What is CBN?

With the growing popularity of minor cannabinoids, CBN (cannabinol) has started showing up in everything from sleep gummies to tinctures, but there’s still a lot of confusion around what it actually does, how it compares to CBD and THC, and whether it lives up to the hype.

To help clear things up, we sat down with one of our Science Advisors, Dr. Abe, for an in-depth look at CBN. From its origins and how it works in the body to what the research says about its potential benefits, this guide breaks down CBN in a clear, science-backed way, with insights directly from our Science Advisor, Dr. Abe.

Let’s dive in.

What is CBN?

You can think of cannabinol as aged THC that is mellowed out and stabilized. CBN is actually the first cannabinoid to be discovered, and it’s how scientists can prove psychoactive cannabis use happened in ancient times.

Cannabinol is formed slowly over time from THC as plant exposure to light, heat, and air cause tetrahydrocannabinol to lose four hydrogens (the “tetrahydro-” part) and simply become cannabinol. It retains many of the same properties, but is now less reactive.

How Does CBN Work and what effects does it have?

As a direct descendant, CBN still acts on many of the same targets as THC but with much less intensity. The lost hydrogens translate into significantly weakened psychoactive effects that are mild and more tolerable for a wider audience. Like THC, CBN binds to our body’s cannabinoid (CB) receptors but with 10 times less affinity for CB1, the same receptor that gets you high from THC.

The endocannabinoid system (ECS) is ancient and present within virtually every organ system in animals and primitive invertebrates that pre-date cannabis plants and even Homo sapiens. Some are also surprised to learn that we are all constantly making, breaking, and using endocannabinoids to regulate our well-being.

The ECS works as the body’s master auto-regulator, and can be influenced by plant-based cannabinoids. It allows nerves and other cells to give feedback to each other on how to handle stressors, anxiety, pain, inflammation, mood, sleep, digestion, and much more.

Cannabinoids like THC, CBN, and more work together on overlapping pathways and targets both within and outside the ECS. When cannabis constituents work together like this, we call it the “entourage effect.” Cumulative research demonstrates that whole-plant cannabis is greater than the sum of its parts due to its multifaceted approach.

Is it Legal?

Yes, CBN is federally legal if it is made from hemp, or low-THC cannabis. The 2018 Farm Bill, as it currently stands, allows for industrial growing, processing, and extraction of hemp and its components so long as it has less than 0.3% THC by dry weight.

Since CBN is directly derived from aged THC, you can see how low-THC hemp is far less efficient at producing CBN than high-THC cannabis (called type I cannabis) found in state-legal dispensaries. This is why CBN is easier to find there than from hemp retailers, although it’s still possible.

Due to the relative abundance of CBDA- and CBD-dominant cannabis, or type III cannabis, it is much easier and cost-effective for hemp manufacturers to focus on extracting these instead. CBD and CBDA are major cannabinoids, while CBN is considered minor or rare. For comparison, hemp carries anywhere from 6–20% CBD, meanwhile, there’s only 0.1-1.6% CBN concentrated in cannabis leaves by weight, which increases as the plant ages.

Waiting for CBN takes a much longer time to develop and accumulate if using hemp (type III) than THC-dominant cannabis (type I). There are ways to synthesize CBN, but unnatural adulteration of cannabinoids is a suboptimal approach for many health reasons, including loss of the entourage effect and quality or safety concerns in an unregulated market.

CBN vs. CBD vs. THC

THC is often treated as the rock star of cannabis, but it’s far from the whole story. In a whole-plant product, THC is naturally balanced out and enhanced by other cannabinoids and terpenes. However, dispensaries usually stock boiled-down THC isolate and distillate products like edibles, gummies, and concentrates that are more profitable but less therapeutic or tolerable than less-processed, whole-plant cannabis and hemp products.

In my literature review work and science advising at HashDash, CannaKeys 360, Veriheal, and health coaching at the GW Center for Integrative Medicine, I see how people find greater relief from whole-plant products. More often patients enjoy the symphony of whole-plant cannabis that has all the naturally-occurring cannabinoids, terpenes, and other components that enhance each other's therapeutic effects – rather than an intense THC solo. Meanwhile, CBD doesn’t have any impairing effects, and CBN is roughly 10-fold less intense than THC and is more approachable.

CBD is often what older adults try first if they’re unfamiliar or uncomfortable with THC, because of its nonintoxicating yet therapeutic nature for many common ailments. While THC works on CB1 and CB2 receptors right away, CBD doesn’t appreciably work on these and instead increases our body’s natural endocannabinoid tone by slowing certain ECS and metabolic enzymes.

CBD also works in the background on 65 other molecular targets. These include receptors like serotonin, TRP, and anti-inflammatory receptors that are important for a wide range of applications like pain, mood, sleep, and more. This expansion pack of cannabinoid-sensitive targets within and beyond the ECS are now collectively called the endocannabinoidome (eCBome).

Because the targets of CBD are slow to change and part of chronic disease, a fair trial of CBD will take a few weeks of regular consumption to see effects. I meet many people who give up early with a suboptimal dosing schedule of CBD, expecting the immediacy of THC. But regular CBD consumers will find their dosing sweet spot and stick with it to see maximal benefits in about 1–3 months from experience.

Potential Benefits of CBN

Helps with Sleep

CBN plays nicely alongside THC, CBD, and other whole-plant compounds for sleep. THC produces stronger sleep-inducing effects than CBN or CBD, but its psychoactive effects can be reduced by them. In animal studies, THC plus CBN prolongs sleeping time and is therefore thought to do the same in humans.

According to CannaKeys, there are only 5 double-blind clinical trials involving CBN and 1 relevant clinical meta-analysis to date. The first CBN placebo-controlled trial was only published in 2023, and suggests that just 20 mg of CBN is effective in improving sleep, reducing nighttime awakenings, and overall sleep disturbances in patients with “poor” or “very poor” sleep. Interestingly, CBD did not augment the effects of CBN in this study.

Nevertheless, most studies still explore differing ratios of CBN, THC, and CBD, making it hard to pin down specific benefits of CBN. The most recent 2025 data report positive results for sleep quality, efficiency, and health-related quality of life when using a 10:6:3 ratio of CBD:CBN:THC. Prior to this, a small 2022 study using a THC-dominant mixture of 20:2:1 THC:CBN:CBD improved symptoms for patients with chronic insomnia over 2 weeks.

Researchers also believe that CBD improves sleep quality alone and in combo with THC by enhancing REM sleep, while too much unopposed or recreational THC can be counterproductive for restful sleep. However, this is still a dearth of clinical sleep research and too many companies hype the “sleepy” effects of CBN without properly understanding and qualifying the evidence. The reality is that having multiple cannabinoids on board at a tolerable dose is probably best.

Reduces Pain and Inflammation

Most of the evidence for cannabinol in pain is in the preclinical stage, meaning that CBN is effective in animal models for alleviating pain and inflammation – as most cannabinoids and terpenes do. This includes specific potential for chronic pain, fibromyalgia, myofascial pain disorders, temporomandibular disorders, epidermolysis bullosa, bacterial infections, and allergic airway diseases like asthma. An old animal study from 1975 suggests CBN has up to three times the potency of aspirin. When it comes to humans, research is more restricted and not as specific.

Recently, a 2024 double-blind clinical trial involving 93 patients shows that a transdermal formulation including CBN, CBD, and THC produces significant reductions in neuropathic pain symptoms inventory scores across all measured dimensions for patients with diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN). While nonspecific to CBN, the power of medical cannabis lies in finding the right balance and employing as many therapeutic agents as possible to boost their capabilities.

Provides Stress Relief/Relaxation

Since CBN acts as a much weaker form of THC, there is potential use for stress relief and relaxation. A small 2025 clinical study notes that secondary outcomes like stress, anxiety, mood, and pain-affected sleep show positive trends but were not necessarily statistically significant.

Regardless, older clinical studies note “mild and enjoyable” experiences with CBN – even under maximum protocol doses. Recall that even recent studies suggest that the sedative properties of CBN are enhanced by THC, and so both cause relaxation. Still, most clinical data on CBN and stress is dated and limited.

Supports the Immune System

Inflammation works in tandem with virtually every chronic disease; it’s a major underlying reason medical cannabis use is so prevalent and therapeutic. CBN shares several important anti-inflammatory targets with its better-known parent, THC.

Several preclinical studies support CBN as an anti-inflammatory agent through various pathways. The inflammation in conditions like glaucoma may be targeted by THC and CBN due to their CB1 and CB2 actions, among others. Meanwhile, since CBD doesn’t work this way, it may contrarily increase eye pressure and is not appropriate for glaucoma.

Direct anti-inflammatory activity from CBN is yet to be shown in humans per se, but it likely contributes to other whole-plant components. However, sleep disturbances are linked to stronger inflammatory responses, progressing chronic disease, and more psychosomatic symptoms. So improving sleep is an additional indirect means by which CBN supports the immune system.

Stimulates Appetite

Stimulating appetite with CBN is shown in animal models, but it hasn’t yet been reported in clinical studies. Often, increased appetite is seen as an adverse effect for some, but a therapeutic desire for others. Clinical studies have not reported increased appetite as either.

Due to its overlapping functions with THC, it may similarly be used to stimulate appetite – but at higher doses, given the ~10% affinity for CB1. I use this 1:10 CBN:THC strength ratio as a general dosing guide for my patients as well, yielding a more generous and forgiving dosing latitude for sensitive individuals (e.g., a 50 mg dose of CBN may feel like 5 mg THC, although everyone is different). For some, it may be best to go with classic THC for concentrated dosing and cost-effectiveness over CBN.

May Reduce Cancer Tumor Growth

CBN is not yet studied in cancer patients, as its more famous parent THC is. Still, test tube and cell models show that CBN can reduce the cell growth of a good deal of cancer cell lines including glioma, liver, and breast cancer. It also triggers cell death and cell cycle arrest through interference with many well-known anticancer pathways like ERK1/2, AKT, CDK1, CDK2, cyclin E1, p21, and p27.

Prevents Seizures

CBN strongly reduces seizures in animal models. It’s also shown to have several neuroprotective qualities, including anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and pro-mitochondrial health features that support healthy nerves. Its ability to prevent seizures, however, remains to be clinically elucidated.

Since CBN has significantly weaker activity than THC, it may not likely be as effective as THC, THCA, or even the best anticonvulsant example – CBD. This is why further understanding these pathways and mechanisms is important.

How to Use CBN

Today, we have access to full-spectrum CBN in many approachable varieties including tinctures, edibles, topicals, and more. I always advise patients to choose full-spectrum products over any isolates, since you reap the benefits of the entourage effect. CBN isolates are also only available as a powder, further limiting its practicality and utility.

I advise choosing tinctures above other means, since that route is only second to inhalation in terms of absorption and onset. Tinctures bypass airway side effects, and don’t contain the added sugars, colorings, and other pro-inflammatory ingredients in edibles. Candy and gummies are unnecessarily and artificially flavored, and should not be a part of a regular cannabinoid regimen for optimal results.

Try to take your CBN tincture with food like dinner or a snack. This allows cannabinoids to hitch a ride on your food and deliver more medicine to your body. Keep the tincture under the tongue for at least 1–2 minutes to maximize absorption and bioavailability, too. If flavor is an issue, just store your bottle in the fridge to mute the bitter hemp taste and better preserve the ingredients naturally.

What are the risks and side effects of CBN?

So far, in clinical and animal studies, CBN is generally well-tolerated and doesn’t produce serious side effects.-,Safety,only%20incidence%20of%20somnolence%20appeared%20to%20be%20more%20common%20in%20treatment,-groups%20relative%20to). It has weakly intoxicating effects, much less than THC, that are reported as “mild and enjoyable” in studies. So far, there is no clinical evidence of dependence, tolerance, or withdrawal risk as with THC or other intoxicants – but long-term studies on safety are still needed.

CBN can still cause mild, temporary, and self-limited side effects. These are reported in clinical studies to include sleepiness (also a benefit), headache, trouble sleeping, or altered taste. Topicals may cause hives in sensitive persons, and depending on product formulation.

We also know that cannabinoids in general may slow or speed up certain metabolic enzymes that overlap with prescription medications and cause drug-drug interactions. There are few medications where patients should be cautious. Regardless, everyone should discuss these concerns with a cannabis-knowledgeable doctor prior to taking cannabinoids for any reason.

These interactions may include antidepressants, blood thinners, biologics, immunosuppressants, and anticonvulsant medications. However, most interactions are not clinically significant or serious, and offending medication dosages can simply be adjusted.

What to look for when purchasing a high-quality product

Today’s market is unfortunately still unregulated, and so not all cannabis products are of comparable quality, nor accurately labeled. At CBD Oracle, I contributed to a panel of industry experts including FDA advisors to develop a comprehensive framework that clinicians and patients can use to evaluate cannabinoid products.

There are many key indicators of quality. The main ones patients should seek are choosing full-spectrum, US-grown, and most importantly, third-party tested products. These can be checked for on the label and by looking for a QR code that directs you to that batch of lab results. It’s important to verify this lab report, called the certificate of analysis, to see if the product is accurately labeled and free of contaminants.