When it comes to the array of cannabinoids found within the cannabis plant, cannabinol (CBN) is quite rare. Accounting for less than 1% of the plant’s biomass. To give you an idea of how little that is, major cannabinoids like tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD) account for 2% to 20% of cannabis’ biomass.

However, even though rare, CBN can be isolated in the extraction process. Due to this a number of companies have begun developing CBN products - or CBD products with large doses of CBN in them. You may have seen these appear on the shelves and, if so, it’s important to understand the new cannabinoid has valid reasons for the recent hype.It’s been found that CBN has a unique chemical struc-ture from THC and CBD.

With that, it has also been discov-ered to have a number of potential therapeutic properties. Throughout this article, we’re going to dive deep into can-nabinol and everything we know so far about it.

The Science Behind CBNCBN is produced from the degradation of THC. 

Due to this, it has a specific chemical structure that offers unique phys-iological properties when consumed. In other words, taking CBN has different biological activity in the body and, with that, therapeutic effects.CBN actually has a very similar chemical structure to THC and, therefore, acts in a similar manner. For example, within the endocannabinoid system (ECS), THC binds to CB1 receptors which, in turn, causes the psychoactive effects we associate with cannabis.

¹CBN also binds itself to CB1 receptors - though, at a much lower strength. In turn, this technically makes CBN a psychoactive compound. However, it’s very unlikely you’ll experience a “high” from CBN as it doesn’t attach directly to CB receptors.

Being as CBN is less abundant in the cannabis plant, there isn’t as copious an amount as CBD or THC. Not to mention, while research remains extremely slim, it doesn’t seem as though CBN has nearly as many medical benefits as other cannabinoids show.

Potential Benefits of CBN

CBN is non-intoxicating and, as of this time, doesn’t appear to have any significant side effects. With that, many people are interested in the potential therapeutic effects this canna-binoid can have. Unfortunately, research is slim and there’s only so much we know about CBN. However, a few studies have found it may have the following effects in humans:

• Antibacterial CBN has been tested against strains of MRSA bacteria that are normally resistant to standard antibiotics. The researchers concluded that CBN acted as a potent antibacterial and may be able to be used to fight infections certain antibiotics can’t fight against.

• Anti-Inflammatory One study found that CBN was able to reduce symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis in rodents. More research is required to confirm these findings. However, CBN may be able to be used in a topical application similar to many CBD products.

• Appetite Stimulation When given to rodents, CBN was found to increase the consumption of food in rats. While we don’t currently have any clinical trials concerning CBN’s appetite changes in humans, it’s generally believed that it can be used to stimulate food intake. Especially because other cannabinoids like CBD and THC cause a similar reaction.

• Glaucoma When mixed with THC, it was found that CBN reduced intraocular pressure (the biggest risk for glaucoma) in rabbits. Still, even with this research, CBN has not been found to be more powerful than glaucoma medication. However, people may be able to use CBN alongside their medication.

• Neuroprotectant One rodent study found that CBN was able to delay the onset of ALS. Unfortunately, we need human studies in order to confirm that CBN has this capability. However, the right research may reveal that the cannabinoid can be used to treat ALS and other neurodegenerative conditions.

Can CBN Help to Promote Sleep? 

If you’re a frequent user of CBD, it’s likely you’ve recently stumbled across products promoting CBN as an all-natural sleep inducer. With that, it may have surprised you that we didn’t include it on our list for potential benefits.

The difficulty is there is hardly any evidence to suggest CBN can promote sleep. Not to mention, a complete lack of research into this topic. The only one we know about was done in 1970 and, while a small study, no one involved had experience sedating effects from CBN. 7So, if that’s the case, then what’s the deal with all the sleep-related CBN products hitting the market?Well, to begin with, people have noticed that older can-nabis tends to make them sleepy. And since older cannabis tends to be high in cannabinol, CBN was often associated with the sedative effects.

The study in which no one experienced sleepiness from CBN also looked into the effects of THC alone and THC with CBN. It was found that those who used THC alone experienced drowsiness and those who took THC with CBN experienced higher levels of fatigue. With that said, there might be a relation between CBN and THC when it comes to promoting a better night’s sleep.

However, it may also have to do with the terpenes found within the cannabis extract. It’s been found that older canna-bis has a number of sedative terpenes and, therefore, when will promote sleep when accompanied with CBN. So, in short, CBN isn’t a sedative cannabinoid in and of itself. At least, there is no research to suggest it is. Yet, when combined with THC and specific terpenes found in older cannabis, CBN may be a powerful tool in helping people receive a better night’s rest.

Our Experience with CBN

While you can purchase CBN isolate, it’s not nearly as available as other cannabinoids. Not to mention, very few top-ranking cannabis companies have put such a product on the market.With that said, the CBN products we’ve tried always contained another cannabinoid within them - usually CBD. And it’s also worth mentioning that these products are often advertised for sleep - sometimes going as far as to add in melatonin.So, what are our overall thoughts? It’s difficult to pinpoint as these products have never contained CBN in and of themselves. We can say that compared to a CBD isolate, a dose of CBN adds a nice mixture with a slight variant in effects.

While these products did make us feel a bit drowsy, the fatigue wasn’t nearly as intense as other supplements currently available, such as melatonin. Rather, mixing CBN with other cannabinoids like CBD seems to provide further overall wellness.

Final Word: Should You Take CBN?

 To answer this simply, there’s no reason not to try CBN. Chances are it’s going to make you feel a bit differently than CBD or any other cannabinoid. And for all you know, it may be able to help with an ailment that’s unresponsive to other cannabinoids.

The difficulty with CBN is the difficulty with the entire cannabis industry: the lack of research. Without the proper studies backing up CBN’s potential therapeutic benefits, it’s extremely difficult for us to suggest it for any particular use.

However, we hope this article shines a light on the fact that CBN shows no evidence of sedative properties. While many companies are promoting CBD + CBN as the answer to your insomnia, this is nothing more than a marketing strategy.

Of course, certain extracts are likely to cause fatigue depending on the terpene profile of said extract. Not to men-tion, cannabis that’s high in THC and CBN will likely make you feel a bit drowsy.

Regardless, when it comes to promoting sleep, it seems that cannabis in and of itself is helpful. By ingesting all of its cannabinoids, you’re allowing the plant to act within your body as it’s meant to. And there’s truly no single cannabi-noid that can beat them when combined.

Still, with the right research, isolated CBN may be able to have medical properties that we aren’t able to see. With that, we hope to continue seeing research for individual cannabinoids.