Can cannabis help to cope with insomnia during the pandemic?

Sleep is easily disrupted by the state of our mental health. That being the case, it makes sense that people are reporting increased issues with their sleep habits, having more vivid dreams, having less restful sleep and experiencing more insomnia during the past couple of months.

People usually struggle with their sleep habits. According to Donn Posner, president of Sleepwell Associates, an adjunct clinical associate professor at the Stanford University School of Medicine, about 35 per cent of people struggle with recurring bouts of insomnia. Now that people are coping with potential dangers posed to their health with COVID-19, the economy and social distancing pressures, the world’s current situation is a perfect recipe for sleep disorders.

When it comes to health workers, recent statistics show that the pandemic has affected both their sleep and health dramatically. A survey conducted by Sleep Standards found that, on average, healthcare workers are sleeping five hours a night. Forty-one per cent of those polled are experiencing insomnia, 27 per cent are dealing with nightmares, and only 21 per cent report no sleep issues.

Could cannabis help manage these symptoms of insomnia? Studies and anecdotal evidence suggest that it could.

A recent study from the University of Western Australia found that cannabis could provide an effective treatment for those who suffer from acute insomnia, specifically when the type of weed consumed is made up of a blend of THC and CBD. Patients treated with this kind of cannabis reported sleeping for more hours, falling asleep more quickly and getting back to sleep with more ease after waking up in the middle of the night.

Sleep is easily influenced by lifestyle and is also one of the biggest influences on a person’s overall mood. / Photo: Getty Images Plus Getty Images Plus

“This study represents the most rigorous clinical trial ever undertaken to assess the therapeutic potential of medicinal cannabis to treat the symptoms of chronic insomnia,” lead researcher Peter Eastwood said in a statement. “The fact that ZLT-101 treatment achieved statistically significant, dose-responsive improvements across a broad range of key insomnia indices is impressive, particularly given the relatively short two-week dosing window,” Eastwood added.

Sleep is easily influenced by lifestyle and is also one of the biggest influences on a person’s overall mood. This is stressful, since having poor sleep means a person may feel feeling grumpy and have higher odds of getting sick.

On a more positive note, however, by changing certain habits, you can also influence the way you sleep.

Instead of forcing yourself to sleep when your body doesn’t want to shut down, start off by implementing a few easy habits. Limit the amount of screen time you have and try to keep a regular schedule, working out a few times a week and eating as healthy as possible. You could try a hit or two of cannabis before bed and see how your body responds.