Cannabinol (CBN) is considered a minor cannabinoid because it exists in much smaller quantities than the two main cannabinoids THC and CBD. CBN is becoming extremely popular in the health and wellness space as a sleep support supplement that rivals CBD.
CBN is more abundant in mature cannabis plants as THC molecules begin to degrade from oxidation. Because it's a metabolite of THC, it has an affinity to bind to CB1 and CB2 receptors in the central nervous system and is suggested to have mildly intoxicating effects in extremely high doses [1].
Because you need such high doses to experience a high, most people don't reach for CBN oil for its psychotropic effects. Most people reach for CBN for its relaxation and reported sedative effects, and at lower doses, CBN doesn't seem to produce a high in most people.
How to Dose CBN for Sleep
Many people swear that taking CBN for sleep works. While more research is needed to back these claims, we're recommend that you start around doses of 25 mg – 50 mg, and expect to experiment with your doses until you experience the ideal effects of CBN.
Optimal CBN Dose
The appropriate dose for CBN for sleep will be different for everyone—just like CBD, CBN may affect everyone differently because of its interaction with the endocannabinoid system. Since there are not many studies on CBN specifically, most indications recommend following the same doses for CBD.
While CBN is found to be safe to use, when introducing a new compound to your body, start on the lower end to avoid side effects. Start around doses of 25 mg – 50 mg, and expect to experiment with your doses until you experience the ideal effects of CBN.
Timing Your Dose
Ideally, you would test out your CBN oil on an evening when you don't have commitments early the next morning, just to stay on the safe side.
Like with CBD, you should take your CBN oil about an hour before your target bedtime, to let the effects of CBN, other cannabinoids, and terpenes take their effects in your system.
Take your CBN oil underneath your tongue and hold it there for 15–20 seconds to allow it to absorb through the network of microcapillaries, which will give you a much higher absorption rate than swallowing it straight.
Take Your CBN Product Consistently
If you're not feeling the effects of CBN right away, you may need to give your body more time to adjust to the new levels of cannabinoids.
Keep your CBN oil in sight either by your bedside or on your counter as part of your wind-down routine, and set an alarm if you need to so that you remember to take it around the same time each evening. It can take up to three weeks for your body to adjust to CBN and reap the benefits, so keep consistent.
CBN Dosage Chart
| Weight Range (lbs) | Recommended Dose (mg) |
|---|---|
| 100-140 | 10 mg |
| 141-160 | 20 mg |
| 161-180 | 30 mg |
| 181-200 | 40 mg |
| 200+ | 50 mg+ |
General CBN Dosage Guide for Sleep:
- Beginner: 0.2 mg per pound of body weight
- Intermediate: 0.4 mg per pound of body weight
- Advanced: 0.6 mg per pound of body weight
Example Calculation:
Let's consider a fictional person named Alex, who weighs 180 lbs and is new to using CBN for sleep management.
- Weight: 180 lbs
- Experience Level: Beginner
- Dosage Formula: 0.2 mg × body weight
Using the formula, Alex's recommended starting dosage would be:
Dosage = 0.2mg/lb × 180lbs = 36mg
Thus, as a beginner, Alex should consider starting with a dose of 36 mg of CBN each night for sleep management.
Common Reasons For Sleep Deprivation
According to Johns Hopkins, roughly one-third of adults experience insomnia at any given time. We all know that sleep is important. When we don't get enough sleep, we deprive our bodies and minds of restorative processes that support optimum function.
Without adequate sleep, we put ourselves at risk not only for fatigue throughout the day but a host of other health concerns. We'll dive into some of the most prevalent reasons for sleep deprivation.
Stress & Feelings Of Anxiety
It's normal to have trouble falling asleep when something troubling is on your mind. Prolonged feelings of anxiety can make you lose track of a normal sleeping pattern for months or years, leading to a vicious cycle of poor stress levels and insomnia.
High levels of the stress hormone, cortisol make it difficult to calm anxious thoughts and get the shut-eye needed—but when we don't get enough sleep, we're more prone to stress.
CBN and CBD may be able to help with managing healthy stress levels by raising GABA levels in the brain, which is a neurotransmitter that counteracts the hyperactivity of cortisol [2].
Pain & Soreness
Pain is one of the top reasons people report not being able to get enough sleep.
If you're living with chronic pain or suffering from an injury, you might be able to eventually fall asleep. However, sudden movements may result in pain, stimulating the central nervous system, waking you up, and making it difficult to calm down to fall back asleep.
CBN, CBD, and THC have been observed to influence the endocannabinoid receptors that mitigate the perception of pain in mice [3]. This study shows a lot of potential of THC and CBN for the treatment of neuropathic pain. While THC gummies for sleep is already well established in this space, more pre-clinical and clinical trials are needed for a definitive answer to CBN's effects on pain.
Similar to CBD, CBN has been shown to have anti-inflammatory potential by stimulating specialized fatty acid release that inhibits the inflammatory response [4]. Because pain is linked to inflammation, compounds that help to support a healthy inflammation response may offer relief from pain.
Medication
Some prescription medication can interfere with sleep. Common medications that are known to cause insomnia include serotonin re-uptake inhibitors (SSRI) prescribed for anxiety and stress and corticosteroids for pain.
Before reaching for CBD, CBN, or any other cannabis-based compound to support your health and wellness while on medication, it's important that you speak with your health care practitioner. They may prescribe lower doses of your medication or find alternatives to address your insomnia.
How To Choose CBN Products For Sleep
Hemp-derived cannabinoids are a new industry only having been legalized in 2018 with the Farm Bill.
As you can expect, marketing regulations are slow to adapt, and there's a lot of myth and scam products on the market that over-promise the benefits of CBN and other cannabinoids, but underdeliver.
If you're looking to try CBN products for sleep to support a healthy and regular sleep cycle, we're here with some tips on selecting a quality product.
1. Full Spectrum CBN
You should look to leverage the whole-plant benefits with full spectrum or broad spectrum CBN products.
CBN is one of over a hundred cannabinoids found in hemp—and there's no evidence to show that CBN isolate products provide any support towards sleep any better than CBD. However, CBN may offer sleep benefits when combined with THC and other terpenes.
Full spectrum CBN contains a range of cannabinoids and terpenes, including trace amounts of THC (0.3%) that help to compound the effects of cannabinoids in a phenomenon called the entourage effect.
If you can't have THC in your CBN oil or gummies for whatever reason, broad spectrum extracts are your next best option. These extracts still contain a variety of cannabinoids and terpenes but have all traces of THC removed.
2. Hemp Source & Testings
Like with CBD products, quality CBN extracts start at the source.
CBN is found in much higher concentrations in mature cannabis plants. Hemp sourcing matters, so many sure the brand discloses its hemp information and lab testing from an accredited third-party lab to show the product's cannabinoid profile, potency, and contamination report.
3. Potency
Most research on CBN and its potential effects on supporting a healthy sleep cycle uses high doses of CBN—upwards of 50 mg.
That being said, cannabinoids affect everyone differently and you should always start on the lower end of dosing and work your way up until your body adjusts to it. You want a product with a high enough potency, but that you can still dial in slowly with oils or gummies that you can cut in half.
Conclusion: CBN Cannabinol For Sleep
CBN shows a lot of potential towards relaxation and a better night's rest, which makes sense given that CBD and CBN share a lot in common.
The biggest difference between the compounds is that CBN is a CB1 receptor agonist, offering a unique effect profile. However, there's still a lot we don't know about the effects of CBN on sleep quality because of the lack of research. Still, many people find a lot of success with CBN products like oil, gummies and CBN tablets for easing feelings of anxiety, allowing them to feel sleepy at an appropriate time.
When it comes to using hemp to support health and wellness, our philosophy lies in quality hemp plants and leveraging whole-plant synergy for the most potent and balanced effects.
You won't find isolate products on our website simply because there's not enough evidence to show that CBN, CBD, or any other compound is more effective on its own.
FAQ
What Is CBN Good For?
Since CBN is a THC metabolite, it is thought to produce mildly intoxicated effects in extremely high concentrations. Because such high amounts are required to produce a high, most people do not seek out CBN oil for its psychoactive effects. Most people seek CBN for its supposed calming and relaxing qualities, and in lesser quantities, it does not appear to generate a high in most people.
What Are The Potential Benefits Of CBN?
People are utilizing CBN oil to help them sleep better. It may have neuroprotective properties that improve mental clarity and focus, promote healthy inflammatory function, assist THC in allowing normal post-workout recovery, and enhance THC benefits.
How Much CBN Should You Take For A Quality Sleep?
Everyone will require a different dosage of CBN for sleep. While CBN has been shown to be safe for use, when introducing a new compound into your body, begin on the lower end to avoid unwanted effects. Begin with doses of 25 mg to 50 mg and plan to experiment with your doses until you achieve the desired effects of CBN.
How To Use CBN For Sleep?
Many individuals swear by CBN as a sleep aid. While further research is needed to back up these claims, taking the proper dosage of CBN oil or gummies is one option for getting the most out of your CBN oil or gummies for improving your sleep quality. To be safe, test your CBN oil on an evening when you have no obligations until early the next morning. It can take up to three weeks for your body to react to CBN and realize the benefits, so be consistent.
Resources:
- Pertwee, R. G. (2006). Cannabinoid pharmacology: the first 66 years. British journal of pharmacology, 147(S1), S163-S171.
- Bakas, T., Van Nieuwenhuijzen, P. S., Devenish, S. O., McGregor, I. S., Arnold, J. C., & Chebib, M. (2017). The direct actions of cannabidiol and 2-arachidonoyl glycerol at GABAA receptors. Pharmacological research, 119, 358-370.
- Zygmunt, P. M., Andersson, D. A., & Högestätt, E. D. (2002). Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol and cannabinol activate capsaicin-sensitive sensory nerves via a CB1 and CB2 cannabinoid receptor-independent mechanism. Journal of Neuroscience, 22(11), 4720-4727.
- Zurier, R. B., & Burstein, S. H. (2016). Cannabinoids, inflammation, and fibrosis. The FASEB Journal, 30(11), 3682-3689.
- Karniol, I. G., Shirakawa, I., Takahashi, R. N., Knobel, E., & Musty, R. E. (1975). Effects of Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol and cannabinol in man. Pharmacology, 13(6), 502-512.
