Macquarie University/The Lighthouse
Cannabis products are attracting increasing attention as a possible solution for insomnia, with gummies containing cannabinoids even being sold in supermarkets in some parts of the United States. But is there any proof that it works? Dr Camilla Hoyos looks at what we know.
When most people think of cannabis, the first thing that comes to mind is probably its illicit form, commonly known as marijuana. Despite widespread usage, this form of cannabis remains illegal in Australia and is classified as a prohibited substance, in the same category as heroin, cocaine and MDMA.
However, there is another form of cannabis that was legalised in Australia in 2016.
Medicinal cannabis contains one or more of the active compounds in the cannabis sativa plant, known as cannabinoids. These include the psychoactive compound tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), which produces the ‘high’ associated with cannabis, and the non‑psychoactive cannabidiol (CBD).
Cannabis products, and access to them, vary depending where in the world you live, and what we can access in Australia may be quite different from what is available in the United States.
The US market for CBD products is booming. In 2023, it was worth about US$7.6 billion, and there are predictions it could reach $36 billion a year by 2033.
Recreational cannabis is now legal in 23 US states, and in these states, products such as gummies, oils and tinctures containing low doses of THC or CBD are available over the counter, and even in some supermarkets. Interest in medicinal cannabis as a potential treatment for insomnia has been gaining momentum, largely based on anecdotal reports from regular users of illicit cannabis that it improved their sleep … No state in Australia has legalised recreational cannabis, but medicinal cannabis products are available on prescription.
Two cannabinoid medicines – Epidyolex and Sativex, which treat epilepsy and muscle stiffness in multiple sclerosis respectively – have been through the Therapeutic Goods Administration’s standard regulatory approval procedures to assess their safety and efficacy.Hundreds of other medications containing cannabinoids fall into the category of unapproved therapeutic goods, and can be prescribed through the special access and authorised prescriber schemes.Since medicinal cannabis became legal, […]
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