Traditional Thai Cannabis Medicine Matches Lorazepam for Insomnia in Clinical Trial
A traditional Thai cannabis-based multi-herbal formulation proved non-inferior to lorazepam for treating chronic insomnia over 4 weeks, with comparable safety and improvements in sleep quality, quality of life, and stress.
Quick Facts
What This Study Found
The traditional Thai cannabis formulation demonstrated non-inferiority to lorazepam: at week 4, mean PSQI scores were 3.44 (experimental) vs. 4.78 (lorazepam), with a mean difference of -1.34 (95% CI: -2.99 to 0.31), meeting the predefined non-inferiority margin of 2.1.
Key Numbers
N=100 randomized (82 completers); 4-week treatment; PSQI: experimental 3.44 vs lorazepam 4.78; difference -1.34 (95% CI: -2.99 to 0.31); non-inferiority margin 2.1; no significant adverse effects
How They Did This
Phase II randomized, double-blind, active-controlled non-inferiority trial with 100 participants (82 completers, 41 per group) receiving either the Anti-Pom-Leung Fever multi-herbal formulation or lorazepam for 4 weeks, assessed by Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index.
Why This Research Matters
Benzodiazepines like lorazepam carry addiction risk, and finding a cannabis-based alternative that works as well with comparable safety could provide a safer option for the millions with chronic insomnia.
The Bigger Picture
Thailand's unique position having legalized both traditional medicine and cannabis creates opportunities for clinical research on herbal cannabis formulations that most countries cannot easily replicate.
What This Study Doesn't Tell Us
Active-controlled without placebo arm (cannot rule out both treatments being equally ineffective); small sample (82 completers); 4-week duration only; multi-herbal formulation makes it impossible to isolate cannabis effects; Thai regulatory context limits generalizability.
Questions This Raises
- ?Which components of the multi-herbal formulation drive the sleep benefit?
- ?Would effects persist beyond 4 weeks?
- ?Could this formulation cause dependence with longer use?
- ?How does it compare to CBD or THC alone?
Trust & Context
- Key Stat:
- Evidence Grade:
- Randomized double-blind active-controlled trial meeting non-inferiority criteria, but small sample, short duration, and lack of placebo arm limit evidence strength.
- Study Age:
- Published 2026; conducted under Thailand's medicinal cannabis framework.
- Original Title:
- Phase II randomized controlled trial comparing traditional Thai cannabis-based medicine with lorazepam for insomnia treatment.
- Published In:
- Journal of cannabis research (2026)
- Authors:
- Kamoltham, Thavatchai, Chokchaisiri, Suwadee, Yongram, Chawalit, Sripan, Panupan, Im-Iam, Surasak, Sanasit, Panupong, Intaravattana, Varanon, Sawasdichai, Chatchai, Udompat, Patpong, Chaiphongpachara, Tanawat, Kummalue, Tanawan
- Database ID:
- RTHC-08373
Evidence Hierarchy
Frequently Asked Questions
Can cannabis help with insomnia as well as sleeping pills?
This trial found that a traditional Thai cannabis-based herbal formulation performed as well as lorazepam (a benzodiazepine) for chronic insomnia over 4 weeks, with comparable safety — though it was a multi-herb formula, not cannabis alone.
Is this safer than benzodiazepines for sleep?
Both treatments had comparable safety profiles over 4 weeks, but benzodiazepines carry known risks of dependence with longer use — whether the cannabis formulation offers a safer long-term alternative requires further study.
Read More on RethinkTHC
Cite This Study
https://rethinkthc.com/research/RTHC-08373APA
Kamoltham, Thavatchai; Chokchaisiri, Suwadee; Yongram, Chawalit; Sripan, Panupan; Im-Iam, Surasak; Sanasit, Panupong; Intaravattana, Varanon; Sawasdichai, Chatchai; Udompat, Patpong; Chaiphongpachara, Tanawat; Kummalue, Tanawan. (2026). Phase II randomized controlled trial comparing traditional Thai cannabis-based medicine with lorazepam for insomnia treatment.. Journal of cannabis research. https://doi.org/10.1186/s42238-026-00415-x
MLA
Kamoltham, Thavatchai, et al. "Phase II randomized controlled trial comparing traditional Thai cannabis-based medicine with lorazepam for insomnia treatment.." Journal of cannabis research, 2026. https://doi.org/10.1186/s42238-026-00415-x
RethinkTHC
RethinkTHC Research Database. "Phase II randomized controlled trial comparing traditional T..." RTHC-08373. Retrieved from https://rethinkthc.com/research/kamoltham-2026-phase-ii-randomized-controlled
Access the Original Study
Study data sourced from PubMed, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health.
This study breakdown was produced by the RethinkTHC research team. We analyze and report published research findings without making health recommendations. All interpretations are based solely on the published abstract and study data.