What’s claimed to be the largest study of the use of medical cannabis impacts with obstructive sleep apnea patients has found a significant improvement in quality of sleep.

Obstructive sleep apnea is a disorder characterized by repeated pauses in breathing (called apneas) or shallow breathing (called hypopneas) during sleep caused by a blockage or narrowing of the upper airway. The condition not only disrupts sleep and contributes to fatigue, but left untreated can lead to increased risk of high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, and other health issues.

The prevalence of  OSA in the USA is high – estimated at 33.9% among men and 17.4% among women.

It can be treated through a combination of lifestyle modifications, devices (such as Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) therapy), and in some cases, surgery. Another treatment option getting more attention is medical cannabis.

OSA was added to Minnesota’s medical cannabis program as a qualifying condition back in 2018. Minnesota’s program, which commenced in 2015, collects data about participating patients and publishes research contributing to a growing scientific knowledge base concerning use of cannabis for medicinal purposes.

A new study conducted by researchers at the Minnesota Office of Cannabis Management (OCM) involved 3,102 OSA patients. Among 2,749 patients with moderate to severe disturbed sleep, 39.4% were able to achieve a 30% reduction of symptoms and maintain it for at least four months. For those with moderate to severe fatigue, 33.5% of patients were able to achieve a 30% reduction in symptoms; also maintaining it for at least four months.

As for side-effects, only 16.5% reported adverse events — with 75.5% of side effects reported as mild. The most common side effect was dry mouth. Just 3.7% of patient-reported side effects were severe, most commonly fatigue and headache.

The medical cannabis products used by patients varied. Inhalation products accounted for 64.2%, oral products such as gummies made up 29.2%, while oromucosal and topical products accounted for 4.8% and 1.9% respectively.

The full study report can be viewed here.

As at June 2024, which is the last time the OCM updated its dashboard, 48,349 patients were registered for the state’s program. Obstructive sleep apnea was the fourth most common qualifying condition.

More information on Minnesota’s medical cannabis program can be found here.