A recent placebo-controlled study published in Psychofarmacology has shown promising results for individuals using medicinal cannabis oil to treat insomnia. The study, led by Anastasia Sulaev and colleagues, found that taking a single dose of medicinal cannabis oil before bedtime did not impair cognitive function or driving ability the next day.
Study design: Investigation of cognitive effects
Medicinal cannabis oil typically contains cannabidiol (CBD) and tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), two prominent cannabinoids found in the cannabis plant. THC is known for its psychoactive effects, while CBD is non-psychoactive and is often used for therapeutic effects. This study focused on a combination of 10 mg THC and 200 mg CBD, which is widely used to manage insomnia.
The study involved 20 adults with insomnia, most of whom had little experience with cannabis. Participants were administered medicinal cannabis oil or a placebo in a controlled laboratory setting. The next day, cognitive performance was assessed, including a simulated driving test, through a series of 28 tasks designed to assess various cognitive functions such as attention, memory, and executive function.
No significant impairment in cognitive function
The findings showed that there were no significant differences between those who took cannabis oil and those who took a placebo on 27 out of 28 cognitive tasks. After ingesting cannabis oil, there was a slight decrease in accuracy on one executive function test, but this was not considered clinically significant. There was no effect on driving performance.
This result suggests that medicinal cannabis oil in this particular formulation does not cause cognitive or psychomotor impairments the day after ingestion. However, the authors caution that different formulations and higher doses may produce different effects.
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