Previous findings have shown mixed results pertaining to the effectiveness of cannabis as a sleeping aid, with some studies showing that even a single cannabis exposure can reduce sleep-onset latency, increase total sleep time, and report less disruption once asleep.

"Despite insomnia being one of the most cited reasons for self-medication with cannabis or cannabinoids, the evidence base is overall inconsistent and of poor quality, as described in a recent systematic review," the authors write.

Overall, the researchers wanted to get a glimpse into an association between sleep disturbances and recent cannabis use, especially now that it's becoming more widely available. They speculate that with repeated use, the body can become more used to the drug, and actually increase sleep disruption.

There's still much we don't know about how cannabis and its various compounds affect our sleep, the researchers warn.

"A better understanding of the endocannabinoid-mediated effects on sleep can inform development of clinical guidelines to target improved long term health outcomes at the patient and population levels," they write.

In the US, sleep deprivation has become a major public health concern, with only two-thirds of the population meeting the 7-9 hours of sleep per night recommendation, and almost half of American adults reporting daytime sleepiness every day.

In addition to this, more widespread legalization and decriminalization of cannabis in the US and Canada has led to a large uptake since the early 2000s, with 45 million reported users in 2019.

"Insufficient sleep in the modern world is a growing public health issue and sleep disturbances can be a major risk factor for initiating cannabis use," the authors caution.

"This can perpetuate cycles of increased cannabis use, progressive sleep disturbances, and acute cessation leading to withdrawal which may add further negative effects to sleep architecture and quality."