Cannabinol (CBN)

Definition: Cannabinol (CBN) is a cannabinoid that forms when THC breaks down from exposure to heat, light, and air over time. That’s why older cannabis tends to contain more of it. CBN binds weakly to cannabinoid receptors and is often marketed for sleep, but research supporting that use is limited.

How Is CBN Made?

Cannabis plants don’t make much CBN directly. Instead, THC slowly oxidizes into CBN as flower ages or is stored poorly. Manufacturers can also convert other cannabinoids into CBN for use in gummies, tinctures, and oils.

Does CBN Get You High?

CBN interacts with the CB1 receptor, but much more weakly than THC. Most studies suggest it has little or no intoxicating effect on its own at typical doses. That said, products sold as CBN sometimes also contain THC, so check the label and lab results.

Does CBN Help You Sleep?

The evidence isn’t there yet. A 2021 review in Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research found only a handful of small, mostly decades-old human studies and concluded there’s insufficient evidence to support sleep claims. One older study found CBN added to sedation when combined with THC, but not alone. The “sleepy old weed” idea may have more to do with THC than CBN.

Is CBN Legal?

CBN is often made from hemp, but the federal hemp definition is changing, and some products contain THC or synthesized cannabinoids. State rules vary, so check local laws.

Related terms: Cannabinoids, Cannabigerol (CBG), Hemp, Cannabinoid Receptors

Sources: Corroon J. Cannabinol and Sleep: Separating Fact from Fiction. Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research, 2021 (PubMed); Russo EB. Taming THC: potential cannabis synergy and phytocannabinoid-terpenoid entourage effects. British Journal of Pharmacology, 2011 (PMC); PubChem: Cannabinol (CID 2543).

This entry is for general education and isn’t medical advice.