171: The Relaxback UK Show with Mike Dilke and guest Dr Simon Erridge171: The Relaxback UK Show with Mike Dilke and guest Dr Simon Erridge
UK Health Radio Podcast
Host Mike Dilke speaks with Dr Simon Erridge about insomnia, its impact on daily life and standard approaches such as sleep hygiene and CBTi. They also discuss how carefully prescribed cannabis-derived medicines may help some people with severe sleep problems, along with their risks and limits.
41:21•9 Jun 2026
Can Cannabis-Based Medicine Help You Sleep? Dr Simon Erridge Explains
Episode Overview
- Insomnia affects a significant proportion of people, with around one in ten meeting criteria for a diagnosable condition that can severely impact daily life.
- Poor sleep often worsens other issues such as chronic pain, anxiety and epilepsy, creating a vicious cycle of symptoms.
- Foundational steps like regular bed and wake times, reduced screen use before bed and CBT for insomnia are recommended before considering medication.
- Medical cannabis for sleep is prescribed only after careful review, using regulated products and individualised choices between THC and CBD-based preparations and formats like vapourised flower, oils or pastilles.
- Cannabis-derived medicines carry possible side effects and are not suitable for everyone, particularly people who are pregnant, breastfeeding, have uncontrolled heart disease or psychosis.
“"Around one in 10 of us will have clinically diagnosable insomnia, so that is three or more nights of sleep interrupted per week, such that it affects your day-to-day functioning."”
How do people find strength when night after night of poor sleep starts to take over their lives? This Relaxback UK Show episode from UK Health Radio zooms in on that question, focusing on insomnia and cannabis-derived medicines. Host Mike Dilke chats with Dr Simon Erridge from Curaleaf, a medical doctor and almost-finished PhD student, about just how serious long-term sleep problems can be.
Dr Erridge explains that "around one in 10 of us will have clinically diagnosable insomnia," describing how broken sleep can worsen conditions like chronic pain, anxiety and even epilepsy, creating a brutal feedback loop. The conversation walks through practical basics first: sleep hygiene habits, regular bed and wake times, and cognitive behavioural therapy for insomnia (CBTi). From there, they move into medical cannabis as a possible option when standard approaches haven’t helped.
Dr Erridge breaks down the body’s endocannabinoid system, the difference between THC and CBD, and why, in medical use, feeling "high" is treated as an unwanted side effect rather than the goal. You’ll hear clear explanations of how different formats – vapourised flower, oils and pastilles – might suit people who struggle to get to sleep versus those who wake frequently through the night. Safety is a big theme too.
Dr Erridge stresses a rigorous clinical process: reviewing GP records, specialist assessments, multidisciplinary team discussions and regular follow-up, as well as firm no-go areas such as pregnancy, uncontrolled heart conditions and psychosis. Throughout, the tone stays practical and human. There’s light humour about unfinished PhDs, plenty of plain-English explanations, and repeated reminders that insomnia can "ruin their life practically" if left untreated.
If you’re curious about medical cannabis for sleep, or just want a better grasp of modern insomnia treatment, this conversation offers a grounded, jargon-busting listen. Could a new look at your sleep habits – or future treatments – change your nights for the better?
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