WHAT IS CBN? Cannabinol.

CBN is a compound found naturally in the cannabis plant.

Cannabinol (or CBN for short) is a mildly-psychoactive cannabinoid compound found in mature cannabis and hemp plants. Contrary to other cannabinoids, CBN does not come directly from CANNABIGEROL (CBG). And CBN may have an untapped potential as a sedative. 

#1 — WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF CBN?

• REST
• RELIEF
• RECOVERY
• Initial research shows potential, but more research is needed.
  

   

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#2— HOW DOES CBN HELP?

Depending on how you respond, it might help you chill out after a long day, loosen up for a social sitation or get some solid rest. CBN alone could bring relief, or it might benefit your routine as an addition to CBD so that you get the entourage effects of multiple cannabinoids working together.

CBN can be used effectively as a sleep aid or sedative. This cannabinoid has also been shown to help regulate the immune system and works to relieve the pain and inflammation caused by several conditions.

#3 — IS CBN SAFE?

Although CBN comes from the degradation of THC, it produces little to no psychoactive effects. This makes it a good alternative for patients who cannot tolerate the psychoactive effects of THC. The patients benefit from the therapeutic effects of CBN without any intoxicating effects.

#4 — HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TO WORK?

If you take more than their needed dose, you ay wake up feeling groggy. Always start low and work your way up once you are sure you need more. You can’t “untake” a vape. For vape users, take one puff and wait 10-30 minutes for full effects before determining if you need more.

#5 — IS CBN LEGAL?

It is abundantly clear that CBN derived from hemp is legal, as the Agricultural Improvement Act of 2018 (“the 2018 Farm Bill”) removed hemp from the CSA’s definition of marijuana. Under the 2018 Farm Bill, hemp is defined as “the plant Cannabis sativa L.

#6 — What does CBN research say?

• 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.

  Here are a few of the potential benefits of CBN currently being explored in research. Keep in mind, current research on CBN is limited with very few studies demonstrating its effects in the human body.

   

  Antibacterial

  Studies on CBN have found that it may be a potent antibacterial agent. In lab settings, CBN was tested on strains of MRSA bacteria that are resistant to traditional antibiotics. Researchers found it to be a potent antibacterial agent against these resistant strains. Perhaps in the future, we will see CBN being used to fight off bacterial infections that our usual antibiotics can’t heal.

  Neuroprotectant

  CBN may also be a powerful neuroprotectant. In one rodent study, researchers used CBN as a treatment for ALS and found that it was able to delay the onset of the condition. While human studies need to be done, this suggests that CBN may provide a powerful tool in the fight against ALS and other neurodegenerative conditions

  Appetite Stimulation

  In rodent studies, CBN increased the amount of food that rat subjects ate, suggesting that it could be an effective appetite stimulant. Since some avoid THC (another well-known appetite stimulant) due to its intoxicating effects, CBN could potentially offer an alternative for those seeking the munchies without the high—but more research is needed.

   

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  Glaucoma

  CBN may also be helpful for those suffering from glaucoma. One study on rabbits found that CBN (as well as THC) reduces intraocular pressure—the biggest risk factor for glaucoma. Still, research is in early stages and CBN hasn’t been shown to be superior to other glaucoma medications. More research is needed to know if cannabinoids could ever effectively replace any traditional treatments for glaucoma.

  Anti-inflammatory

  CBN may also be a potent anti-inflammatory agent capable of helping those with rheumatoid arthritis. In one rodent study, CBN was shown to reduce arthritis. While more research needs to be done, this could end up being an incredible help to those suffering from this debilitating condition.

   

#7 — HOW DOES IT WORK.

CBD works with FAAH (fatty acid amide hydrolase) to stimulate anandamide and the production of endocannabinoids in the body. If your system is over or under-producing, CBD helps to regulate it. CBN interacts with the receptors, and together they open the gates for healing.

#8 — HOW DOES IT HELP.

Depending on how you respond, it might help you chill out after a long day, loosen up for a social sitation or get some solid rest. CBN alone could bring relief, or it might benefit your routine as an addition to CBD so that you get the entourage effects of multiple cannabinoids working together.

CBN can be used effectively as a sleep aid or sedative. This cannabinoid has also been shown to help regulate the immune system and works to relieve the pain and inflammation caused by several conditions.

#9 — IS IT SEDATING?

Although there hasn’t been much research on CBN’s sedating effects (or lack thereof), one human study did look at this question back in the 1970s. While the study was small, none of the respondents reported that CBN made them feel sleepy.

So why does everyone say that it’s sedating?

Well there are two possible reasons, and they both lead back to one source: People noticed that older cannabis (which is high in CBN) makes them sleepy and assumed it must be the CBN.

First, it may be that the combination of CBN and THCis what actually causes the sedative effect.

In the same study that found CBN didn’t make subjects sleepy, researchers tested CBN alone, CBN with THC, and THC alone. While THC produced some drowsiness on its own, the combination of the two produced even higher levels of drowsiness. So perhaps those enjoying high CBN cannabis, which also contains THC, have noticed the synergistic effects and assumed the sedative effect was attributable to the CBN alone.

But even without the THC connection, there may be other factors which cause higher CBN cannabis to be sedating.

“Pure CBN is not particularly sedating,” explains leading cannabis researcher and neurologist Dr. Ethan Russo, “But it is typically found in aged cannabis in which the monoterpenoids have evaporated leaving the more sedating oxygenated sesquiterpenoids. This accounts for the discrepancy.”

In other words, the older cannabis that is high in CBN is also high in sedating terpenes (other active chemicals in the plant). These terpenes, rather than the CBN, could account for the sedative effects.

While CBN may not be sedating on its own, you may be able to take advantage of its synergistic effects with THC to get the sleep inducing effects you are looking for.

#10 — IS CBN SAFE?

Although CBN comes from the degradation of THC, it produces little to no psychoactive effects. This makes it a good alternative for patients who cannot tolerate the psychoactive effects of THC. The patients benefit from the therapeutic effects of CBN without any intoxicating effects.

#11 — Proper CBG Oil Dosage

How much CBN is right for you will depend on many features, including your age, body weight,  the conditions you want to treat, and any current medications you may be taking.

That being said, companies usually recommend taking no more than 5-10mg of CBN once or twice a day to start. For the best effects, drop the CBN liquid directly under your tongue and hold for a 60 seconds before swallowing. This technique, known as “sublingual ingestion” which helps your body fully absorb the cannabinoid before it goes through the digestive tract.

As with any new substance, start slowly and see how your body reacts to CBG. If you don’t notice any adverse effects, you could increase the dosage by a few milligrams per day until you achieve your desired result.

Since CBN is a non-psychoactive cannabinoid, it’s generally considered safe to use any time of the day. There’s currently little data on side effects related to CBN, however, as with CBD, you can not overdose, and the only side effect for most people may be drowsiness.

It’s a good idea to talk with your doctor before you consider using cannabinoids, especially if you’re already on prescription medications. Because of its anti-inflammatory properties, it’s possible CBN could adversely interact with certain prescriptions.

#12 — CBN Oil Prices are Generally Higher Than CBD

Because CBN content is usually less than 1% in a standard cannabis plant, it should come as no surprise that CBN products are more expensive. To extract just a tiny vial of CBN, manufacturers usually have to go through thousands of pounds of hemp biomass.

Another reason that drives up CBN costs has to do with the enhanced technology and specialized extraction machinery necessary to accurately separate this molecule. Which  means a higher price for the consumer.

It’s not uncommon to see small bottles of CBN tincture selling for anywhere between $100 to $400. When CBN is blended with CBD and other cannabinoids, the price is more affordable.

As Demand Increases, Hopefully CBN Costs Will Decrease

To help make CBN products more affordable, many cultivators are beginning to breed select strong-CBN strains of hemp. Breeding select strains with higher CBN levels, will mean manufacturers require less biomass to create more products.

 

#13. One MISCONCEPTION ABOUT CBN.

A misconception about CBN is that high CBN products will always be non-intoxicating. While CBN alone is non-intoxicating, it can actually increase euphoric effects of THC. If you are looking to take advantage of CBN’s benefits without a high, make sure you are using products that don’t contain much THC.

#14. HOW TO FIND CBN CANNABIS PRODUCTS

While CBN isn’t particularly plentiful in fresh or cured cannabis, it can often be found in older cannabis, particularly cannabis that has been exposed to a lot of oxygen. CBN is actually created from THC when it is oxidized (exposed to oxygen over time).

Still, leaving your cannabis out in the open air might not be the most efficient way of getting CBN. Brands are beginning to offer products with isolated CBN, usually in the form of tinctures or edibles (and, ironically, marketed as sleep aids). These pure CBN products are a great way to test out the cannabinoid yourself and see if it’s helpful for you.

 

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