A new study finds that drinking marijuana-infused tea before bedtime can improve sleep quality and raise overall happiness.
Researchers at Rajamangala University of Technology Isan in Thailand divided 30 volunteers into three groups, each given drip tea infused with cannabis at 3 percent, 5 percent or 7 percent by weight. Participants steeped marijuana leaves in hot water and drank the tea 30 minutes before bed nightly for a week. Happiness was measured with a 15-item questionnaire and a follow-up phone interview after the trial.
The 5 percent and 7 percent groups reported better sleep quality, and the 7 percent group had the highest happiness score, making it what researchers called "the most suitable formula for increased happiness."
"The results demonstrated a statistically significant increase in happiness levels between pre-experimental and post-experimental groups, indicating that cannabis-infused tea had a positive effect on participants' well-being," the study states.
Published this month in the Journal of Health Science and Medical Research, the findings note the 7 percent formula "contributed to improvements in life satisfaction, self-esteem, the ability to confront and accept problems, the ability to regulate emotions, a sense of confidence, a sense of empathy for others, and a greater sense of security with family."
The paper concludes that "cannabis-infused tea enhanced the state of happiness without reported side effects," and that "this prototype tea could be consumed at the optimum dose to maintain health and well-being." It adds that "cannabis-based tea products may be a promising avenue for healthcare research and therapeutic applications in treating neurodegenerative disorders."
Researchers cautioned that other tea ingredients, including peppermint and stevia, could have influenced results, and said future work should examine the tea's long-term safety and effectiveness.
The study builds on earlier research linking cannabis to wellness benefits. A study of adults who drink cannabis-infused beverages, published earlier this year, found a "substitution effect," with most participants cutting alcohol use after taking up cannabinoid drinks, along with better wellbeing and sleep and less pain, stress, depression and anxiety. A survey from the American Academy of Sleep Medicine found 2 in 3 Americans who use marijuana say it helps them sleep better. Research covering more than 3,500 patients showed that medical marijuana use is tied to reduced use of other medications, including sleep aids, with fewer negative side effects than prescription drugs. Another study found that CBD eases moderate to severe anxiety symptoms after just one week of use.
