More Americans Turn to Cannabis for Sleep Over Prescription Pills or Alcohol, Poll Finds

Survey Shows 16% of U.S. Adults Use Marijuana as a Sleep Aid, Outpacing Traditional Medications

Cannabis is now a more popular sleep aid than prescription drugs or alcohol among American adults, according to a new survey. The poll, conducted by The Harris Poll on behalf of cannabis company Green Thumb Industries, found that 16% of U.S. adults aged 21 and older use marijuana to help them sleep—a higher percentage than those relying on prescription sleep aids (12%) or alcohol (11%).

Despite this growing trend, cannabis still trails behind other sleep remedies such as supplements (26%) and over-the-counter sleep aids (19%).

Widespread Sleep Struggles Among Americans

The survey underscores a larger issue: 79% of adults report that something keeps them up at night, with 58% consuming at least one substance to help them sleep. The data suggests that sleep disturbances are common across different demographics, driving people to explore various remedies—including cannabis.

Who Is Using Cannabis for Sleep?

The survey, conducted online in early June 2024 with 2,019 U.S. adults aged 21 and older, found several trends in cannabis use for sleep:

• Men vs. Women: More men (18%) than women (15%) reported using cannabis as a sleep aid. Women aged 21-34 were the most likely to use it, while men in the 35-44 age group led among their gender.
• Income and Cannabis Use: Individuals from lower-income households (below $50,000) were the most likely to use cannabis for sleep (23%), while those with higher incomes favored supplements and over-the-counter options.
• Parents vs. Non-Parents: Parents were more likely than non-parents to use cannabis for sleep—20% of those with children in their household reported cannabis use, compared to 14% of non-parents.
• Regional Differences: Cannabis use for sleep was most common in the West (20%) and Northeast (19%), while the Midwest (14%) and South (13%) reported lower usage.

CBD and Cannabis-Based Sleep Aids on the Rise

The survey also examined the use of CBD-only or CBD + melatonin products, with 10% of respondents saying they used these alternatives. Given the rise of cannabis and CBD-based sleep aids, experts suggest the trend reflects a shift toward natural or plant-based remedies over pharmaceuticals and alcohol.

With a margin of error of ±2.5 percentage points, the findings suggest that as more states legalize cannabis, its use as a sleep aid may continue to grow, reshaping how Americans approach sleep health.

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