What Is Cannabinol & What Does It Do?

By now, you’ve likely heard of CBD—a cannabinoid found in cannabis that’s known for its potential benefits, ranging from pain relief to sleep. However, CBD is just one of more than a hundred different cannabinoids that can have helpful properties. Another cannabinoid that’s picking up steam is cannabinol (CBN). Learn more about CBN in our guide below.

What Is CBN?

CBN is a unique cannabinoid because it’s not immediately present in dried cannabis flowers. Instead, it’s created when another cannabinoid —tetrahydrocannabinol (THC)—is exposed over time to oxygen, heat, and light.

Something that often gets misconstrued about CBN is that, because it’s a byproduct of THC (which is the psychoactive portion of cannabis plants), then it must be psychoactive as well. That’s not the case, as it’s shown very little to no effects at all.

Another fact worth noting is CBN is found in incredibly small amounts in dried cannabis flowers. For example, THC concentrations can reach levels of nearly 30%, but it’s uncommon for CBN to exceed 1%.

What Does CBN Do?

Just like other cannabinoids, CBN interacts with the body via the endocannabinoid system (ECS). It’s believed that it primarily interacts with CB2 receptors, which help regulate pain, inflammation, and appetite. However, there’s mounting evidence to suggest it may also form a loose bond with CB1 receptors as well, potentially inducing a drowsy effect that can make it useful as a sleep aid.

Are There Any Benefits to CBN?

It’s possible that CBN could have similar benefits to CBD. Research is still limited on CBN, but it’s being studied and used for a variety of ailments.

Mostly, CBN is being pushed as a way to combat pain and act as an anti-inflammatory. As mentioned earlier, CBN interacts with CB2 receptors, which are responsible for pain and inflammation management.

Sleep aids are also a potential use for CBN. A study done on mice using synthetically-made CBN resulted in those mice staying asleep longer. However, the jury is still out on whether or not CBN can be an effective sleep aid, as other studies have produced conflicting results.

Finally, an often overlooked aspect of CBN, or any other cannabinoid, is the “Entourage Effect” that comes along with full spectrum hemp products. CBN obviously has potential benefits on its own, but when cannabinoids such as CBN interact with CBD, terpenes, flavonoids, and other components of the cannabis plant, a synergistic effect happens that can boost the benefits of the CBD product.

If you’re interested in trying CBN, there are several types of products available, including CBN tinctures, CBN oil, patches, and other concentrates.However, CBN is not just available in isolated form—it’s also present in all of Frontier Jackson’s full spectrum CBD products.