Sleep Disturbance & Insomnia
Perhaps one of the most beneficial effects of medicinal cannabis is the effect on sleep and insomnia.
Sleep is a complex physiological process that involves many factors. Sleep is set by a diurnal body clock, which involves hormonal pathways and day/night cycles. Sleep is dependant on mood, anxiety, thought processes. Fatigue is governed by both biochemical and non-organic causes.
Sleep can be disrupted by many different things, ranging from disrupted diurnal rythms, mental health conditions such as anxiety and stress, biochemical causes such as thyroid dysfunction and physiological issues such as Sleep Apneoa.
Diurnal body clock hormones, such as Melatonin, also naturally decline with age.
Sleep Disturbance Can Be Broken Into 3 Main Categories
Sleep initiation - issues with initially getting to sleep, but once you’re asleep you stay asleep.
Sleep maintenance - when you get to sleep, but then wake up and can’t get back to sleep.
Both - some people are affected by both sleep initiation and sleep maintenance issues.
The approach to managing sleep disturbance and insomnia is usually targeted to the individual and depends on any specifically identified triggers, psychosocial stressors, or obvious causative components of insomnia.
Medicinal cannabis can significantly improve sleep initiation and maintenance, as well as overall sleep quality. Medicinal cannabis can be taken in the evening or at night time in an as-needed capacity to improve insomnia, with Indica dominant strains most likely to improve sleep.
Cannabinoid Receptors
Cannabinoid receptors are found throughout the body, including the central and peripheral nervous systems, immune system, and various organs. These receptors play an important role in regulating mood, circadian rhythms, and the sleep–wake cycle.
In the context of Insomnia, cannabinoid receptor activity may help restore sleep balance by reducing hyperarousal, anxiety, and inflammation that contribute to sleep disturbances. Activation of the endocannabinoid system has also been shown to influence REM sleep and overall sleep quality, which can support more restorative rest.
A key distinction between medicinal and illicit cannabis is the ability to control the dosage and ratio of CBD and THC to target symptoms effectively while avoiding unwanted cognitive or perceptual side effects. This allows individuals to experience symptom relief without major disruption to daily functioning.
Medicinal cannabis is now a relatively common and well-tolerated prescription therapy in Australia, used by many people for the management of chronic or treatment-resistant insomnia.
To access a prescription, make an appointment through our Cannabis Clinic to see one of our Authorised Prescribing Doctors.