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

A recent study published in the journal Sleep Medicine Reviews, explored cannabis formulations that contained the cannabinoids tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabinol (CBN) (1).

Researchers in Brazil analyzed data stemming from six randomized trials that involved around 1,077 participants. In the study, study organizers explained that cannabinoids have been “associated with improvements in sleep quality in individuals with or without insomnia,” (1,2).

To analyze the data (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 < 0.05 considered significant.”

“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 study’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 poll consisted of more than 2,000 respondents. Data showed that 16% of poll participants mentioned that they have used the consumption formats of either inhaling or ingesting cannabis “to help them sleep.” 10% of poll respondents expressed that they utilize commercially available cannabidiol (CBD) products to help them sleep.

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

A study published in 2019 in the journal Complementary Therapies in Medicine, investigated if there was a connection between adult-use retail cannabis access and over-the-counter (OTC) sleep aid medications (4).

Researchers from the University of New Mexico (Albuquerque, New Mexico) and California Polytechnic State University (San Luis Obispo, California) analyzed data from years prior to and after the legalization of adult-use cannabis 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 mentioned (4).

In conclusion, study 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, but not CBD, associated with improved sleep 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 quality in people with and without insomnia or poor sleep: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised studies https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1087079225001091?via%3Dihub (accessed Oct 9, 2025).
3. Norml. Adults frequently acknowledge using cannabis products 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 cannabis access associated with decreased 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).