Can medical cannabis and CBD support people with sleep apnoea (updated)?

There are three main types of sleep apnoea:

• Obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA): where airflow into the lungs is blocked through the unintended relaxation of the throat muscles. This is, by far, the most common form of sleep apnoea.
• Central sleep apnoea (CSA): occurs when the brain stops sending the correct signals to the groups of muscles that control breathing.
• Treatment-emergent central sleep apnoea: this is diagnosed when a patient is treated for OSA that then converts to CSA during treatment

All three types of sleep apnoea are chronic conditions that can have severe long-term health consequences if not addressed and treated correctly, and all three cause the airway to narrow or collapse in different ways. The mechanism varies, but the outcome is similar: interrupted breathing, disrupted sleep and a steady erosion of day-to-day functioning.

Can medical cannabis help people with sleep apnoea symptoms?

While CPAP machines remain the gold standard sleep apnoea treatment, medical cannabis (THC and CBD) treatment options are starting to become somewhat commonplace, at least in countries where it is legal. 

Not to fix the issue itself (there is unfortunately no cure for sleep apnoea), but to help soften the impact that it leaves in its trail, from restless nights and difficulty winding down to the drained, foggy feeling that carries into the day. Medical cannabis will not improve airway obstruction, but it can help manage some of the symptoms. 

How do medical cannabis and CBD relate to sleep pathways?

Medical cannabis as a treatment for sleep disorders is anything but a new idea. Cannabinoids interact with more than one system in the body, mostly the endocannabinoid system, but also other regulatory systems linked to sleep, including serotonin pathways, which play a part in calming the brain at night and contribute to the production of melatonin.

The two major cannabinoids, THC and CBD, work in quite different ways. THC can be a powerful sedative and mood enhancer, while CBD has been shown to really help lower levels of anxiety and ease the mental tension that keeps the body alert.

None of this replaces primary treatment, and it does not correct airway obstruction. It is about supporting rest, easing anxiety around sleep and helping with the parts of sleep apnoea that linger despite consistent CPAP use.

What does the evidence say about medical cannabis and CBD for sleep apnoea?

Now we get to the interesting stuff. The findings from a huge-scale, real-world study were released just a few months ago, and while this is all patient-reported data, it offers one of the clearest snapshots we have of how people with obstructive sleep apnoea respond to medical cannabis in day-to-day life. 

Real-world findings from the Minnesota sleep apnoea study

In May 2025, the Minnesota Medical Cannabis Program recently released data from 3,102 people living with obstructive sleep apnoea who were prescribed medical cannabis. 

Among those who entered the programme with moderate to severe sleep disturbance, 60.8% achieved at least a 30% improvement in sleep within the first four months of treatment. 39.4% maintained that improvement across repeated assessments.

Levels of fatigue followed a similar trend. Of people who reported battling moderate to severe fatigue at the start, 55.3% reached a 30% improvement within four months, and 33.5% saw improved energy levels stick around long term.

Importantly, quality-of-life feedback showed positive changes, too. The study participants were asked to share any insights, and many reported that they found it much easier to settle in to sleep with the CPAP mask on after taking their prescribed cannabis. Some participants also reported sleeping for longer periods than they had in years, and feeling more even-tempered through the day, suggesting that improved rest had a noticeable effect on how they moved through their routine.

While medical cannabis will not fix the physical issues that cause sleep apnoea, it does seem to offer a real shining light in terms of sleep quality, length of sleep, and how participants feel day to day. 

What clinical studies on dronabinol (synthetic THC) for sleep apnoea show so far

Dronabinol, a synthetic form of THC, has been tested in several small sleep apnoea trials. Keep in mind that dronabinol is not the same as the medical cannabis options prescribed here in the UK, which limits how directly these findings can be applied to a real-world scenario, but they are interesting nonetheless. 

In one RCT study carried out by researchers at the University of Illinois, 73 participants were given oral dronabinol for a 6-week period. They were split into three randomised groups, and given either 2.5 mg, 10 mg, or a placebo. Before beginning the treatment, the average apnoea hypopnea index (the scale used to measure the severity of sleep apnoea) was sitting at 25.9.

• The 10 mg group saw an average reduction of 12.9 events per hour
•  The 2.5 mg group recorded a reduction of 10.7 events per hour

That's around a 30% improvement in both groups, and the impressive results didn't stop there. Unusual daytime fatigue, measured using the Epworth Sleepiness Scale, also improved. The 10 mg group had an average baseline of 11.4 before treatment started, which is classed as ‘mild excessive daytime sleepiness’. That dropped almost 4 points by the end of the trial to 7.6, which is regarded as ‘average or normal daytime sleepiness’

What CBD studies show for sleep apnoea

Unfortunately, there is nothing to report here. While CBD can help with the secondary symptoms, there is no hard data on CBD for slepp apnoea right now. That said, there is one interesting study that focused on CBD for better sleep and anxiety control to look at. 

Titled “Cannabidiol in Anxiety and Sleep: A Large Case Series”, the researchers found that 79.2% of participants reported anxiety relief, and 66.7% reported improved sleep scores. They concluded that:

“CBD may have a calming effect on the central nervous system and may be a potential treatment option for anxiety and sleep disorders”.

How might medical cannabis complement established sleep apnoea treatments?

This is exactly what we have been alluding to for most of this blog - that medical cannabis is not a first-line treatment for sleep apnoea, but that doesn’t mean it has no place in a holistic treatment plan. 

CPAP masks are not the most comfortable thing to wear while sleeping. As we mentioned above, many of the participants of the Minnesota sleep apnoea study mentioned that they found it much easier to fall asleep while wearing their CPAP mask if they had taken some medical cannabis before going to bed.

Medical cannabis has been shown to help with not only falling asleep faster, but staying asleep for longer, feeling less stress and anxiety throughout the day, and just feeling a little more relaxed in general. 

What medical cannabis products might be considered for sleep apnoea?

That really depends on what you are trying to achieve with your medical cannabis prescription, and also how you respond to medical cannabis treatment.

Some people might benefit from a CBD-dominant option to help them through the day, while others may prefer something a little more THC-heavy to help drift of to sleep and stay there. The right option will depend on how your body responds to each cannabinoid, what symptoms you are trying to manage, and how alert you need to feel when you wake up.

Here at Releaf, we have a truly world-class clinical team. All of our doctors, nurses, and support staff are here to make sure your medical cannabis treatment is not only as effective as possible, but also tailored to your needs. Your Releaf prescribing specialist will take all of this into account and walk you through the options available to you during your initial consultation. 

FAQs on medical cannabis for sleep apnoea

Does medical cannabis reduce apnoea events?

While the real-world study showed improvements in many areas for sleep apnoea patients taking medical cannabis, and the dronabinol trials did show a reduction in apnoea events, there is simply not enough data right now to say that medical cannabis does reduce apnoea events.

Can medical cannabis replace CPAP?

No, not whatsoever. Medical cannabis is a complementary treatment option that may help people with sleep apnoea fall asleep faster, stay asleep longer, and feel better during the day, but it will not replace a CPAP mask. 

Does CBD help with sleep apnoea symptoms?

Yes, CBD has been shown to help with some of the secondary symptoms of sleep apnoea, like reducing anxiety levels and improving overall restfulness.

Can medical cannabis reduce daytime tiredness?

Real-world data from the Minnesota sleep apnoea study showed that many of the participants reported much lower levels of daytime fatigue, with a 30% improvement for about half the participants. 

How do people access medical cannabis for sleep apnoea in the UK?

While the NHS does technically offer medical cannabis prescriptions, it only does so for 3 health issues, and sleep apnoea is not on that list. Thankfully, there is another avenue for UK residents over the age of 18.

Private medical cannabis clinics, like Releaf, are legally able to offer medical cannabis prescriptions for a much wider range of conditions when standard treatments have not been successful. This includes situations where sleep apnoea is being well managed with a CPAP machine, but secondary symptoms like anxiety, depression, and heavy ongoing fatigue are still present. 

Does that sound like you?

If so, head to our medical cannabis eligibility checker. It takes just 20 seconds to run through, is totally free, and may be your first step towards better sleep and more enjoyable days. Get your medical cannabis card for sleep apnoea today.

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