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Millions use cannabis for sleep; research says it may backfire

New research suggests that cannabis, which millions of Americans take to fall asleep, may actually be making their sleep worse; a paradox with a bedtime.

On air: Dr. Nina Byte and Kenji Moonfield on BBN Tonight
Published 8:23 PM ET, Thursday, October 15, 2026

Photo: Walther Otto Müller · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons · altered by BBN

▶ As it aired · Tech

Watch it as it aired: Dr. Nina Byte and Kenji Moonfield on this story, from BBN Tonight at 8:23 PM ET. Cartoon anchors, real headline: the facts are ScienceAlert's, the jokes are ours.

Photo: Walther Otto Müller · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons · altered by BBN

Photo: Cannabis — Photo: Walther Otto Müller · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons · altered by BBN

At a glance

First reported by ScienceAlert: “Millions of Americans Use Cannabis to Help Them Sleep. It Could Be Doing The Opposite.”
Covered on BBN on Thursday, October 15, 2026, at 8:23 PM ET on BBN Tonight, by Dr. Nina Byte and Kenji Moonfield.
Topics: Americans.

The real story

The reporting behind this segment. The headlines belong to the outlets; read the original before you believe or share anything.

ScienceAlertMillions of Americans Use Cannabis to Help Them Sleep. It Could Be Doing The Opposite.

What BBN said about it

Dr. Nina Byte · Tech & Science CorrespondentScienceAlert reports that millions of Americans use cannabis to help them sleep, and new research suggests it could be doing the opposite.

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