# Applying Mixed Methods to Identify Links between Cannabis Use and Sleep Behaviors with Ramifications for Veterans Clinical Health Outcomes

> **NIH VA IK2** · PROVIDENCE VA  MEDICAL CENTER · 2024 · —

## Abstract

Veterans’ rates of sleep disorders have been increasing over the past 20 years, and millions report shorter than
recommended sleep durations for optimal sleep health. Contemporaneously, ongoing cannabis legislation in the
U.S. has increased access to, and availability of, cannabis products distinct by mode, formulation, and
cannabinoid composition. Moreover, as cannabis’ perceptions of harm are declining, widespread beliefs about
its therapeutic benefits are increasing and cannabis use disorder (CUD) remains prevalent. For example, one of
the most common reasons Veterans use cannabis is for sleep. However, cannabis’s effect on sleep is unclear,
likely due to a reliance on self-reports, cross-sectional data, and insufficient attention to cannabis product type.
Laboratory studies also administer cannabis with limited cannabinoid profiles and lower potency compared to
commercially available products used for sleep in the real-world. Equally important, cannabis/sleep research has
not adequately prioritized Veterans as prior findings come almost exclusively from civilian populations.
Smartphone apps and wearable technologies are valuable and unobtrusive tools to generate fine-grained data
on substance use and health behaviors. These technology-based-tools (TBTs) have considerable promise to
help understand how cannabis and sleep are related and identify potential prevention and intervention targets
tailored to Veterans. As such, the primary research objective of this Career Development Award-2 (CDA-2) is
to prospectively examine bi-directional relations between cannabis and sleep among non-CUD-treatment
seeking Veterans in the natural environment. Participants will first complete a 30-day pilot study by wearing a
Fitbit device and using an EMA app on their smartphone to measure cannabis use and sleep in the field followed
by individual interviews to determine protocol feasibility, acceptability, and adherence (Phase I, Aim 1). After
refining the study procedures based on results from the prior phase, Phase II research will evaluate bi-directional
links between cannabis use and sleep physiology/behaviors during a 30-day observational field period (Aim 2.1),
explore participants’ lived experiences using cannabis for sleep (Aim 2.2), and determine which specific cannabis
modes, formulations, or cannabinoid compositions are most harmful (or helpful) to self-reported and technology-
derived sleep behaviors (Aim 2.3).
Dr. Berey has demonstrated considerable scholarly productivity with an established track record of using different
TBTs in substance use research. This CDA-2 proposal aims to accelerate Dr. Berey’s training in cannabis and
sleep using TBTs, and to launch his VA-based research program. A collaborative and coordinated mentor team
will facilitate his successful transition to independence via training in: 1) EMA and wearable technologies (Drs.
McGeary and Merrill), 2) cannabis use among Veterans (Dr. Metrik), 3) measurement and core components of
...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10805601
- **Project number:** 1IK2CX002645-01A1
- **Recipient organization:** PROVIDENCE VA  MEDICAL CENTER
- **Principal Investigator:** Benjamin Leonard Berey
- **Activity code:** IK2 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** VA
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** —
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2024-04-01 → 2029-03-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10805601

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10805601, Applying Mixed Methods to Identify Links between Cannabis Use and Sleep Behaviors with Ramifications for Veterans Clinical Health Outcomes (1IK2CX002645-01A1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-06-02 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10805601. Licensed CC0.

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