# Cannabis effects on sleep, circadian rhythms, and light sensitivity in young people

> **NIH NIH R01** · UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH AT PITTSBURGH · 2024 · $453,137

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY
Problematic cannabis use rates have increased in ’emerging adulthood’ (age 18-25), an age also characterized
by high rates of insomnia and the developmental peak in a tendency toward eveningness (preference for later
sleep timing). Cannabis-sleep relationships are increasingly recognized as pertinent for understanding risk for
cannabis misuse, particularly given the high prevalence of cannabis use as a sleep aid. Insomnia and an
evening chronotype are risk factors for cannabis use, and cannabis use affects sleep, but the mechanisms
underlying these cannabis-sleep relationships are poorly understood. Experimental rodent studies implicate
cannabis effects on homeostatic sleep drive (increased) and circadian photosensitivity (reduced), although
some effects are evident only in males. However, these mechanisms have not been sufficiently investigated in
humans, with scant research using the sleep EEG measures necessary to assess homeostatic sleep drive in
relation to cannabis use, and no published studies examining cannabis effects on circadian photosensitivity. In
response to RFA-DA-24-021, we propose to study the effects of cannabis use and discontinuation on sleep
and circadian characteristics, including sleep physiology and circadian photosensitivity, in 60 emerging adults
(18-25 y/o; 50% female) reporting regular cannabis use. We will examine participants throughout a 1-week
Baseline period of regular cannabis use followed by a 4-week Cannabis Discontinuation reinforced by a
contingency management protocol. Homeostatic sleep drive will be assessed at home using sleep EEG
headbands during Baseline (on both nights of cannabis use and non-use), as well as during early and
extended abstinence during the Discontinuation. Circadian photosensitivity and circadian phase will be
assessed in the laboratory at Baseline and after Discontinuation. A Control group of 30 age- and sex-matched
healthy-sleeping emerging adults without current cannabis use will undergo all Baseline procedures. Aim 1 will
examine the effects of cannabis use and discontinuation on the homeostatic sleep drive. Aim 2 will examine
the effects of cannabis use and discontinuation on circadian photosensitivity and phase. An exploratory aim will
examine sex differences in cannabis effects on sleep, circadian rhythms, and light responsivity.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10981699
- **Project number:** 1R01DA061223-01
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH AT PITTSBURGH
- **Principal Investigator:** Brant P. Hasler
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $453,137
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2024-06-15 → 2029-04-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10981699

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10981699, Cannabis effects on sleep, circadian rhythms, and light sensitivity in young people (1R01DA061223-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-27 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10981699. Licensed CC0.

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