What Is CBN Oil?

The hemp plant is filled with cannabinoids, the naturally occurring compounds found in the leaves, flowers, and stalks of hemp.

The most well-known and better-researched cannabinoids are CBD and THC. However, there is a wealth of other ones, whose potential is only now being examined. The research community has identified over a hundred cannabinoids (tellingly, we are still unsure as to the exact number of cannabinoids present in the hemp plant).

A cannabinoid that is now being analyzed is CBN or cannabinol. CBN is found in the hemp plant and is derived from THC. However, it is only mildly psychoactive compared to THC and has shown promising results in preliminary medical studies.

The medical community is studying novel cannabinoids to determine their potential healing qualities for various conditions. Part of this investigation is looking into CBN and how beneficial it may be.

What Is CBN?

All Cannabinoids Are Produced From CBGA

CBN is short for cannabinol. It is produced from cannabigerolic acid (CBGA), which is the first cannabinoid produced in the hemp plant: all the other cannabinoids develop with time and photosynthesis.

THC Is the Precursor of CBN

CBGA gives birth to numerous cannabinoids, such as THC and CBD. If the hemp plant is left uncut and its buds are left to ripen overtime, then the THC present in the buds oxidizes and turns into CBN.

This means that freshly harvested hemp or raw hemp contains very little CBN. In order to obtain CBN, THC needs to degrade through time and aging. In that sense, CBN is aged THC.

CBN Was Initially Mistaken for THC

Given the close relationship between the two compounds, it is perhaps unsurprising that the medical community initially mistook CBN for THC. It took years of studying hemp and analyzing cannabis to understand THC and how it degrades into CBN.

What Are the Potential Benefits of CBN?

Researchers are still looking into the potential benefits of CBN. Preliminary studies on rats have shown some promising results.

CBN for Sleep

CBN was initially studied for its sleep benefits, particularly after a 1975 study that showed its effectiveness as a sleep aid.

Like most studies on hemp, this one suffered from a limited number of participants. With only five people administered CBN and THC at the same time, the potential benefit of CBN as a sleep aid is still being investigated.

CBN for Pain Relief and Inflammation

People suffering from chronic pain, arthritis, and inflammation are constantly looking for a pain relief treatment that is effective and has few side-effects. The medical community, always on the lookout for new analgesics, is currently examining CBN in that perspective.

A 2019 study showed that CBN provided analgesic relief in rats. The results were more powerful when CBN was given in conjunction with CBD.

Another 2009 study researching cannabinoids highlighted CBN for its anti-inflammatory potential, which may explain its analgesic properties in the case of inflammation-related conditions.

CBN for Appetite Stimulation

Although most have a healthy appetite, people undergoing chemotherapy or HIV treatment often suffer from depressed appetite. Stimulating their appetite is imperative to give them energy and all the necessary nutrients for the healthy functioning of their body.

CBN has been shown to stimulate appetite on rats in a 2012 study. The mice displayed increases in both meal size and duration.

CBN for Neuro-Protection

As people age, they are more prone to experience neuro-degenerative diseases such as Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s, or ALS (Lou Gehrig’s disorder).

A 2005 study on mice showed that CBN could delay the onset of ALS symptoms. Further investigation could prove fruitful in this area.

CBN as an Antibiotic

The more we use antibiotics, the more resistant bacteria become to them. Pharmaceutical labs are constantly trying to come up with more effective antibiotics, especially if they can target antibiotics-resistant bacteria. As part of this ongoing quest, some research laboratories have looked into CBN.

A 2008 study showed that CBN was effective in killing several drug-resistant bacteria such as MRSA. Interestingly, the study noted the positive effect while highlighting how this “high potency definitely suggests a specific, but yet elusive, mechanism of activity.”

CBN for Glaucoma

InMed Pharmaceuticals Inc. is developing a CBN-based drug as a potential treatment for glaucoma, after some positive clinical trials. CBN displayed neuro-protecting features on neurons behind the eye, thus opening a potential way for glaucoma treatment.

This is supported by a 2004 study that concluded that cannabinoids “seem to have neuroprotective properties and effectively reduce intraocular pressure.”

Is CBN Legal?

The industrial hemp plant has been developed specifically for its low content of THC, which by law needs to be under 0.3%. This means that the leaves and flowers of the hemp plant contain very little THC. Hence, obtaining CBN from hemp requires immense amounts of flowers and buds.

Obtaining CBN from Industrial Hemp

Only industrial hemp is legal across all 50 states. Marijuana consumption is illegal at the federal level and has only been legalized at the state level by a handful of states such as California, Oregon, Washington, Colorado, Illinois, Maine, Vermont, and Massachusetts.

It is far easier to derive CBN from marijuana rather than hemp, but you should always check with your state whether marijuana consumption is legal. CBN produced from marijuana is considered a byproduct of marijuana and could fall under the Schedule 1 drug category.

Users in states where marijuana is illegal should be careful when buying CBN to ensure it is derived from hemp and not marijuana.

Side-effects from CBN Consumption

The most common side-effects of consuming large quantities of CBN include tiredness, drowsiness, dizziness, and loss of appetite. Most side-effects disappear when diminishing the quantities of CBN consumed.

People are always advised to consult with their doctor before experimenting with CBD or CBN and to check their state laws regarding the legality of CBN.

More Potential Benefits of CBN

As we learn more about the hemp plant and its multitude of cannabinoids, an increasing amount of research is conducted to better understand them. The aim is to obtain possible cannabinoid-based treatments for various diseases and conditions.

Initial research has shown promising results for CBN. While more concrete evidence is required to derive definitive answers as to its effectiveness in helping with specific health problems, the preliminary conclusions are hopeful.

Purchasing CBN Products Online

FluxxLab takes pride in offering the highest quality CBN products in the United States. These products include CBN vapes, CBN pills, and CBN oil. If you’re interested in trying out CBN, click any of those links to read more about these products and order them online across the country.