Cannabinol is another cannabinoid taking up space on the shelves with CBG, CBC and CBD. But this one is a YAWN. Not because it’s boring, though—because many people reach for CBN for better sleep.
Since we recently released new CBN gummies, we thought we’d investigate the drowsy little molecule a bit more.
CBN Effects
There have been studies to explore CBN’s potential to help with sleep as many people in the cannabis community use cannabinol specifically for this purpose.
Psychology Today mentioned in an article on the Health Benefits of CBN that animal studies have shown CBN can prolong sleep time. Some research indicates THC amplifies CBN’s relaxing effects due to the entourage effect.
It maintains slightly similar functions to other cannabinoids but CBN is particularly unique.
How is CBN Different?
CBN comes from party cannabinoid THC, the one that gets you high. Poorly stored cannabis becomes stale from degradation and oxidation, but then a CBN rises from the dead. Because cannabinol comes from aging THC, the amount of CBN in hemp relies on how much THC there was in the plant to begin with, along with other factors like time, heat and light. Because time and environmental factors are required for THC to convert into CBN, geneticists cannot breed a high CBN plant.
What Does CBN Do?
One of the main differences between CBN and other cannabinoids is how it interacts with the endocannabinoid system. THC mostly engages with CB1 receptors concentrated in the brain, causing an intoxicating effect. CBD, CBG and other minor compounds have trouble interacting with CB1 receptors and instead mostly engage CB2 receptors that appear throughout the body.
Since CBN molecules come from THC, it maintains a similar form to THC. So like THC, CBN engages with CB1 receptors at a more mild degree. For this reason, CBN isn’t entirely non-psychoactive. It is, but the volume is turned way down. The amount of CBN in CBD products would not result in an intoxicating effect.
