using-cannabis-products-for-sleep/ (accessed Oct 9, 2025).
4. Norml. Study: Adult-use hashish entry related to decreased gross sales of OTC sleep aids https://norml.org/news/2019/12/12/study-adult-use-cannabis-access-associated-with-decreased-sales-of-otc-sleep-aids/ (accessed Oct 9, 2025).