What Is CBN: Everything To Know About Uses and Benefits

Airi Macaluso

Medical Hemp Expert, Hemp Wellness Consultant, and Long-Time Cannabinoid Writer

Cannabis contains more than 100 different cannabinoids. These cannabinoids all have different properties and benefits. As one of the lesser-known cannabinoids, cannabinol (CBN) is underutilized, and many CBD users don’t even know much about it.

What Is CBN?

Cannabinol is a rare phytocannabinoid that is found in low levels within cannabis plants. CBN is produced when tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) degrades, which can take a long time. However, this process can be accelerated when the cannabis plant is exposed to air, heat, and light, causing it to dry and degrade more quickly.

Although a derivative of THC, CBN is considered to be only mildly psychoactive—not producing the same “high” that THC does. Instead, CBN is said to have a calming effect on users.

How Does CBN Affect Your System?

Let’s dive into how CBN interacts with us. The endocannabinoid system (ECS) is like a control center in our bodies, responsible for keeping things balanced and running smoothly. It regulates important processes such as mood, appetite, sleep, pain perception, and immune response.

CBN interacts with the ECS by connecting with cannabinoid receptors. These receptors are found throughout our bodies and come in two types: CB1 and CB2 receptors. CB1 receptors hang out mostly in our central nervous system, while CB2 receptors like to chill in our immune system and peripheral tissues.

When CBN binds to CB1 receptors, it can have different effects on our bodies. While it’s not as trippy as THC, CBN does have some mild psychoactive effects. It’s known to be calming and can even help with sleep, making it a potential sleep aid. CBN’s interaction with CB1 receptors might be the reason why it has such a relaxing effect, which can be great for folks seeking relief from sleep issues.

But wait, there’s more! CBN can also interact with CB2 receptors. When these receptors get activated, it can lead to exciting potential benefits like helping our immune system do its thing. This suggests that people could use CBN as a means to better support your wellness.

Keep in mind that the effects of CBN can vary based on factors like its concentration in products, the presence of other cannabinoids and terpenes, and the way you use it (like topicals, edibles, or tinctures).

What Are the Benefits of CBN?

Like many of the other cannabinoids, CBN can offer users numerous benefits. But just what does CBN do?

Helps with Rest: CBN can provide feelings of relaxation and tranquility for both the mind and body. The CBN cannabinoid is often associated with sleep, making it the perfect addition to our Relaxing Nighttime CBD Drops.
Promotes Calmness: Another effect of CBN that research has found is that it can support a healthy decreases heart rate without affecting blood flow. This leads to a sense of overall calmness and relaxation.
Provides Relief: For those who experience discomfort, CBN can help provide some relief.
Boosts Supports Immune Function: Altering or boosting Supporting immune function is another benefits that CBN offers to users, according to a study in the Journal of Neuroimmune Pharmacology.

Current research is still looking into various additional CBN cannabinoid benefits. We hope eventually to better understand all of CBN’s qualities to see how it can help a wider range of people.

Does CBN Cause the Entourage Effect?

Have you heard about the entourage effect? It’s an intriguing concept that suggests the potential synergy between different cannabinoids in cannabis, and CBN is no exception.

Let’s delve into how CBN interacts with other cannabinoids like CBD (cannabidiol) and THC (tetrahydrocannabinol), and whether combining them can produce exciting effects.

The entourage effect refers to the idea that cannabinoids, along with other compounds like terpenes, work together in harmony, enhancing each other’s effects when consumed as a whole plant extract. This means that the combined presence of multiple cannabinoids may create a more profound impact on our bodies compared to isolated cannabinoids.

“All cannabinoids, when used together, can promote the entourage effect. CBN lives with CBD, THC, CBC, CBD, and about 100 other cannabinoids within the hemp flower. When you remove one from the mix, you’re basically breaking up the band. They jam a lot harder when everyone’s around to play,” highlights Resident Veritas Farms CBD expert Airi Macaluso.

Are There Any Side Effects of CBN?

Like most cannabinoids, CBN is largely safe, with very minimal side effects (if any). However, it’s always a good idea to play it a little safe at first, especially when it comes to cannabis products that you’ve never used before.

CBN, like other cannabinoids, is generally well-tolerated by most individuals — but there are a few factors to keep in mind.

One potential side effect of CBN is slight feelings of drowsiness or sleepiness. CBN is a go-to for sleep support, after all! If you plan to use CBN during the day or when you really need to concentrate, it’s important to be mindful of this. “That’s why CBN is usually only significantly present in hemp products designed for nighttime use. It might be worth getting a separate CBD product for the morning hours when you need to focus,” Macaluso adds.

It’s also always wise to consult a healthcare professional for medical advice before using CBN or any other cannabinoidproduct, especially if you have a medical condition, are taking medications, or are pregnant or breastfeeding. Your doc can provide personalized advice based on your specific circumstances and help you navigate any potential interactions or contraindications.

Additionally, while CBN is generally considered safe for use, it’s also important to make sure you’re choosing high-quality, trustworthy CBN products. Look for products with rigorous testing by third-party laboratories to confirm potency, purity, and absence of contaminants — this helps ensure that you are using a reliable and high-quality product.

As far as serving sizes go, we’re always fans of starting with a low amount and gradually increasing it until you reach your desired effects. If a certain serving size doesn’t make you feel great, adjust your serving until you find your perfect match.

Where Can You Find CBN Products?

Since CBN is formed from the degradation of THC, you might be wondering if it is legal to purchase CBN products in places where THC isn’t legal. Fortunately, CBN is not currently listed as a controlled substance, meaning the Controlled Substance Act doesn’t specifically prohibit CBN. However, CBN derived from cannabis plants with more than 0.3% THC or from non-exempted portions of a cannabis plant would be illegal.

Unlike CBD, it isn’t always easy to find products containing CBN. Part of this is due to the difficulties in legally producing CBN products. Often, you can only find CBN products that are specifically folded into CBD products to ensure legality. These products can be found online and in retail locations that sell CBD.

Lucky for you, our Relaxing Nighttime CBD Drops feature CBN alongside chamomile, lavender, and lemon balm for deep sleep and sweet dreams. These drops make it easy to get your nighttime serving of CBN — just place one dropperful under your tongue, and hold it for 90 seconds before swallowing.

3 Tips for Finding Your Ideal CBN Product

Choosing a CBN product can be challenging. Every person has different wants and needs, and not every product will be a perfect fit. Here are a few tips for finding the CBN product that is the best for you.

1. Choose Your Method of Use

Like CBD, CBN can come in various forms, such as tinctures, balms, and gummies. Before you choose what product you are going to use, you will need to decide how you want to use CBN. For relief, you may want to find a CBN balm that you can apply directly to the afflicted area. However, if you are taking CBN for rest, you may want to consider a tincture or gummy product.

2. Determine the Product Serving Size

All cannabinoid products should clearly display how much CBN is in each serving. Make sure that you understand the recommended serving size prior to using any products to prevent any adverse side effects. CBN products that contain other cannabinoids like CBD should also display the serving size of those cannabinoids.

As always, we recommend that new users start with a low serving amount and slowly increase the serving until the desired effects are reached.

Our Relaxing Nighttime CBD Drops contain 2mg of CBN per serving, making them an easy, breezy way to step into the restful world of this cannabinoid.

3. Ensure the Product Safety

Finding high-quality CBN products may be a challenge. We encourage all CBN users to do their due diligence when it comes to selecting a trusted CBN source. Purchasing products that have undergone third-party lab testing or come with a certificate of analysis can ensure that you are getting a CBN product that contains exactly what it says it does and is safe.

Veritas Farms is proud to announce that we are launching a new line of CBN products designed to help people with rest and calm, as well as relief and appetite. Our CBN products are made with full-spectrum hemp oil and undergo strict testing through third-party labs to ensure accurate serving recommendations, safety, and quality.

Do you still have questions about CBN? Our customer service team is happy to help! Give us a call today at 833-691-4367 or email us at hello@theveritasfarms.com.

Sources:

Cannabinol | ScienceDirect Topics

Antibacterial Cannabinoids From Cannabis sativa: A Structure-Activity Study | NCBI Bookshelf

Turning Over a New Leaf: Cannabinoid and Endocannabinoid Modulation of Immune Function | PMC

The Endocannabinoid System: Essential and Mysterious | Harvard Health

Pharmacology of Cannabinoid CB1 and CB2 Receptors | NCBI Bookshelf

An Update on Safety and Side Effects of Cannabidiol: A Review of Clinical Data and Relevant Animal Studies | NCBI Bookshelf

Controlled Substance Act | NCBI Bookshelf