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

• Published in: Drug and alcohol dependence Vol. 208; p. 107846
• Main Authors: Sznitman, Sharon R., Shochat, Tamar, Greene, Talya
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Ireland Elsevier B.V 01-03-2020; Elsevier Science Ltd
• Subjects: Adult; Behavior modification; Between-subjects design; Cannabis; Drug abuse; Ecological Momentary Assessment; Experience sampling method; Female; Humans; Indicators; Insomnia; Latency; Male; Marijuana; Marijuana Use - adverse effects; Marijuana Use - psychology; Marijuana Use - trends; Middle Aged; Night; Nightly awakenings; Sleep; Sleep disorders; Sleep Latency - drug effects; Sleep Latency - physiology; Sleep onset latency; Sleep-Wake Transition Disorders - chemically induced; Sleep-Wake Transition Disorders - diagnosis; Sleep-Wake Transition Disorders - psychology; Time Factors; Timing; Treatment methods; Cannabis; Nightly awakenings; Sleep; Experience sampling method; Insomnia; Sleep onset latency
• ISSN: 0376-8716; 1879-0046
• DOI: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2020.107846

•Shorter time elapsed between cannabis use and sleep associated with shorter SOL.•No association found between cannabis use and number of awakenings.•More evidence for cannabis effects on sleep is needed.
A substantial proportion of people using cannabis report using it to improve sleep. Yet, little research exists on the associations between the timing of cannabis use and sleep. This study examines the time elapsed between cannabis use and sleep start time and its association with two of the main indicators of sleep continuity: (1) sleep onset latency (SOL) and (2) number of awakenings (NOA) throughout the night.
Each morning, for 7 consecutive days, daily cannabis users (n = 54) reported on the timing of previous night’s cannabis use and sleep indicators on their smartphones. Mixed effects models examined the relations of within- and between-subjects’ time elapsed between previous night cannabis use and sleep start time, with (1) SOL and (2) NOA.
Within subjects, shorter time elapsed between cannabis use and sleep start time was associated with shorter SOL (β = 0.519, p = 0.010), but not NOA (β = -0.030, p = 0.535). Furthermore, between individuals, the time gap between the previous night cannabis use and sleep start time was not associated with SOL or NOA (p > 0.05).
It is possible that cannabis use proximal to bedtime is associated with shorted sleep onset latency but not nighttime awakenings. Cannabis users should be informed about both the potential sleep aid effects of cannabis and its limitations. Pending further evidence of the effects of cannabis on sleep, cannabis users experiencing sleep problems should be provided with evidence-based alternatives to improve sleep, e.g., pharmacological and behavioral treatments.