Is time elapsed between cannabis use and sleep start time associated with sleep continuity? An experience sampling...

Area of Science:

• Sleep Science
• Cannabis Research
• Chronobiology

Background:

• Many individuals use cannabis believing it improves sleep.
• Limited research exists on how cannabis use timing affects sleep quality.
• This study investigates the relationship between cannabis use timing and sleep continuity.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine the association between the time elapsed between cannabis use and sleep onset.
• To determine the impact of this timing on sleep onset latency (SOL) and number of awakenings (NOA).

Main Methods:

• Daily cannabis users (n=54) reported cannabis use and sleep data via smartphone for 7 days.
• Mixed effects models were used to analyze within- and between-subject relationships.
• Key variables included time to sleep and sleep continuity indicators (SOL, NOA).

Main Results:

• Shorter time between cannabis use and sleep onset was linked to shorter SOL within individuals (p=0.010).
• This timing was not significantly associated with the number of awakenings within individuals (p=0.535).
• No significant associations were found between the time gap and SOL or NOA between individuals (p>0.05).

Conclusions:

• Cannabis use shortly before bed may reduce SOL but not necessarily nighttime awakenings.
• Cannabis users should be informed about potential sleep benefits and limitations.
• Evidence-based sleep interventions should be considered for those with sleep issues.