Study: Patients Using THC- and CBD-Rich Cannabis Oil Report Favorable Quality of Life and Sleep Outcomes
- A study of 71 patients using full-spectrum cannabis oil with THC and CBD (3:1 ratio) in Brazil found generally favorable self-reported quality of life and sleep satisfaction scores under medical supervision.
- Participants had diverse conditions, mostly psychiatric/emotional (36.6%), neurological (21.1%), and chronic musculoskeletal pain (11.3%), with quality of life and sleep satisfaction positively correlated, especially psychological wellbeing and energy levels.
- Use of 9% THC/CBD oil was linked to better quality-of-life outcomes, though researchers cautioned this may reflect patient condition or treatment phase rather than dosage effect; 32.4% reported mild adverse events like dry mouth and agitation.
- Limitations include no baseline or control group, low response rate, and self-report bias; researchers recommend longitudinal studies with baseline measures for clearer assessment of cannabis oil’s effectiveness and safety.
(Photo credit: Releaf).
Patients receiving full-spectrum cannabis oil rich in tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD) generally reported favorable quality of life and sleep satisfaction, according to a study published in Frontiers in Pharmacology.
The cross-sectional study included 71 patients receiving medical cannabis oil through the Therapeutic Association of Medical Cannabis Flor da Vida in Brazil. Participants were under continuous medical supervision, including individualized dose adjustments, laboratory reviews and reassessments of other medications.
The oil contained THC and CBD at a fixed 3-to-1 ratio. Available concentrations included 3%, 6%, 9% and 18%, with physicians gradually adjusting each patient’s dose based on their clinical needs.
Participants ranged in age from 4 to 89, with an average age of 48.3. Nearly 72% were female. The most common conditions were psychiatric or emotional disorders, reported by 36.6% of participants, followed by neurological or neurodevelopmental conditions at 21.1% and chronic musculoskeletal pain at 11.3%.
Researchers measured quality of life using the World Health Organization Quality of Life–BREF questionnaire and evaluated sleep using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index. Of 689 patients contacted between May and September 2025, 71 completed the electronic survey.
On a five-point scale, participants had an average quality-of-life score of 3.13 and a median score of four, corresponding with being satisfied. Sleep satisfaction averaged 3.23 and also had a median score of four, with responses concentrated among the higher categories.
Researchers also found a statistically significant association between quality of life and sleep satisfaction. Better psychological wellbeing was positively correlated with greater sleep satisfaction, while quality-of-life scores were also associated with participants’ energy for daily activities and difficulty falling asleep.
In exploratory regression modeling, use of the 9% cannabis oil was associated with a higher probability of reporting strong quality-of-life outcomes. Several groups using the oil for shorter periods had lower probabilities of high scores than patients treated for more than three years. However, treatment duration was not significantly associated with sleep satisfaction.
The researchers cautioned that the concentration findings should not be interpreted as proof that higher doses produce better results. Oil strength may instead reflect differences in patients’ medical conditions, treatment phases or adjustments made during clinical follow-up.
Approximately 32.4% of participants reported an adverse event. The most frequently reported was dry mouth, at 4.2%, followed by agitation, drowsiness and vertigo, each reported by 2.8%.
The study did not include measurements taken before patients began using cannabis oil or a control group, meaning it cannot establish that the treatment caused the favorable outcomes. Researchers also noted the low response rate, reliance on self-reported information and potential for patients with positive experiences to have been more likely to participate.
“In supervised clinical practice, patients using full-spectrum THC and CBD rich oil reported favorable perceived quality of life and sleep satisfaction,” researchers concluded.
They said longitudinal studies with baseline assessments, systematic follow-up and more detailed product testing are needed to determine effectiveness and the risks and benefits of prolonged use, particularly for oils containing higher levels of THC.