University of Mississippi Launches Clinical Study on CBD and Sleep

The University of Mississippi’s National Center for Cannabis Research and Education and Southern Sky Brands announced July 28 a clinical study examining how CBD may affect sleep quality and related outcomes in adults.

The study will look at whether CBD changes how well participants sleep and how long they sleep. Researchers will also collect participants’ own reports about their sleep and general well-being. The work will be carried out by the University of Mississippi’s National Center for Cannabis Research and Education (NCCRE).

According to the announcement, the researchers hope the study will add clinical data on the safety and effectiveness of CBD-based approaches related to sleep. The findings could also provide additional information for healthcare professionals evaluating cannabinoids and their possible applications. However, no results are available yet, and details about the process have not yet been announced. The organizations said further information about enrollment and eventual results will be released later.

Robert Welch, PharmD, director of NCCRE, said the study is intended to add more clinical data to what is currently known about CBD.

“This collaboration reflects our shared commitment to generating high-quality scientific data,” he said.

Charles Thompson also pointed to the need for more research before clearer conclusions can be drawn about CBD products.

The announcement is noteworthy because interest in CBD for sleep has grown faster than the body of rigorous clinical evidence needed to determine when, how, and for whom it may be useful. This new project does not establish that CBD improves sleep; instead, it is intended to investigate that question and generate data that may help clarify CBD’s effects.

The University of Mississippi has a long history of cannabis research. NCCRE was established in 2022 within the university’s School of Pharmacy, building on more than five decades of cannabis research at Ole Miss. The center focuses on evidence-based cannabis research, education, patient outcomes, and public policy. In 2024, Mississippi also established the Medical Cannabis Research Program at NCCRE, expanding the center’s role in state-supported cannabis research and education.

The newly announced CBD sleep study continues that broader effort, while its significance will ultimately depend on the study results once the work is completed.