• Isobel Lavender, Iain S McGregor, Anastasia Suraev, Ronald R Grunstein, and Camilla M Hoyos.
• Centre for Sleep and Chronobiology, Woolcock Institute of Medical Research, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia; Faculty of Science, School of Psychology, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia; Lambert Initiative for Cannabinoid Therapeutics, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia; Brain and Mind Centre, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
• Chest. 2022 Aug 1; 162 (2): 452465452-465.

AbstractSleep disturbances are often cited as a primary reason for medicinal cannabis use, and there is increasing clinical interest in the therapeutic potential of cannabinoids in treating sleep disorders. Burgeoning evidence suggests a role of the endocannabinoid system in regulating the circadian sleep-wake cycle, highlighting a potential avenue for developing novel therapeutics. Despite widespread use of cannabis products as sleep aids globally, robustly designed studies verifying efficacy in sleep-disordered populations are limited. Although some study outcomes have suggested cannabinoid utility in insomnia disorder and sleep apnea, most studies to date are limited by small sample sizes, lack of rigorously controlled study designs, and high risk of bias. This critical review summarizes the current evidence for the use of cannabinoids as a treatment for sleep disorders and provides an overview of endocannabinoid modulation of sleep-wake cycles, as well as the sleep-modulating effects of plant-derived cannabinoids such as delta-9-tetrahydrocannbinol, cannabidiol, and cannabinol. The review also discusses practical considerations for clinicians regarding cannabinoid formulations, routes of administration, respiratory concerns, dosing, potential side effects, drug interactions, and effects relevant to driving, tolerance, and withdrawal. Although current interest in, and uptake of, medicinal cannabis use for sleep disorders may have surpassed the evidence base, there is a strong rationale for continued investigation into the therapeutic potential of cannabinoids.Copyright © 2022 American College of Chest Physicians. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

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