70 million people suffer from insomnia and other sleep disorders. Modern medicine has stepped up its treatment efforts through a variety of means, such as melatonin, sleep hygiene studies, and prescription medicines. Some of these treatment options — especially prescription medicine — have severe side effects, including dependency and depression. As a result, some people have eschewed such medications in favor of l cannabis products.
The medicinal benefits of cannabis have been noted throughout history. In fact, the first known medicinal use of cannabis was around 400 A.D. In the US, it was listed in United States Pharmacopoeia in the mid-19th century until cannabis was made illegal in 1937. It took until 1996 for any state to legally recognize the true medical potential of cannabis. As of October, 2020, 28 states have some form of a medicinal cannabis program and 12 have legalized cannabis entirely.
The term “cannabis” refers to a group of three flowering plants. This group includes cannabis sativa and indica, plus the often-neglected ruderalis. They each have their own properties, but they are all used for medicinal and/or therapeutic purposes. However, despite cannabis’ growing level of acceptance in both medicinal and recreational contexts, much is unclear as to how the plant affects sleep.
The science behind cannabis and the body’s endocannabinoid system
All uses of cannabis start from its flower. In fact, if you look closely at it, you can see little hairs called “trichomes.” While trichomes are tiny, they contain two potent compounds: tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD). THC and CBD are collectively referred to as cannabinoids. It’s worth noting that while there are many more cannabinoids in trichomes, they aren’t well studied or as important as THC and CBD to date. Cannabinoids are largely responsible for the “high” associated with cannabis, as well as many of its medicinal effects. In addition to THC and CBD, there are also terpenes found in trichomes, which are aromatic oils secreted by the plant. In fact, o