What is Cannabinol? CBN Oil Benefits and Uses

 Written By: Emily Spring

As the legalization of medical marijuana spreads like wildfire from state-to-state, public opinion on the medicinal properties of the plant grows more favorable. A large factor in this push has been the proven homeopathic and therapeutic properties of Cannabidiol (CBD)-one of the primary, non-psychotropic compounds found in the cannabis plant. And now, another one of the lesser-known compounds within the plant cannabinol (CBN) is making its way into the limelight.

But what is cannabinol exactly, and does it have medicinal benefits?

What is CBN Oil | Benefits and Uses

While CBN may be new to you, it's not to researchers. It was amongst the very first cannabinoids ever discovered and isolated in 1899 by TB Wood. At the time, Wood believed this rare cannabinoid to be the main active cannabinoid compound that caused the psychoactive effect we've now come to associate with marijuana, including:

• Changes in perception
• Distorted sense of time and space
• Increase breathing
• Higher heart rate
• Memory impairment
• Issues with concentration
• Euphoria
• Relaxation - can mimic the purpose of a sedative to help reduce the side effects of anxiety or post-traumatic stress disorder
• Appetite stimulant
• Reduced psychomotor coordination

It would take researchers several decades before they discovered tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and were disabused of this notion. That said, thanks to recent studies (which we'll touch upon later) we now know that cannabinol is a cannabinoid yielded from the THC degradation, and it does not have the same psychoactive effect as other medical marijuana by-products.

Let's break that down.

How CBN Forms

Simply put, there is very little CBN in any given cannabis plant. Most estimates range from .5% - 1%, whereas CBD accounts for up to 25% of any given cannabis plant, with higher concentrations in hemp and lower concentrations in marijuana. Hemp is found to have less than 0.3% THC content, whereas marijuana has more than 0.3% THC. When a cannabis plant is exposed to oxygen or heat-particularly as it matures-its THC content breaks down into CBN. According to Analytical Cannabis, this is why its medicinal benefits have only recently come to light:

After all, most researchers believed CBN to be a waste by-product, unworthy of further examination. That all changed after a study by Steep Hill labs, which showed that CBN could deliver the most sedative effect of all cannabinoid substances. The discovery led to a renewed interest in the therapeutic effects of CBN and its role in regulating the endocannabinoid system. The process of creating it comes with time and the natural breakdown of raw cannabinolic acid. If left for several weeks, the cannabis will begin to produce CBN naturally.

CBN vs CBD

Due to its relatively recent rediscovery, there is not nearly as much research on CBN as there is for CBD and THC, so it becomes difficult to make conclusive substantiations as to its medicinal efficacy and therapeutic CBN benefits. However, initial studies are promising and its emergence ensures that more studies on its homeopathic properties will continue to be conducted in the near future.

What we do know now is that the degradation of THC into CBN shares similar properties to cannabidiol(CBD) and is most effective when working synergistically. This is convenient since CBN can be found in a CBD product.

Knowing this, potential benefits of CBN include:

• Sleep Inducing - Steep Hill researchers conducted a study that claimed that concentrated doses of CBN was more effective in inducing sleep than Valium or any other cannabinoid. As a result, many patients have begun to use CBN oil for sleep and reported that they fell asleep easier and experienced a deeper slumber.
• Glaucoma - The same Steep Hill study found that CBN reduces intraocular pressure in the eye. It could then be used to treat glaucoma without experiencing the psychoactive properties that you'd otherwise encounter with THC-laden remedies.
• Anti-Inflammatories - A 2010 study confirmed that: "Cannabinoids suppress inflammatory response and subsequently attenuate disease symptoms. This property of cannabinoids is mediated through multiple pathways such as induction of apoptosis in activated immune cells, suppression of cytokines and chemokines at inflammatory sites and upregulation of FoxP3+ regulatory T cells." Essentially, cannabinoids were shown to have anti inflammatory effects within the body.
• Pain Relief - Several studies have pointed to the fact that CBN has potent pain-relieving properties for chronic pain and other conditions. A 2002 study states: "The present study shows that THC and cannabinol cause release of sensory neuropeptides and vasorelaxation. Although they act on a molecular target distinct from VR1, these drugs have an effect on primary sensory nerves and receptors, similar to those of capsaicin and other vanilloid receptor agonists."
• Antibiotic Properties – Animal and human experiments have demonstrated antibiotic properties, including activity against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA).

What CBD Oil Has CBN?

CBD oils will typically come in one of two forms:

• Full spectrum
• Broad spectrum

Both contain CBN isolate but have one main difference-THC. Research shows that full spectrum CBD has all of the cannabinoids and terpenes that are typically extracted from the cannabis plant. As Ministry of Hemp writes:

Full spectrum CBD oil is a popular choice due to what's called the "entourage effect ." Essentially, the potential benefits of each cannabinoid are enhanced when taken together. This may include (CBD) Cannabinoid compound or, THC, CBC, CBN compounds and many others.

That said, the tetrahydrocannabinol within full spectrum hemp is only in trace amounts and the psychoactive effects are negligible. Federal law states that to be considered CBD oil it must come from the Hemp plant, which can't legally contain more than 0.3% THC. On the other hand, broad spectrum CBD oil seeks to remove any trace amounts of THC but maintains all the other cannabinoids. This is ideal for people-particularly those in the government or in sports-who want to experience the benefits of CBD oil but don't want any trace of THC in their system.

Fast-acting, full spectrum cannabis extract formulated with CBD, CBN and a synergistic botanical terpene complex to induce relaxation and tranquility for restorative rest and rejuvenated, balanced days.

Plant People's High-Performance CBD

Plant People is on a mission to help connect and heal people through the power of homeopathic remedies. Our fast-acting, organically-grown, full spectrum hemp extracts contain everything you need to help balance a busy life. From CBD skincare to CBD tinctures , our products are created to help you live a better life through the power of plants. They contain CBD, CBN, CBG and more.

Written by Emily Spring 

Emily Spring is the Director of Marketing at Plant People. A longtime proponent of balanced living, she has enjoyed over 8 years driving growth in the lifestyle, health and wellness sectors with deep experience in functional solutions for optimizing anyone's everyday life.

Reviewed by Minchul An

Minchul An is a Clinical Cannabis Pharmacist and MTM Specialist.

Sources:

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2. Medical News Today. What is Marijuana? https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/246392.php#what-is-marijuana
3. Mouratidis, G. Analytical Cannabis. Beyond CBD: Exploring the Health Benefits of CBN in Cannabis. (2019). https://www.analyticalcannabis.com/articles/beyond-cbd-exploring-the-health-benefits-of-cbn-311488
4. Steep Hill. Cannabinol (CBN): A Sleeping Synergy. (2017). https://www.steephill.com/blogs/34/Cannabinol-(CBD):-A-Sleeping-Synergy
5. Nargarkatti, P. NCBI. Cannabinoids as Novel Anti-Inflammatory Drugs. (2009). https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2828614/
6. Zygmunt, P. Journal of Neuroscience. Tetrahydrocannabinol and Cannabinol Activate Capsaicin-Sensitive Sensory Nerves via a CB1 and CB2 Cannabinoid Receptor-Independent Mechanism. (2002). https://www.jneurosci.org/content/22/11/4720.full
7. Ministry of Hemp. CBD vs CBN: Differences, Benefits, And Uses For Two Potent Cannabinoids. (2019). https://ministryofhemp.com/blog/cbd-vs-cbn/
8. PBS. Is CBD Legal? (2019). https://www.pbs.org/newshour/science/is-cbd-legal-heres-what-you-need-to-know-according-to-science
9. Appendino G, Gibbons S, Giana A, et al. Antibacterial cannabinoids from Cannabis sativa: a structure-activity study. J Nat Prod. 2008;71(8):1427-1430. doi:10.1021/np8002673