A new meta-analysis published in the journal Sleep Medicine Reviews has found that cannabinoids improve sleep quality, but the benefits are largely tied to mixed cannabinoid formulations rather than CBD alone.

Researchers from universities and hospitals in Brazil, Poland, and Australia analyzed six randomized controlled trials involving 1,077 adults. The studies compared cannabinoid-based therapies with placebo to determine their effects on sleep quality in people both with and without insomnia.

The results showed that “Cannabinoids significantly improved sleep quality compared to placebo, particularly in those with insomnia or poor sleep.”

Non-CBD cannabinoids “demonstrated greater efficacy, whereas CBD-only therapies showed no significant effect”, according to the study.

The researchers noted that while insomnia is one of the most common sleep disorders worldwide, affecting up to 30% of the population, existing treatments are not always effective or accessible. Cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia is considered the gold standard, but access is limited due to a shortage of trained providers. Medications are more widely used but often come with side effects and inconsistent effectiveness, leading many to explore alternative therapies, including cannabinoids.

The authors concluded that cannabinoid-based medicines—particularly those containing THC or other non-CBD compounds—warrant further investigation as potential therapeutic options for sleep disorders. They emphasized the need for more large-scale, high-quality trials to better establish dosing, safety, and long-term efficacy.