Your Ultimate Guide to CBN: What It Is, What It Does, & How It Could Help You
While CBD is great and all, it’s far from the only cannabinoid that could help you sleep better. In recent years attention has turned towards CBN, another hemp-derived cannabinoid that seems to have huge potential when it comes to getting better, deeper sleep. In this article we’ll be looking at all things CBN before showing you how to incorporate it into your daily routine. Here’s an outline:
Trace Cannabinoids 101
Ever since 2018’s Federal Farm Bill legalized hemp, the popularity of CBD has been taking off. The trend that started in America has since spread worldwide, and today CBD products are legal in Austria, Bulgaria, Cyprus, and Denmark. CBD is legal-but-controlled in Israel, legal in many parts of Asia, legal in some parts of Africa, and semi-legal in all of Australia.
But here’s the thing: CBD isn’t the only cannabinoid with ever-better legal status. 2018’s Federal Farm Bill also legalized CBG, CBN, CBC, and even delta-8 THC. And CBN is one of the trace cannabinoids that’s gotten the most attention, since both research and anecdotal evidence have hinted that it’s great for sleep. Let’s take a closer look at why that might be.
What Is CBN?
CBN, or cannabinol, is one of hemp’s rarest trace cannabinoids. Unlike the other ‘big six,’ it’s only formed when hemp is heated up or exposed to lots of light. Both CBD and THC are synthesized from CBG, both of them break down into CBN – when the conditions are right.
CBN was actually the first cannabinoid to be named and discovered, which happened way back in the 1930s at the lab of British chemist Robert S. Cahn.
Another facet of CBN’s uniqueness? It’s structure. Most cannabinoids share the same chemical formula, but CBN has a smaller, simpler structure than the others. This tiny structural difference gives CBN some surprising effects…
What CBN Does
CBN seems to help the body adapt to and overcome stress, just like virtually every other cannabinoid we know of. The anti-stress effects of CBN, however, hit unusual molecular targets. CBN is most active within the nervous system, where it may regulate neurotransmission enough to promote calmness. When one is calm, they tend to sleep better. CBN’s sleep-promoting effects really might be that simple!
Indeed, one study from the 1970s showed that CBN improved sleep as much as THC did – without the less desirable side effects. CBN may also prevent your body’s immune system from becoming overly active, making it promising for those who suffer from autoimmune diseases.
CBN has also been linked to:
- Appetite regulation
- Relief from pain, especially when used with CBD
- Relief from inflammation, especially when applied topically
Will CBN Get You High?
The short answer is no – CBN will not get you high.
That being said, however, CBN isn’t completely inert. It’s actually slightly more psychoactive than CBD is. Many CBN users feel powerfully relaxed and pleasantly uplifted, especially if they take a high CBN dosage.
How To Find Premium CBN
Finding premium CBN is actually quite simple. Just source your products from an established hemp brand. Some of our top picks include:
- CBDistillery CBN + CBD Sleep Tincture
- Green Roads Sweet Sleep CBD Oil
- Receptra Naturals Serious Rest Gummies With CBN
- Sublingual Aerosol: SLEEP by Monarch Life Sciences
CBDistillery CBN + CBD Sleep Tincture
This sleep tincture from CBDistillery contains a 1:3 ratio of CBN to CBD and was created to promote relaxation and a good night’s sleep. It’s a full-spectrum product containing complementary cannabinoids, terpenes, and flavonoids to enhance the entourage effect.
- Made with Full Spectrum hemp extract
- Convenient and portable 30mL tincture bottle
- With 150mg CBN + 450mg CBD
- non-GMO industrial hemp grown in the USA
- A natural alternative to help improve sleep, relief, and relaxation
- Easily adjustable serving size to fit personal needs
Green Roads Sweet Sleep CBD Oil
Green Roads’ new nighttime formula, Sweet Sleep, is the perfect twist on the brand’s best-selling CBD oil. Each serving contains 22.5 mg of CBD to help manage stress, 2.5 milligrams of melatonin, and 2.5 milligrams of CBN. Available in a light blueberry flavor, this is one of our favorite CBN products yet!
- Made with broad spectrum hemp extract (0% THC)
- Helps you manage ordinary stress
- With 750mg of CBD per bottle
- With light and sweet berry flavor
- With 2.5mg melatonin per serving for sleep support
- Includes CBN - the perfect addition to our sleep formula (2.5mg/serving)
Receptra Naturals Serious Rest Gummies With CBN
Receptra Serious Rest Gummies with CBN for sleep are formulated to optimize the rest you receive tonight, so you can seize the day, tomorrow. Each serving contains 25 milligrams of CBD and 3 milligrams of CBN. Available in a Strawberry flavor to make your evening routine more enjoyable.
20% Off Coupon Code:
CBDBR20 View Product
- Made with full spectrum hemp extract
- No Melatonin, Vegan
- With 25mg CBD + 3mg CBN per serving
- Outstanding mountain Strawberry flavor
- Formulated to optimize your sleep at night
Sublingual Aerosol: SLEEP By Monarch Life Sciences
Monarch’s Sublingual Spray is a customized device that delivers a precisely dosed proprietary formulation of hemp-derived full-spectrum CBD and micro-nutrients directly into the linings of the inner mouth. With maximum absorption and optimum bio-availability utilizing nano-technology our sublingual mist delivers the most effective, safe, and accurate dosing in the industry. 7.5 mg CBD per spray/use.
- Made with full-spectrum hemp extract
- Utilizes nanotechnology
- Each spray delivers 7.5mg of CBD, 180 doses
- Helps you to get a good night's rest
- Chamomile formula with CBN, melatonin, and lavender
- Provides maximum absorption and optimum bio-availability
What Happens When You Combine CBD & CBN
Study after study has shown that CBN and CBD work well on their own. But they work even better when combined. “Combinations of CBD/CBN induced a longer-lasting reduction of mechanical [pain] sensitization than either compound alone,” one study explained.
It’s highly possible that CBN amplifies CBD’s other benefits, too, probably by making the entourage effect more pronounced. To get the best of both worlds, opt for a product with a balanced CBN:CBD ratio, like CBDistillery’s CBN + CBD Sleep Tincture above.
Does CBN Show Up On a Drug Test?
CBN is unlikely to show up on a drug test. That said, false positives do happen, especially on notoriously-inaccurate point-of-care tests. If you experience a false positive just ask your employer to do confirmation testing, which will use advanced chromatography to deliver the right result.
Is CBN Legal?
CBN is both legal and safe. You can thank the Federal Farm bill we mentioned earlier for its legality — and nature for its unparalleled safety. Even ultra-high doses have been shown to be safe, though you’re unlikely to need more than a few dozen milligrams of CBN to sleep better.
CBN For Sleep Reviews
What are people experiencing when they use CBN for sleep?
“I think [CBN] can be effective as a sleep aid […] it’s one of the more studied effects and supposed to be more effective than CBD for sleep,” Dr. Nadia Musavvir, a naturopathic doctor based in L.A, tells TZR.
To get a better idea of the CBN experience, check out our review of CBDistillery and their CBN-infused product here.
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