Is CBN right for you?

At the intersection of THC and CBD – CBD helps with sleep and pain. Could it be right for you?

Marijuana has proven useful in the medical world, and the American Medical Association, Health and Human Services, the American College of Physicians, and the Food and Drug Administration all support expanding its reach and further research. It has been shown to be particularly helpful for chronic pain, nausea, and sleep disorders. The cannabis plant offers a variety of cannabinols, including CBD, marijuana, and CBN. But the medical question is, is CBN right for you? It lies at the intersection of CBD and THC and can be helpful for health issues.

RELATED TOPICS: Science says medical marijuana improves quality of life

Like CBD and THC, CBN is one of the 100+ molecules in the cannabis plant. When THC is heated and exposed to CO2 (oxygen), it converts into CBN. The compound is said to have mild psychoactive effects, slightly stronger than CBD but much less than THC. In particular, it is said to have a sedative effect on most users and has promising sleep-inducing applications, similar to melatonin (among other potential uses).

Photo by Bacsica/Getty Images

Marketing CBN as a dietary supplement may be viable provided no unapproved health claims are made, and could be legal nationwide as long as the THC concentration is 0.3% or less. Unlike CBN, and like THC, CBN is legal in some states, but not at the federal level. FDA likes to point out that the 2018 Farm Bill specifically retained FDA's authority to regulate products containing cannabis or cannabis-derived compounds under the Food Drug & Cosmetic Act (“FDCA”) and Section 351 of the Public Health Service Act. However, marketing CBN as a dietary supplement may still be viable provided no unapproved health claims are made.

RELATED TOPICS: What is CBG and is it legal?

Unlike CBD, CBN is not approved as a drug, and the FDA itself has acknowledged that “parts of the cannabis plant that do not contain THC or CBD may not fall within the scope of the [drug exclusion rule].” As with CBG, it is likely that the drug exclusion rule would not apply to CBN if it is eventually approved as a drug: This is because the rule includes an exception for substances marketed as foods or dietary supplements prior to clinical evaluation by the FDA. CBN products are already marketed as foods and dietary supplements.

Photo by Adrianna Calvo via Pexels

But the question still remains: is CBN right for you? In terms of sleep, it may be a little more powerful than CBD alone. Although melatonin is known to be a good over-the-counter sleep aid, it doesn't work for everyone.

One clinical trial examined the sleep improvements of 15 mg of CBD with or without 15 mg of CBN compared to 5 mg of melatonin. In the study, all groups reported improved sleep quality and there were no significant differences between products. Because this study did not only examine CBN, it is not a direct comparison. However, it does seem to indicate that products with an equal amount of CBD and CBN are similarly effective for sleep as melatonin. And adding a CBD/CBN product to melatonin did not provide any additional benefit.

RELATED TOPICS: Science says medical marijuana improves quality of life

The use of CBN relieved muscle and joint pain with inflammation. Limited studies show that pain relief was better when CBD and CBN were used together.

So if you need additional over-the-counter help, CBN may be helpful.