What is CBN (Cannabinol)

CBN is a non-intoxicating compound that is best known as the cannabinoid created when THC ages. For that reason, it’s usually present in high amounts in older cannabis. While this might be a turn-off for some, others seek out older cannabis just to enjoy the effects of CBN.

“If you’re having trouble sleeping, take advantage of the CBN”

In more ways than one, CBN is something of a “sleeper” cannabinoid. It’s far less popular than THC or CBD, and at the moment, it’s certainly less en vogue than terpenes. To those aware of its existence, however, CBN is also known as “the sleepy cannabinoid in old weed.”

Given its sedative effects and dominant presence in aged cannabis, CBN’s reputation — both as a sleepy cannabinoid and one less desirable than THC or CBD — is warranted, although it lands just shy of the big picture. CBN’s distinct sedative quality is undoubtedly the thing that sets it apart from other cannabinoids, but that doesn’t mean we don’t have much to learn from the CBN cannabinoid, or much to gain from becoming more familiar with its chemical makeup and effects.

Much of the research around cannabinol effects, notably sedation, has been done in rodents. A 1975 study showed CBN enhances the sedating effects of THC in rats and mice. Sedation is commonly associated with CBN, because aged flowers have much more CBN than fresh flowers. The sedation is not necessarily a product of CBN; rather, aged cannabis with CBN cannabinoids will be sedating because it has also lost lower molecular weight monoterpenoids in favor of more sedating sesquiterpenoids. The sedation factor is one of several primary differences when comparing CBN vs. CBD, as the latter cannabinoid does not cause sleepiness.

Is CBN Legal?

t this time, CBN is not on the list of scheduled controlled substances in the United States. However, the legal issue may prove to be more complex as CBN could be considered an analog of CBD or THC, which are both Schedule I substances under federal law. (Hemp-derived CBD is legal in the US.)

How CBN Works?

One of the most valuable aspects of cannabis is the way its cannabinoids offer multiple mechanisms of action, or pathways through which they produce an effect. CBD and THC produce beneficial effects, in part, because they can activate multiple biological pathways at once. They may also produce a wider variety of effects through channels separate from the CB1 and CB2 receptors.

The CBN cannabinoid hasn’t been researched nearly as rigorously as CBD, THC, or even some terpenes. But as researchers begin to mine cannabis for every possible benefit, the demand for more information will likely reveal the full profile of CBN’s effects.

The Connection Between CBN and THC

Our current understanding of CBN as a major cannabinoid dates as far back as a 1999 study in which the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) tested cannabis potency loss over time. According to the study, THC content in the tested cannabis sample dropped to half of its original potency after four years. Furthermore, as THC oxidized and dissipated, it began to convert to CBN. The study also found that the first two years of improper storage were when the most THC degradation occurred, drawing a clear connection between THC-CBN conversion and plant vulnerability.

In the simplest terms, this study shows that THC degrades into CBN over time, which means cannabis will typically become CBN-heavy the longer it ages. The study also reveals why CBN and THC cannabinoids share alternative mechanisms of action to CB1 and CB2 receptors. When a lab result shows high-CBN, it indicates the cannabis has aged significantly. As the UNODC study concluded, “A relationship between the concentration ratio of CBN to THC and the storage time … could serve as a guide in determining the approximate age of a given marijuana sample stored at room temperature.”

What Is CBN Oil?

More and more, as each cannabinoid is explored for its full medicinal value, CBN may become a more common cannabinoid and show up in CBN oil, CBN tincture, CBN capsules, CBN gummies, and topicals. In fact, a select few companies are already jumping on board the CBN train.

Most cannabis contains less than 1% CBN initially, but there are plenty of strains out there with more CBN-producing potential than others. 

Some CBN enthusiasts have noted that the cannabinoid’s sedating effects are stronger when it’s taken with food.

Source: Weedmaps.