Cannabis for sleep in adults over 50: use has outpaced the evidence
Cannabis use for sleep has risen fast in adults over 50, but evidence on efficacy, tolerability and safety in this group is limited; most sleep studies tested younger adults. [1]
Automatic summary · not editorially reviewed
The key findings
Cannabis use has increased rapidly among adults over 50, and sleep disturbance is among the most common reasons for use. [1]
Most experimental studies of cannabinoids and sleep were conducted in younger adults, often with products and formulations that differ substantially from those available now. [1]
Rigorous studies specifically enrolling older adults are virtually nonexistent. [1]
The source at a glance
- Study type / format
- Abstract of a review or commentary on cannabis use for sleep in older adults.
- Population / context
- Adults over 50 years of age, as defined in the abstract.
- Summary based on
- Study abstract
- Original publication
- October 9, 2026
Rising cannabis use for sleep in adults over 50
The abstract defines older adults as people over 50. In this group, cannabis use has increased rapidly, and sleep disturbance is among the most common reasons for use. Use of cannabis and individual cannabinoids to help sleep is growing. However, the evidence for their efficacy, tolerability and safety in older adults remains limited.
Supporting source [1]
Most cannabinoid sleep studies tested younger adults
Most experimental studies of cannabinoids and sleep were conducted in younger adults, often with products and formulations that differ substantially from those available now. A subjective sense of better sleep, which may drive increased use, is often not supported by objective polysomnography or actigraphy data. Aging brings changes in sleep physiology, pharmacokinetics, body composition, the endocannabinoid system, multimorbidity and polypharmacy that may alter cannabinoid effects, so findings from younger populations may not generalize to older adults.
Supporting source [1]
Tolerance, sparse CBD/CBN data and missing older-adult trials
Regular and repeated use of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabis leads to tolerance, and withdrawal-related sleep disruption complicates interpretation of longer-term effects. Evidence for cannabidiol (CBD) and cannabinol (CBN) in sleep remains sparse. Rigorous studies specifically enrolling older adults are virtually nonexistent. The abstract calls for randomized controlled trials with both subjective and objective sleep measures, age-specific pharmacokinetics, drug interactions and longer-term outcomes.
Supporting source [1]
How to interpret this
This is an abstract; the full text was not reviewed. It reports no sample sizes, follow-up periods or effect estimates, and the evidence it summarizes is described as limited.
Based on the study abstract; the full paper, tables and supplementary data were not reviewed.
Source & supporting passages
Draghmeh K, Gupta P, Yaggi H, D'Souza DC. · europepmc.org · October 9, 2026