Cannabis use among veterans is associated with reduced stress and improved sleep quality on the same day, according to a new study published in Drug and Alcohol Dependence.
Researchers from King’s College London, New York University, the University of Southern California, the University of Washington, and the University of California Berkeley examined daily diary data from 74 veterans with elevated PTSD symptoms and problematic cannabis use over a three-month period. The study aimed to assess how cannabis and alcohol use interact with sleep quality and perceived stress on a day-to-day basis.
Using dynamic structural equation modeling, the study found that higher cannabis use was associated with lower stress and better sleep quality that same night. No lasting or next-day effects of cannabis use were identified, either positive or negative.
In contrast, poor sleep was found to increase stress levels the following day, which then led to greater alcohol consumption, suggesting a more negative cycle linked to alcohol use.
The findings highlight the immediate stress- and sleep-related effects of cannabis among veterans, distinguishing it from alcohol, which appeared to be used more reactively in response to heightened stress. Researchers say future studies using real-time data could help refine treatment approaches that incorporate cannabis-related behaviors to support mental health and sleep outcomes in veterans.
