{"id":605943103794,"title":"THC Gummies for Sleep: A Bad Idea?","created_at":"2023-07-24T23:48:33-04:00","body_html":"\u003cscript type=\"application\/ld+json\"\u003e\/\/ \u003c![CDATA[\n{\n \"@context\": \"https:\/\/schema.org\",\n \"@type\": \"Article\",\n \"headline\": \"THC Gummies for Sleep: A Bad Idea?\",\n \"keywords\": \"thc gummies for sleep, thc gummies sleep\",\n \"description\": \"Our research team analyzes medical studies on THC for sleep to give our take on whether THC gummies are likely to be effective or if they're a waste of money. We explain why we consider most THC gummies to be unhealthy and feature unsponsored user reviews.\",\n \"url\": \"https:\/\/illuminatelabs.org\/blogs\/health\/thc-gummies-for-sleep\",\n\"author\": {\n \"@type\": \"Person\",\n \"name\": \"Calloway Cook\",\n \"url\": \"https:\/\/illuminatelabs.org\/pages\/calloway-cook\",\n \"sameAs\": \"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/calloway-cook\/\",\n \"jobTitle\": \"President\",\n \"knowsAbout\": \"entrepreneurship, dietary supplements, herbal supplements, eCommerce, medical research\",\n \"alumniOf\": {\n \"@type\": \"EducationalOrganization\",\n \"name\": \"S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University\"\n },\n \"memberOf\": {\n \"@type\": \"Organization\",\n \"name\": \"Illuminate Labs\"\n }\n },\n\"editor\": {\n \"@type\": \"Person\",\n \"name\": \"Taylor Graber\",\n \"honorificSuffix\": \"M.D.\",\n \"url\": \"https:\/\/illuminatelabs.org\/pages\/taylor-graber\",\n \"sameAs\": [\n \"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/taylor-j-graber-md-81351642\/\",\n \"https:\/\/www.asapivs.com\/\"\n ],\n \"jobTitle\": \"Content Partner\",\n \"knowsAbout\": \"medicine, health, anesthesiology, iv therapy, science, drugs, pharmaceutical, medical research, scientific research, medical journals, entrepreneurship, healthcare, orthopedic surgery, biomedical engineering\",\n \"alumniOf\": {\n \"@type\": \"EducationalOrganization\",\n \"name\": [\n \"University of California San Diego\",\n \"Arizona University\",\n \"University of Arizona College of Medicine\"\n ]\n },\n \"memberOf\": {\n \"@type\": \"Organization\",\n \"name\": \"Illuminate Labs\"\n }\n},\n\"image\": {\n\"@type\": \"ImageObject\",\n\"url\": \"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0047\/1524\/9737\/files\/THC_Gummies_For_Sleep_Thumbnail.png?v=1690257294\",\n\"width\": \"2259\",\n\"height\": \"2259\"\n},\n\"citation\": [\n\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC8116407\/\", \n\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC9036386\/\",\n\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/36539991\/\",\n\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/31246081\/\",\n\"https:\/\/illuminatelabs.org\/blogs\/health\/cbd-gummies-for-pain\",\n\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/23026007\/\",\n\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/31714321\/\",\n\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/36005255\/\",\n\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC8700927\/\",\n\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/33870919\/\"\n],\n\"mentions\": [{\n \"@type\": \"Thing\",\n \"name\": \"tetrahydrocannabinol\"\n },\n {\n \"@type\": \"Thing\",\n \"name\": \"cannabinoid\"\n },\n {\n \"@type\": \"Thing\",\n \"name\": \"isolated THC\"\n },\n {\n \"@type\": \"Thing\",\n \"name\": \"sugar\"\n },\n {\n \"@type\": \"Thing\",\n \"name\": \"artificial food dye\"\n },\n {\n \"@type\": \"Brand\",\n \"name\": \"Good Morning America\"\n },\n {\n \"@type\": \"Brand\",\n \"name\": \"Chubbyemu\"\n },\n {\n \"@type\": \"Thing\",\n \"name\": \"CBD\"\n }\n],\n\"datePublished\": \"2023-07-24\",\n\"copyrightHolder\": {\n \"@type\": \"Organization\",\n \"name\": \"Illuminate Labs\"\n},\n\"publisher\": {\n \"@type\": \"Organization\",\n \"name\": \"Illuminate Labs\",\n \"url\": \"https:\/\/illuminatelabs.org\/\",\n \"description\": \"Illuminate Labs is the most transparent supplement company in the U.S., and is a leading publisher of research-based health information.\",\n \"knowsAbout\": \"supplements, science, nutrition, exercise, health, medication, pharmaceutical, wellness, diet, weight loss, medical research\",\n \"publishingPrinciples\": \"https:\/\/illuminatelabs.org\/pages\/editorial-guidelines\",\n \"memberOf\": [\n {\n \"@type\": \"Organization\",\n \"name\": \"U.S. Chamber of Commerce\",\n \"url\": \"https:\/\/www.uschamber.com\/\"\n },\n {\n \"@type\": \"Organization\",\n \"name\": \"Certified B Corp\",\n \"url\": \"https:\/\/www.bcorporation.net\/en-us\/\"\n },\n {\n \"@type\": \"Organization\",\n \"name\": \"Natural Products Association\",\n \"url\": \"https:\/\/www.npanational.org\/\"\n }\n ], \n \"logo\": {\n \"@type\": \"ImageObject\",\n \"url\": \"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0047\/1524\/9737\/files\/Illuminate_Labs_Favicon_48x48_7595c3cc-e27b-47b8-a4fe-edcc7ed9b29a.png?v=1666502785\", \n \"width\": 48,\n \"height\": 48\n},\n \"foundingDate\": \"2019-01-30\",\n \"sameAs\": [\n \"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/illuminatelabs\",\n \"https:\/\/twitter.com\/illuminatelabs\",\n \"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/company\/illuminate-labs-supplements\",\n \"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/channel\/UCpgSJAsIPb-fZ25djtTxBEA\"\n ]\n }\n}\n\/\/ ]]\u003e\u003c\/script\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0047\/1524\/9737\/files\/THC_Gummies_For_Sleep_Article_Header_Image_Optimized.png?v=1690256853\" alt=\"\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eDisclaimer: None of the information in this article constitutes medical advice. All statements are merely the opinion of the writer(s). We recommend that patients follow their doctor’s guidance in regard to THC use.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"dc\"\u003eT\u003c\/span\u003eHC gummies are becoming a popular over-the-counter (OTC) sleep remedy. Many brands tout the sleep-promoting benefits of their gummies, positioning them as a natural alternative to sleep medication.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eBut is THC shown in research studies to improve sleep, or are these just marketing claims? Do THC gummies contain an effective dose? Do they have unhealthy additive ingredients? And how do real users rate and describe the effects of THC gummies for sleep?\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eIn this article we’ll answer all of these questions and more as we analyze medical studies on THC for sleep to give our take on whether it’s likely to be effective, or if it’s a waste of money.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eWe’ll share our concerns about some of the additive ingredients in THC gummies, and feature unsponsored user reviews.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2 style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eDoes THC Even Improve Sleep?\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eTHC, short for tetrahydrocannabinol, is a psychoactive cannabinoid derived from the cannabis plant. This compound has been studied in clinical trials for its effects on sleep.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eA \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC8116407\/\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003emedical review\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e published in the \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eNeurotherapeutics\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e journal \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb\u003edocumented that THC can reduce time-to-sleep initially, but may reduce total sleep time after long periods of use.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eA 2022 \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC9036386\/\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003emedical review\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e suggested that THC may have a negative impact on sleep-related quality of life:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e“THC…was associated with a ‘hangover effect’ the next morning.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e In addition, patients experienced temporal disorganization.”\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eA \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/36539991\/\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eclinical trial\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e published in the \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eJournal of Sleep Research\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e found that cannabis oil improved sleep quality, but cannabis oil has many other psychoactive compounds beyond THC.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eBased on the available research, we consider isolated THC unlikely to improve sleep quality, with the research on whole cannabis appearing more promising.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eBut are THC gummies an unhealthy option? We’ll share our concerns in the next section.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2 style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eAre THC Gummies Unhealthy?\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0047\/1524\/9737\/files\/Kush_Queen_THC_Gummies_Ingredients_Optimized.png?v=1690256965\" alt=\"Kush Queen THC gummies ingredients\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eThe ingredients above are from a THC gummy brand called Kush Queen.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eWhile researching this article, we searched “THC gummies” in Google and this brand was the top organic result.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eThis ingredient list illustrates why we consider most THC gummies to be unhealthy. They’re formulated to look and taste like candy, and contain inactive ingredients that may be questionable from a health perspective.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eSugar\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e and \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb\u003eglucose syrup\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e are both forms of added sugar, and added sugar consumption in excess is associated with obesity and cardiovascular disease, according to a 2019 \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/31246081\/\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003emedical review\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eMany Americans already consume too much added sugar from their diet, so intaking additional added sugar from supplements may be harmful in some cases.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eCitric acid\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e is a flavor enhancer that can cause whole-body inflammation, as we documented in our article on \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/illuminatelabs.org\/blogs\/health\/cbd-gummies-for-pain\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003edo CBD gummies work for pain\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eNatural flavors\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e is a broad categorical descriptor that fails to identify the specific flavoring agents used.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eFD\u0026amp;C Color\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e refers to artificial food dye. Typically the manufacturer lists the specific food color used, but nonetheless a 2012 \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/23026007\/\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003emedical review\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e on the potential consumer harm from food dyes concluded with the study author’s opinion that all commercially-available dyes should be removed from the market for safety reasons.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eWe haven’t come across a THC gummy brand that we consider to have a healthy formulation, and speaking with a doctor about THC oil (if it’s available in your jurisdiction) may be a healthier choice.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2 style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eInterview With THC Gummy User\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eA Good Morning America segment interviewed a woman who claimed that using THC gummies made her a better mom:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ciframe width=\"560\" height=\"315\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/-EQSBjK8q4k\" title=\"YouTube video player\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" allowfullscreen=\"\"\u003e\u003c\/iframe\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2 style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eWhat Happens If You Overdo THC Gummies?\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eA YouTube creator named “Chubbyemu” who’s a pharmacist has a video on what happened when an individual ate 96 THC gummies in one sitting, that has over 2 million views:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ciframe width=\"560\" height=\"315\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/c0hKVw1jiTk\" title=\"YouTube video player\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" allowfullscreen=\"\"\u003e\u003c\/iframe\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\n\u003ch2 style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eOur Clean Sleep Picks\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0047\/1524\/9737\/files\/Sleep_Products_Image.png?v=1679732589\" alt=\"\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThere are sleep products with clinical research backing for their ability to improve sleep quality.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ca rel=\"sponsored\" href=\"https:\/\/bulletproof.fdf2.net\/a1XMvQ\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eBulletproof Sleep\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan\u003e is our top sleep supplement pick. It contains an effective dose of melatonin (3 mg), and also \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb\u003epassionflower extract\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan\u003e which has been shown in a \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/31714321\/\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eclinical trial\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan\u003e to increase total sleep time and decrease wakefulness. This supplement is free of any questionable additive ingredients and only costs $25.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eInterested consumers can check out Bulletproof Sleep \u003ca rel=\"sponsored\" href=\"https:\/\/bulletproof.fdf2.net\/a1XMvQ\"\u003eat this link\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eto its product page on the official brand website.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ca rel=\"sponsored\" href=\"https:\/\/shareasale.com\/r.cfm?b=883731\u0026amp;u=3153363\u0026amp;m=66636\u0026amp;urllink=www%2Enolahmattress%2Ecom%2Fproducts%2Fnolah%2Dweighted%2Dbamboo%2Dblanket\u0026amp;afftrack=\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eNolah Weighted Bamboo Blanket\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan\u003e is a great option for consumers who prefer non-supplement solutions for sleep. Weighted blankets are clinically shown to improve sleep quality in both \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/36005255\/\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eolder adults\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan\u003e and in \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC8700927\/\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003echildren\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, and early research suggests they may also reduce anxiety.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eInterested consumers can check out Nolah Weighted Bamboo Blanket \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca rel=\"sponsored\" href=\"https:\/\/shareasale.com\/r.cfm?b=883731\u0026amp;u=3153363\u0026amp;m=66636\u0026amp;urllink=www%2Enolahmattress%2Ecom%2Fproducts%2Fnolah%2Dweighted%2Dbamboo%2Dblanket\u0026amp;afftrack=\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eat this link\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan\u003e to the product page on the official brand website, where it’s currently retailing for under $100.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ca rel=\"sponsored\" href=\"https:\/\/mantasleep.com\/products\/manta-sleep-mask?rfsn=7058102.5070479\u0026amp;utm_source=refersion\u0026amp;utm_medium=affiliate\u0026amp;utm_campaign=7058102.5070479\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eManta Sleep Mask\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan\u003e is the most cost-effective sleep solution, because it’s only $35 and will last for years. A 2021 \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/33870919\/\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eclinical trial\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan\u003e found that \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb\u003eeye mask and ear plug use improved sleep quality in ICU patients.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Manta’s mask comes with ear plugs.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWe can't locate any medical studies on sleep mask use in healthy patients, but it seems logical that the same effects would hold given that light exposure during sleep negatively impacts sleep quality.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eInterested consumers can check out Manta Sleep Mask \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca rel=\"sponsored\" href=\"https:\/\/mantasleep.com\/products\/manta-sleep-mask?rfsn=7058102.5070479\u0026amp;utm_source=refersion\u0026amp;utm_medium=affiliate\u0026amp;utm_campaign=7058102.5070479\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eat this link\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan\u003e to the product page on the official brand website.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2 style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eConclusion\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eThe medical evidence on THC gummies for sleep is unimpressive in our opinion. If anything, the studies we came across suggest that long-term, THC gummies actually \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eimpair\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e sleep quality.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eWhole cannabis may improve sleep, but it’s too early-stage to say so definitively in our opinion.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eTHC is psychoactive and can cause side effects, so it may be illogical to use this for sleep when there are research-backed, non-psychoactive options with a superior side effect profile.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eMost THC gummies are unhealthy and contain a range of questionable additives like refined sugar and artificial flavors. This is an issue for the gummy supplement industry at large (including CBD), and in this article we highlighted the ingredients in one popular THC gummy article to make our case.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eTaking too many THC gummies in one sitting may cause bodily injury, so it’s important to follow the directions on the product label carefully.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","blog_id":49281925193,"author":"Calloway Cook","user_id":26601750601,"published_at":"2023-07-24T23:53:37-04:00","updated_at":"2023-07-25T00:00:08-04:00","summary_html":"Our research team analyzes medical studies on THC for sleep to give our take on whether THC gummies are likely to be effective or if they're a waste of money. We explain why we consider most THC gummies to be unhealthy and feature unsponsored user reviews.","template_suffix":"","handle":"thc-gummies-for-sleep","tags":"_related:cannabis, _related:sleep"}

THC Gummies for Sleep: A Bad Idea?

THC Gummies for Sleep: A Bad Idea?


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Read our Editorial Guidelines to learn more about what makes our site the premier resource for online health information.

Disclaimer: None of the information in this article constitutes medical advice. All statements are merely the opinion of the writer(s). We recommend that patients follow their doctor’s guidance in regard to THC use.

THC gummies are becoming a popular over-the-counter (OTC) sleep remedy. Many brands tout the sleep-promoting benefits of their gummies, positioning them as a natural alternative to sleep medication.

But is THC shown in research studies to improve sleep, or are these just marketing claims? Do THC gummies contain an effective dose? Do they have unhealthy additive ingredients? And how do real users rate and describe the effects of THC gummies for sleep?

In this article we’ll answer all of these questions and more as we analyze medical studies on THC for sleep to give our take on whether it’s likely to be effective, or if it’s a waste of money.

We’ll share our concerns about some of the additive ingredients in THC gummies, and feature unsponsored user reviews.

Does THC Even Improve Sleep?

THC, short for tetrahydrocannabinol, is a psychoactive cannabinoid derived from the cannabis plant. This compound has been studied in clinical trials for its effects on sleep.

A medical review published in the Neurotherapeutics journal documented that THC can reduce time-to-sleep initially, but may reduce total sleep time after long periods of use.

A 2022 medical review suggested that THC may have a negative impact on sleep-related quality of life:

“THC…was associated with a ‘hangover effect’ the next morning. In addition, patients experienced temporal disorganization.”

A clinical trial published in the Journal of Sleep Research found that cannabis oil improved sleep quality, but cannabis oil has many other psychoactive compounds beyond THC.

Based on the available research, we consider isolated THC unlikely to improve sleep quality, with the research on whole cannabis appearing more promising.

But are THC gummies an unhealthy option? We’ll share our concerns in the next section.

Are THC Gummies Unhealthy?

Kush Queen THC gummies ingredients

The ingredients above are from a THC gummy brand called Kush Queen.

While researching this article, we searched “THC gummies” in Google and this brand was the top organic result.

This ingredient list illustrates why we consider most THC gummies to be unhealthy. They’re formulated to look and taste like candy, and contain inactive ingredients that may be questionable from a health perspective.

Sugar and glucose syrup are both forms of added sugar, and added sugar consumption in excess is associated with obesity and cardiovascular disease, according to a 2019 medical review.

Many Americans already consume too much added sugar from their diet, so intaking additional added sugar from supplements may be harmful in some cases.

Citric acid is a flavor enhancer that can cause whole-body inflammation, as we documented in our article on do CBD gummies work for pain.

Natural flavors is a broad categorical descriptor that fails to identify the specific flavoring agents used.

FD&C Color refers to artificial food dye. Typically the manufacturer lists the specific food color used, but nonetheless a 2012 medical review on the potential consumer harm from food dyes concluded with the study author’s opinion that all commercially-available dyes should be removed from the market for safety reasons.

We haven’t come across a THC gummy brand that we consider to have a healthy formulation, and speaking with a doctor about THC oil (if it’s available in your jurisdiction) may be a healthier choice.

Interview With THC Gummy User

A Good Morning America segment interviewed a woman who claimed that using THC gummies made her a better mom:

What Happens If You Overdo THC Gummies?

A YouTube creator named “Chubbyemu” who’s a pharmacist has a video on what happened when an individual ate 96 THC gummies in one sitting, that has over 2 million views:

Our Clean Sleep Picks

There are sleep products with clinical research backing for their ability to improve sleep quality.

Bulletproof Sleep is our top sleep supplement pick. It contains an effective dose of melatonin (3 mg), and also passionflower extract which has been shown in a clinical trial to increase total sleep time and decrease wakefulness. This supplement is free of any questionable additive ingredients and only costs $25.

Interested consumers can check out Bulletproof Sleep at this link to its product page on the official brand website.

Nolah Weighted Bamboo Blanket is a great option for consumers who prefer non-supplement solutions for sleep. Weighted blankets are clinically shown to improve sleep quality in both older adults and in children, and early research suggests they may also reduce anxiety.

Interested consumers can check out Nolah Weighted Bamboo Blanket at this link to the product page on the official brand website, where it’s currently retailing for under $100.

Manta Sleep Mask is the most cost-effective sleep solution, because it’s only $35 and will last for years. A 2021 clinical trial found that eye mask and ear plug use improved sleep quality in ICU patients. Manta’s mask comes with ear plugs.

We can't locate any medical studies on sleep mask use in healthy patients, but it seems logical that the same effects would hold given that light exposure during sleep negatively impacts sleep quality.

Interested consumers can check out Manta Sleep Mask at this link to the product page on the official brand website.

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Conclusion

The medical evidence on THC gummies for sleep is unimpressive in our opinion. If anything, the studies we came across suggest that long-term, THC gummies actually impair sleep quality.

Whole cannabis may improve sleep, but it’s too early-stage to say so definitively in our opinion.

THC is psychoactive and can cause side effects, so it may be illogical to use this for sleep when there are research-backed, non-psychoactive options with a superior side effect profile.

Most THC gummies are unhealthy and contain a range of questionable additives like refined sugar and artificial flavors. This is an issue for the gummy supplement industry at large (including CBD), and in this article we highlighted the ingredients in one popular THC gummy article to make our case.

Taking too many THC gummies in one sitting may cause bodily injury, so it’s important to follow the directions on the product label carefully.




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