Two Canabian cannabis companies have announced a new partnership to conduct a joint medical marijuana study aimed at improving the treatment and management of insomnia and daytime sleepiness.
Aleafia, operator of Canada’s largest brick-and-mortar medical cannabis clinic network, Canobo has joined with Toronto-based Cronos Group, a multinational cannabis company with licensed production operations in Canada to develop non-addictive sleep aids together.
“The negative health impacts of sleep disorders and their proper treatment must be more widely acknowledged and understood,” said Cronos CEO Mike Gorestein in a press release. “Cronos Group is pleased to find a partner in Aleafia that shares our commitment to addressing this overlooked public issue.”
According to a 2017 report from the Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction, an estimated 11.4% of adults over the age of 25 had used prescription sleep medication in 2015. The rate for individuals in the 15-24 age range was 5.7%.
“Aleafia is excited to participate in a study with Cronos Group, a company with a firm commitment to patient health,” said Aleafia Chief Medical Officer Dr. Michael Verbora. “For far too long, the answer to a patient’s sleeping disorder or chronic pain has been a prescription and a bottle of pills.”
“There is mounting evidence of the risks of prescription sleeping aids,” said Verbora. “Including worsening mental health and increased risk of dementia. This study may in-part point to medical cannabis as an alternative to harmful prescription drugs.”
The study will be partially funded by Cronos-owned medicinal cannabis producer Peace Naturals Project Inc. and headed by physicians within Aleafia’s Canobo Medical Clinic network.
