Research on CBD for sleep and anxiety is early but growing. In one clinical case series, 79% of adults saw anxiety scores improve in the first month of CBD use, while sleep improved less consistently. A controlled sleep-lab study found a single 300 mg dose did not change sleep in healthy adults. CBD is not FDA-approved for sleep or anxiety, and the FDA warns about side effects and drug interactions. Talk with your healthcare provider before you start, especially if you take medication.
Quick answers
The most cited real-world data comes from a 2019 Permanente Journal case series on CBD for anxiety and sleep by Shannon and colleagues. Doctors at an outpatient psychiatry clinic reviewed the charts of 72 adults who took CBD for anxiety or poor sleep. Most took 25 mg a day.
| Measure | Month 1 result |
|---|---|
| Anxiety scores improved | 79.2% of patients (57 of 72) |
| Anxiety scores worsened | 15.3% (11 of 72) |
| Typical daily dose | 25 mg CBD |
| Tolerability | Generally well tolerated. 2 patients stopped in week 1 because of fatigue |
The limits: this was a retrospective chart review with no placebo group, and fewer patients stayed in the study each month (56.9% by month 2, 37.5% by month 3). The authors say randomized controlled trials are needed.
| Study | What was tested | What was found |
|---|---|---|
| Shannon et al., 2019, 72 adults | Mostly 25 mg CBD daily | Sleep scores improved for 66.7% in month 1 and 56.1% in month 2. About 1 in 4 got worse. |
| Linares et al., 2018, 26 healthy adults | One 300 mg CBD dose vs placebo, in a sleep lab | No change in total sleep time, time to fall asleep or sleep stages |
What this means: CBD does not act like a sleeping pill. The 2018 sleep-lab study found that a single dose did not disrupt or deepen normal sleep in healthy people. Any benefit in the clinical review was milder and less steady than the anxiety results.
CBN (cannabinol) is often added to nighttime products. Two recent studies give the clearest picture so far:
| Study | Who | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Bonn-Miller et al., 2023, double-blind, placebo-controlled | 293 adults with poor sleep, 7 nights | 20 mg CBN reduced nighttime awakenings and overall sleep disturbance. It did not significantly improve sleep quality, the main measure. Adding CBD did not improve the results. |
| Arnold et al., 2024, Neuropsychopharmacology | Rats | CBN increased total sleep time, with a delayed effect. Doses were far higher than in consumer products. |
For a full comparison, read how CBN compares with CBD.
According to the FDA’s consumer guidance on CBD products, CBD can:
The FDA also states that Epidiolex is the only FDA-approved drug containing CBD, and that CBD products are excluded from the dietary supplement definition.
| Question to ask | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Does it contain THC? | Hemp-derived THC products are 21+ in Florida, can show up on drug tests and can cause impairment |
| Does it contain CBN? | CBN is the ingredient most often added to nighttime formulas |
| What is the dose per serving? | The clinical review above mostly used 25 mg of CBD a day. The CBN trial used 20 mg. |
| Is there a third-party COA? | It confirms what is actually in the product |
| Do you take medication? | The FDA warns that CBD can interact with other drugs |
Learn how we verify lab-tested CBD products.
These products are in stock at our Naples store. Ask our staff to compare their ingredients and COAs:
See the full list of CBD products on our Naples shelves.
Most pain searches that reach our site are about back pain, so we cover that topic separately. Read whether CBD helps with back pain.
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Early evidence is promising. In a 72-patient clinical review published in 2019, anxiety scores improved for 79.2% of patients in the first month, mostly at 25 mg a day. That study had no placebo group, so larger controlled trials are still needed.
The evidence is mixed. The same review found sleep scores improved for 66.7% of patients in month 1, but the improvement was less consistent over time. A 2018 sleep-lab study found a single 300 mg dose did not change sleep in healthy adults.
In a 2023 placebo-controlled trial of 293 adults, 20 mg of CBN reduced nighttime awakenings across 7 nights. It did not significantly improve overall sleep quality, and adding CBD did not improve the results.
Not always. The FDA warns that CBD can interact with other medications and can cause liver injury. Talk with your healthcare provider before using CBD if you take any medication.
No. The only FDA-approved CBD drug is Epidiolex, which is approved for certain seizure disorders.
At Growing In Health Florida, 7211 Vanderbilt Beach Rd, Suite 3, Naples, FL 34119. We carry CBD + CBN gummies, sleep gummies, tinctures and hemp syrups, with COAs available.
These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. This page is for general education and is not medical advice. Talk with your healthcare provider before use, especially if you take medication, have a medical condition or are pregnant.
