The quiet danger of cannabis: You fall asleep easily – and pay the price in sleep

From jpost.com

Cannabis has become a common solution for sleep problems. Many users report that it “puts them to sleep” – but the medical picture regarding actual sleep quality is more complex

The natural temptation: Insomnia is one of the most common complaints in modern medicine. Against the backdrop of concern about addictive medications and side effects, cannabis is perceived by many as a more natural and safer alternative. Reports from the field are consistent – inhalation or drops before bedtime ease falling asleep and create a feeling of relaxation. However, when examining the picture through medical reports, it becomes clear that the question is not only how quickly one falls asleep, but what the sleep itself looks like.

                                  Insomnia is one of the most common complaints in modern medicine     (photo credit: SHUTTERSTOCK)

Sleep physicians and neurologists describe in clinical reports that cannabis indeed shortens the time it takes to fall asleep, a phenomenon known as shortened sleep latency. This effect is mainly attributed to THC, the primary psychoactive substance in cannabis, which acts on receptors in the brain associated with calming and reducing arousal. For people who suffer from stress, anxiety, or difficulty “turning off the head,” this effect is clearly felt.

However, this is where the critical difference between falling asleep and quality sleep emerges. Normal sleep is built from sleep cycles that include different stages, foremost among them the REM stage – dream sleep, which is essential for emotional processing, memory, and mood regulation. Repeated medical reports indicate that regular cannabis use, particularly strains high in THC, reduces the duration of the REM stage. The meaning is lighter sleep, even if the total sleep duration does not shorten.

Doctors report that patients who use cannabis over time tend to wake up less refreshed, suffer from concentration difficulties the following day, and sometimes also from a decline in mood. Some do not associate this with cannabis use, because they still experience rapid sleep onset, but sleep quality is impaired beneath the surface.

                                                                                                     Cannabis (credit: freepik)

Another problem that arises in clinical reports is the phenomenon of tolerance. As cannabis use continues, the body becomes accustomed to the effect, and the user requires a higher dose to achieve the same sedative effect. When attempting to stop or reduce use, a withdrawal syndrome sometimes appears that includes severe insomnia, frequent awakenings, intense dreams, and even nightmares. This phenomenon is well described in medical reports and reinforces the claim that cannabis is a short-term solution that may create functional dependence.

The CBD component, which is considered no less controversial, is also not free of ambiguity. Medical reports note that CBD may reduce anxiety in some people, but its direct effect on sleep is not uniform. In some users it is actually stimulating, especially at low doses, and does not guarantee consistent improvement in sleep quality.

In this context, sleep physicians emphasize that cannabis is not a first-line treatment for insomnia. It does not solve the deeper causes of the problem, such as poor sleep hygiene, mental burden, depression, or other sleep disorders. Its use may mask the real problem and make accurate diagnosis and treatment more difficult.

What can people who have difficulty sleeping and are not interested in relying on cannabis or sleeping pills do. Medical reports repeatedly return to the same basic but effective recommendations, maintaining fixed sleep hours, avoiding screens before bedtime, regular physical activity, and reducing caffeine and alcohol in the evening hours. In persistent cases, cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia is considered one of the most effective and safest tools.

The conclusion emerging from medical reports is clear. Cannabis can help with falling asleep, but it does not guarantee better sleep, and sometimes even harms it. It is a temporary solution that may exact a price in the long term.

In the bottom line, cannabis is a loan of sleep. It may be granted quickly, but the interest, in the form of impaired sleep quality and dependence, may be revealed later.

Dr. Itay Gal is a specialist in paediatrics, a sports and aviation physician, and a researcher of infectious diseases. The health correspondent and medical commentator of Maariv and a lecturer in the fields of medicine and innovation.

https://www.jpost.com/health-and-wellness/sleep/article-888764