WHAT IS CBN?

Cannabis, as you may know, contains several constituent compounds called cannabinoids. One of these cannabinoids (or chemical component found in the cannabis plant) is called cannabinol or CBN. In this article, we shall explore more about CBN and studies being performed on it.

Cannabinol: Origin and Features

CBN, or cannabinol, was the first cannabinoid discovered to occur naturally and was first isolated in its pure form in 1896. It was the first cannabinoid to be officially identified by scientists. Initially, CBN was thought to be the cause of a mind-altering high perceived upon consumption. However, researchers later discovered that it was another compound called tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) which was responsible for triggering intoxication-like effects.

CBN occurs in a cannabis plant when it grows old. When oxidized over a period of time, THC transitions to give rise to CBN. THC extracted from the cannabis plant can also be harnessed to create CBN.

Higher levels of CBN can be found in old cannabis plants, extracts of cannabis that have been left unrefrigerated, or under light. Environmental conditions influence the CBN composition in cannabis plants. Due to lack of availability of strains of hemp/cannabis with high concentrations of CBN in the market, it is easier to obtain CBN by oxidizing and degrading CBD and THC. 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.

THC is considered a psychoactive substance since it impacts the brain, altering one’s consciousness and behavior. Unlike THC, however, CBN is believed to be non-psychoactive. Its alleged strong sedative effect is being studied to determine additional characteristics of the cannabinoid.

Studies conducted on CBN

CBN is believed by some to be a highly strong sedative. A study involving mice showed that CBN could extend sleep time. Research also suggests that the effects are amplified when CBN combined with THC is consumed. There is still research happening on this topic which will reveal greater details about the sleep-inducing quality of CBN.

A different study was performed with rodents that displayed using CBN as a treatment for ALS and found that it was able to delay the onset of the condition. This may lead us to believe that CBN could be a powerful neuroprotectant in mice.

In another rodent study, CBN was shown to increase the amount of food that rodents ate suggesting that it is an effective appetite stimulant in rodents.

Note that more studies need to be done in human trials. Studies on rodents do not always correlate to how a compound will interact with the human body.

How to use CBN?

We have found that most of our customers take less CBN than CBD. Since this cannabinoid also directly affects your endocannabinoid system, it does take a little playing around with the dosage to find what works best for your body. We typically see customers starting off with around 2.5mg – 5mg of CBN and slowly working up until they notice full benefits. As with other cannabinoids, taking too much can be just as ineffective as taking too little.

What Products have CBN at DirectHemp.com?

Our first product to be formulated to have a specific and significant amount of CBN is from Cheeba Chews and is there Sleepy Time Chew with 2.5mg of CBN per chew. This is a perfect starting amount to see how CBN works within you endocannabinoid system. We will bringing on some more CBN products soon (very soon) and you will be able to find those products easily on our site by looking for the following icon: