What does this research mean for the field?

Middle-aged cannabis consumers experience significantly worse sleep outcomes, including greater sleep disturbance, impairment, and insomnia severity, compared to young adult consumers, despite being more likely to use cannabis specifically for sleep. Novelty: ClaimNovelty.INCREMENTAL. Consensus alignment: ConsensusAlignment.NEUTRAL.

What question did this study set out to answer?

The aim is to analyze the impact of cannabis use on sleep health factors among two different age cohorts.

May 10, 2026

0424 Sleep-Related Impairment, Disturbance, and Insomnia Among Cannabis Consumers Across Two Age-Distinct Cohorts in South Florida

Key Points

The aim is to analyze the impact of cannabis use on sleep health factors among two different age cohorts.
Harmonized data collected from the Herbal Heart Study - Sleep Ancillary (N=150) and Canna-ESSENTIAL Study (N=60)
Self-reported sleep health outcomes assessed using PROMIS Sleep-Related Impairment, PROMIS Sleep Disturbance, and Insomnia Severity Index
Statistical tests included chi-square, Fisher’s Exact tests, and independent t-tests
Middle-aged adults reported significantly higher PROMIS Sleep Disturbance scores (54.3) compared to young adults (49.3; p=0.0001)
Higher PROMIS Sleep-Related Impairment scores observed in middle-aged adults (56.0) versus young adults (51.2; p=0.04)
Moderate and severe insomnia was more common in middle-aged adults (23.1% moderate, 11.5% severe) than young adults (2.0% moderate, 1.0% severe; p<0.0001)

Abstract

Abstract Introduction Effects of cannabis use on sleep may differ by age, but age-stratified evidence remains limited. This study aimed to examine sleep-related impairment, sleep disturbance, and insomnia severity among cannabis consumers across two age-distinct cohorts in South Florida. Methods Data were harmonized from two ongoing cohorts: the Herbal Heart Study - Sleep Ancillary (HSS; N=150; young adults) and the Canna-ESSENTIAL Study (CE; N=60; middle-aged adults). Cannabis use patterns were ascertained using Sleep most participants were female (young-adults: 66.7% and middle-aged-adults: 78.3%). Racial/ethnic composition differed significantly, with young-adults primarily Hispanic/Latino (51.4%) and middle-aged-adults predominantly non-Hispanic Black (91.2%; p .0001). Past-year cannabis use was more prevalent among young-adults than middle-aged-adults (66.7% vs. 43.4%; p = 0.002). Among cannabis consumers, middle-aged-adults more frequently used cannabis for sleep quality (84.6%) and duration (76.9%) compared with young-adults (64.0% and 55.0%; p=0.04). Middle-aged-adults reported significantly worse sleep outcomes, including higher PROMIS Sleep Disturbance scores (54.3 vs. 49.3; p=0.0001) and higher PROMIS Sleep-Related Impairment scores (56.0 vs. 51.2; p=0.04). Moderate and severe insomnia were more frequent in middle-aged-adults than young-adults (23.1% and 11.5% vs. 2.0% and 1.0%; p.0001). Conclusion Findings highlight significant age-related differences in the relationship between cannabis and sleep health. Middle-aged cannabis consumers exhibited greater sleep disturbance, impairment, and insomnia severity than young adults, despite having lower prevalence of use overall and more likely to consume it specifically for sleep. Findings underscore the need for age-tailored interventions to specificify cannabis use pattern (i.e. dose, route of administration) influence on this relationship, especially as interest in using cannabis for sleep continues to grow. Support (if any) R01HL153467; T37MD008647; T32DA007292

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