Cannabis News

Nearly 1 In 5 Young Adults Use Marijuana For Help Falling Asleep At Night, Study Shows

Published

6 hours ago

October 30, 2025

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“Many old people can’t sleep, and many young people are stressed and they can’t sleep either.”

Author: Janelle D. James, Bridge Michigan

This story was originally published by Michigan Bridgenon-profit, non-partisan news organization. For regular Bridge Michigan coverage, sign up for a free Bridge Michigan newsletter here.

Struggling to fall asleep, many young adults are reaching for marijuana or alcohol at bedtime, a University of Michigan study found.

UM’s annual Monitoring the Future Panel study found that 22% adults 19- to 30-year-olds used cannabis, alcohol, or both to sleep.

Of the two, marijuana was more common, with 18 percent using the drug to fall asleep, compared to 7 percent of participants who used alcohol.

Advocates say cannabis can be a low-risk alternative to sleeping pills because the use of sleeping drugs or alcohol “can backfire, disrupting the ability to sleep and the quality of sleep,” said Megan Patrick, the researcher. the teacher at the UM Social Research Institute.

“They appear to have disrupted sleep in the long term. The fact that so many young adults report using cannabis for sleep is concerning.”

Sleep deprivation or lack of sleep is a common condition experienced by many Americans the experienceAccording to a study published in the National Library of Medicine. In general, it is recommended that adults sleep 7-9 hours a night. If not, it can lead to excessive daytime sleepiness.

Factors such as too much screen time before bed can prevent the brain from releasing melatonin, the “sleep hormone.”

People who work early morning or night shifts have difficulty falling asleep and generally get fewer hours of sleep, according to research.

“Unfortunately, there is a misconception that substance use can help with sleep problems, but can make things worse,” Patrick said. “Good quality sleep is critical to mental health and mood regulation. Young adults told us they are using cannabis to try to sleep, but doing so can make their sleep problems worse. They need to know the potential risks.”

Cannabis as a sleep aid

While medical experts warn that relying on sleeping substances can increase the risk of addiction or substance abuse, cannabis advocates argue that when used responsibly and in the right doses, the drug can offer real benefits to those who struggle to fall asleep naturally.

In recent years cannabis has become more accepted, mainly for its medicinal benefits. Michigan voters passed a measure in 2008 to legalize the use of medical marijuana, and in 2018 approved recreational use.

A 2023 study published by the National Library of Medicine found that participants who used cannabis was able to reduce or completely stop prescription medications to help them sleep.

“We sell thousands of packs of sleeping gum every week. I didn’t realize how many people were having trouble sleeping,” said Jerry Millen, owner of Greenhouse Dispensary in Walled Lake. “Many old people can’t sleep, and many young people are stressed and they can’t sleep either.”

Research has found that cannabis with low levels of THC, a psychoactive cannabinoid that can produce sedative, sedating or euphoric effects, can help ease sleep and reduce sleep time.

Cannabis with a high concentration of CBD, a non-psychoactive cannabinoid, can have a calming effect, while a lower dose can have a stimulating effect.

“People are weaning themselves off opioids with cannabis. People are replacing alcohol with cannabis,” Millen said. “If you have an addiction and want to ‘abuse’ something, I recommend using cannabis.”

Practice good sleep hygiene

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that adults get at least seven hours sleep every night

Good quality sleep can reduce the number of times you get sick, maintain a healthy weight, reduce stress, and improve your heart health and metabolism.

The CDC offers several recommendations for better, more restful sleep:

Go to bed and get up at the same time every day
Keeping your bedroom calm, quiet and at a cool temperature
Turn off electronic devices at least 30 minutes before bed
Avoiding meals and alcohol before bed
Avoiding caffeine in the afternoon or evening

This the article appeared for the first time Michigan Bridge and it is republished here a Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivs 4.0 International License.

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Cannabis News

IM Cannabis CFO steps down

Published

6 hours ago

October 30, 2025

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IM Cannabis has announced that Uri Birenberg, the Company’s Chief Financial Officer, will be stepping down for personal reasons. Mr. Birenberg is expected to continue as Chief Financial Officer until January 5, 2026, or an earlier date to be determined by the Company, and will assist in a structured transition process until a successor is named.

Oren Shuster, CEO of IMC, said: “On behalf of our entire team, I want to thank Ur for his commitment and contribution to IMC. Over the past two years, he has been a valued member of our leadership team. We wish him every success in his next chapter.”

“It has been a great pleasure to serve as the Company’s Finance Director for the last two years,” said Uri Birenberg. “I have the utmost confidence in the Company and appreciate the opportunity to work with one of the most dedicated teams in the cannabis industry.”

For more information:
IM Cannabis Corp.
www.imcannabis.com

Cannabis News

Industry internship program set to cultivate horticulture’s next generation

Published

1 day ago

October 29, 2025

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A new initiative to address the critical labor shortage in Australia’s horticulture sector was launched today.

The Horticulture Industry Internship Programme, launched by Hort Innovation in partnership with Western Sydney University, will provide industry-based training and hands-on experience to the University’s undergraduate and postgraduate students. The program aims to equip the next generation of horticulturists, agronomists, pathologists, entomologists and farm managers with the skills needed to contribute to the future of the industry.

Fellows will be drawn from Western Sydney University’s Bachelor of Science (Agricultural Sciences) and Master of Science (Agriculture, Agri-Horticulture) programs, including prospective students at the new India campus opening in 2026, helping to address skills gaps in Australia by integrating global talent into the local workforce. Through a robust framework of industry-funded and industry-based internships, these students will gain hands-on experience tailored to industry needs, boosting employability and supporting the availability of skilled workers in the sector.

Hort Innovation CEO Brett Fifield said the program represents a significant commitment to building capacity and supporting the future of Australian horticulture. “By investing in hands-on training and industry partnerships, we are ensuring our sector remains competitive and resilient, with a workforce ready to meet the challenges of tomorrow.”

University of Western Sydney Vice-Chancellor, Distinguished Professor George Williams AO said: “This program reflects our commitment to agriculture and horticulture education, research and industry engagement. It is about creating real-world opportunities for students and strengthening our links with industry.”

Commenting on the wider workforce challenges facing the sector, Tim Archibald, CEO of White Prince Produce, added: “One of the biggest challenges we face in the horticulture industry is attracting and retaining skilled people. That’s why initiatives like this are so exciting; they’re not just building a talent pool, they’re strengthening the future of our industry, they’re helping to directly supply our individual industry programs to meet the evolving needs of the sector.”

Each internship will be tailored to meet the specific training and staffing needs of the host companies, will be internships lasting between three and twelve months and is designed to support the transition of students to employment in the horticulture sector after graduation.

For more information:
Hort Innovation
Email: (email protected)
horticulture.com.au/

Cannabis News

Idaho Medical Marijuana Campaign Launches Signature Drive For 2026 Legalization Ballot Initiative

Published

1 day ago

October 29, 2025

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An Idaho campaign has introduced a new certified initiative to put medical marijuana legalization on the state’s 2026 ballot.

The Natural Medicine Alliance of Idaho (NMAI) on Wednesday announced the Idaho Medical Cannabis Act, which will give patients with qualifying conditions access to marijuana from a limited number of dispensaries and provide a regulatory framework for the market.

After Idaho Attorney General Raúl Labrador (R) told the secretary of state that the initiative’s short and long ballot titles provided a “truthful and unbiased” view of reform, the campaign is now allowed to circulate petitions.

“It’s about giving families and individuals options when nothing else has worked,” said Amanda Watson, NMAI communications manager, in a press release. “This initiative was created with Idaho values in mind. It would require strong oversight, measures to prevent recreational use, and most importantly, it would provide relief to thousands of Idahoans with serious illnesses. It is a compassionate and conservative approach to health care.”

Here are the main provisions Idaho Medical Cannabis Law:

Healthcare practitioners may recommend medical cannabis to patients with conditions including cancer, anxiety and acute pain.
Medical marijuana patients or designated caregivers can purchase up to 113 grams of cannabis for smoking or 20 grams of THC extract for vaporization per month.
The state would issue three vertically-integrated cannabis business licenses, and then potentially six licenses in total.
Marijuana would be reclassified under state law, Title II.
State and local law enforcement would be prohibited from assisting in drug enforcement activities related to the state’s illegal cannabis program.
There would be anti-discrimination protections for those who use or sell marijuana in compliance with state laws, preventing adverse actions by employers, landlords and educational institutions.
There does not seem to be any equity-based reform, nor will the initiative be given the opportunity to grow at home.

To get on the ballot, the campaign must collect 70,725 valid signatures, including 6 percent of registered voters in 18 of Idaho’s 35 legislative districts. NMAI is recruiting paid applicants to carry out the plan.

In response to the new medical cannabis initiative, a separate campaign launched late last year, Kind Idaho, told supporters on Wednesday that it would cancel its signature drive. ballot initiative to legalize the personal possession and cultivation of marijuana the adults

“In the spirit of working together to ensure we have a pro-cannabis measure on the ballot in 2026, we will not be releasing the #DecriminalizeCannabisNow petition until we have collected 70,000 signatures,” Kind Idaho said via email. “We will support their signature collectors until then.”

Pleasant Idaho previously put medical marijuana ballot measures before voters Both in the 2022 and 2024 elections, but the efforts were unsuccessful.

Meanwhile, next year voters will see a different type of proposal on the ballot: the constitutional amendment approved by the Legislature to make it so. only members of the legislature can legalize marijuana or other controlled substances.

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Lawmakers held a separate hearing to discuss it in March bill to legalize medical cannabisbut in the following months there has been no significant action on the matter.

Separately, it would be a bill from Republican Bruce Skaug (R) earlier this year set a mandatory minimum fine of $420 for possession of cannabisremoving judges’ discretion to apply lower sentences. Skaug said the bill, which ultimately stalled in committee, would send a message that Idaho is tough on marijuana.

Members of the House of Representatives were also admitted bill to ban marijuana adsalthough the Senate later defeated the measure.

Photo by Chris Wallis // Side Pocket Images.

Marijuana Moment is made possible with the help of readers. If you rely on our pro-cannabis journalism to stay informed, consider a monthly Patreon pledge.