People choose marijuana over sleeping pills

Cannabis has been used for thousands of years to relieve pain and promote sleep. In recent decades, the therapeutic role of cannabis in conventional medicine has become increasingly clear. Research into the benefits of cannabis for sleep has shown some progress, with many people reporting that they use cannabis as a sleep aid. Yes, people prefer marijuana to sleeping pills because they tend to work better and have fewer side effects.

A study shows that this mindset is far from uncommon, showing that fewer people buy over-the-counter sleep aids when they have access to legal marijuana.

The study, published in the journal Complementary Therapies in Medicine, was conducted by researchers at the University of New Mexico and California State Polytechnic University. These researchers examined retail data from Nielsen to understand how legal marijuana in Colorado affected sales of over-the-counter sleep aids. Nearly 600 stores (587) were analyzed, and recreational pharmacies from various counties were also surveyed.

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“For the first time, we show a statistically significant negative association between recreational access to cannabis and sales of over-the-counter sleep aids, suggesting that at least some recreational buyers use cannabis for therapeutic rather than recreational purposes,” the study says.

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The study explains that even though there is no clinical evidence that marijuana is a sleep aid, people are still taking matters into their own hands, resulting in a significant reduction in the use of over-the-counter sleep aids.

“Our results are consistent with evidence that legal access to medical cannabis is associated with reductions in Class II-V prescription drugs (e.g. opioids and sedatives), many of which can be used in part as sleep aids.” , say the authors.

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While changes like these mean that marijuana is a trusted alternative medicine for a wide range of users, the fact that there isn’t enough science to back up these claims means those in charge have some catching up to do. The more marijuana is embraced, the greater risks the general population is willing to take. This isn’t a problem with over-the-counter sleep medications that aren’t too serious, but can become a problem with other types of medical conditions.