CBN: What Is It? Advantages, Dangers

In recent years, cannabidiol (CBD) has gained attention because to its potential medicinal benefits, whereas delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is well-known for its intoxicating qualities. Although there are more than 100 cannabinoids in cannabis plants, these two are not the only ones that may have health advantages. Cannabinol, or CBN, is also becoming more and more prevalent.

Read More: CBN

Though less researched and used than THC and CBD, CBN has potential in treating some conditions. Find out more about the possible advantages and disadvantages of this less common cannabis.

CBN: What Is It?

The cannabis sativa plant contains the cannabinoid cannabinol (CBN). It is also capable of being synthesized.

When THC is exposed to heat, air, or light, it breaks down and generates CBN. “This is the reason why aged, dry cannabis has higher levels of CBN,” explains Eric Adams, president, CEO, and director of InMed Pharmaceuticals, a company that develops and produces uncommon cannabinoids. Nevertheless, CBN is not known to produce the euphoric, intoxicated effects linked to THC.

How Do CBD and CBN Differ From One Another?

Among the most well-known cannabinoids present in cannabis sativa plants is cannabidiol, or CBD. CBD is not directly produced from THC; instead, it exists independently inside the plants, much like CBN.

Compared to CBN, CBD has been examined more in clinical settings and is more widely used in general retail items. Numerous medicinal effects of CBD have been found via research; CBN isn’t quite up to par with that list yet.

CBD has several advantages, not all of which are listed below:

reducing anxiety and depressive feelings

reducing pain brought on by diseases including cancer, multiple sclerosis, and nerve injury

lowering arthritis symptoms

addressing the two uncommon types of epilepsy, Dravet syndrome and Lennox-Gastaut syndrome

treating opioid addiction in addition to other therapies

In the body’s endocannabinoid system, which aids in the functioning of the central nervous system and the body’s response to both internal and external stimuli, both CBN and CBD have a tendency to connect with CB2 receptors. The majority of CB2 receptors’ functions involve immune system control.

Possible Advantages of CBN

Although there is a dearth of research on CBN, particularly in terms of human clinical trials, several preclinical investigations indicate CBN may have several potential uses as a medication.

Handling Bullosa Epidermolysis

CBN cream is now being tested by researchers as a potential therapy for epidermolysis bullosa, a rare group of illnesses that cause blistering of the skin. InMed Pharmaceuticals discovered that its CBN cream “was well-tolerated on both normal, intact skin as well as on open wounds and caused no delay in wound healing.” The clinical trial is currently in its second phase.

According to Eric Hsu, senior vice president of pre-clinical research and development at InMed Pharmaceuticals, CBN may have anti-inflammatory properties that might be “beneficial in healing chronic wounds where healing has been prevented by prolonged inflammation.”

Minimizing the Signs and Effects of Glaucoma

InMed Pharmaceuticals’ study suggests that CBN could be helpful in treating eye diseases including glaucoma, which destroys the optic nerve at the rear of the eye and results in blindness and visual loss. Glaucoma is known to be slowed down by reducing eye pressure, which is linked to the condition.

According to an in vitro study by InMed Pharmaceuticals, when certain retinal cells were treated with a topical CBN compound, they exhibited a significant degree of cell survival under conditions of higher pressure. In these experiments, CBN fared better than THC and CBD. Additionally, CBN has the capacity to demonstrate neuroprotective properties, which guard the cells and structures of the nervous system by minimizing or stopping normal cell death.

Relieving Prolonged Muscle Soreness

In a 2019 rat research, it was discovered that CBN, CBD, and a combination of the two cannabinoids reduced muscular sensitivity. Although clinical trials have not yet been conducted to verify this notion, the researchers hypothesize that CBN may be able to relieve pain for chronic muscular pain disorders, such as temporomandibular disorders (pain in the jaw muscles, joints, and nerves) and fibromyalgia (a syndrome that causes pain throughout the body).

Possible Hazards and Adverse Reactions of CBN

It’s challenging to pinpoint the precise effects of CBN on the human body in the absence of numerous clinical investigations. Having said that, two potential side effects of CBN include tiredness and sedation as well as a positive drug test result.

Tiredness and Dizziness

According to Laura Fuentes, chief scientific and innovation officer of Green Roads, a firm that makes CBD products and a registered compounding pharmacist, drowsiness is a possible adverse effect of CBN, particularly when taken with CBD.

She said, “We do not advise people to take CBN products during the day for this reason.” “We will have more information about drug interactions and side effects as more research is conducted.”

Having stated that, customers frequently use CBN products to help them relax and fall asleep, and in these situations, the user may view these effects as possible advantages.

Positive Drug Test Outcome

Chief scientific officer of the nutritional supplement business Theralogix, Mark Ratner, M.D., states that there is evidence that using CBN might unintentionally result in failing drug tests.

In two separate drug tests, at least one research reported that CBN produced positive results. In one test, CBN even showed a “additive effect” with THC, which basically increased the amount of THC that was present[4]. Therefore, the presence of CBN might distort your levels higher, leading to a positive drug test, even if you had very undetectable amounts of THC in your blood, depending on how sensitive the drug test was.

Where to Purchase CBN Goods

If you choose to give a CBN product a try, you may probably locate a few selections from well-known CBD manufacturers. When purchasing cannabis products, confirm that the supplier:

each and every one of its items has a certificate of analysis (COA). This paper should list all of the specific amounts of different cannabinoids that are present in the product, along with any mold, heavy metals, or pesticides that may be present.

makes use of outside testing. For impartial testing, a business should submit its goods to a third-party laboratory in order to avoid conflicts of interest, prejudices, and inaccurate labels. For further information, check out the third-party labs themselves.

How to Utilize CBN

Before beginning to use CBN, see a doctor, especially since there haven’t been many clinical trials done.

Similar to CBD, CBN is available in a variety of forms; the most popular ones include oils, tinctures, candies, and capsules. Additionally, it’s more common to come across CBD products that include CBN as opposed to ones made entirely with CBN.