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CBN is one of the three main components of cannabinoids, and is expected to have sedative and anti-inflammatory effects. However, since it is an ingredient extracted from the cannabis plant, some people may be concerned about its illegality. In this article, we will explain in detail the effects of CBN, how it differs from CBD, and its illegality.
What is CBN?
CBN is an abbreviation for Cannabinol, and is one of the more than 100 cannabinoids (natural active ingredients) contained in the cannabis plant. It is counted as one of the three main ingredients, along with THC (tetrahydrocannabinol), the ingredient that causes a high, and CBD (cannabidiol), which promotes various health effects such as relaxation.
Is CBN safe?
CBN is a by-product of THC that is broken down when it is exposed to oxygen, light, and temperature. THC itself is highly addictive and causes a high, so it is illegal in Japan, but CBN is broken down by these factors, so it does not get you high and is not addictive.
Since it is not registered as an illegal drug in Japan, it can be taken safely and with peace of mind.
What is the difference between CBG and CBD?
CBG, CBD, and CBN are all cannabinoids, but the process by which they are produced is different. All cannabinoids are derived from CBG-A, which is heated and decomposed in different ways to produce CBG, CBD, and THC.
There is also a big difference in the amount of ingredients that can be extracted from the cannabis plant. CBD and THC are called major cannabinoids and are extracted in amounts of 2-20% of the total, but CBG and CBN are called rare cannabinoids because they are extracted in less than 1% of the total. Therefore, CBG and CBN are more expensive than CBD products.
Is CBN Legal or Illegal?
There are several cannabinoids that are illegal in Japan, including THC, but other ingredients such as CBN, CBG, and CBD are legal. However, while CBN is not addictive, it has a structure very similar to THC, and some people who are sensitive to it say that it gives them a slight high (about one-tenth of that of THC).
Therefore, considering that THC is illegal, it cannot be denied that CBN may be subject to legal restrictions in the future. However, since it is currently completely legal, if you are interested, please try the following products as soon as possible.
CBN’s expected benefits
The expected effects of CBN include sedative and anti-inflammatory effects, appetite stimulation, etc. It can also be used as a medicine for glaucoma and has an entourage effect. Next, we will introduce these effects of CBN in detail.
As mentioned above, the amount of CBN extracted from the cannabis plant is very small, so there are few research papers on it, and further research and clinical trials are needed. Therefore, the effects introduced below should be considered as a reference only.
Sedative and hypnotic effects
CBN alone is not considered to have sedative properties, but in combination with CBD, it can have sedative and hypnotic effects. In one rat study, a mixture of CBD and CBN was administered to relieve pain from temporomandibular joint disorder and fibromyalgia (a condition in which pain is felt all over the body for more than three months) more than either drug administered alone.
In addition, there are already several products on the market that combine CBD and CBN, and 70% of the demand for products with a high CBD content is for sleep. However, the sedative and hypnotic effects have not been scientifically proven, and it is possible that the anti-anxiety effects may improve sleep secondarily by eliminating the anxiety that causes insomnia.
Anti-inflammatory properties
CBN has strong antibacterial properties against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, a bacterium found on human skin that can cause acne and serious illnesses such as sepsis and pneumonia if it invades a wound.
This bacteria was treated with the antibiotic methicillin, but since bacteria resistant to methicillin were discovered, research is currently underway to develop antibiotics that can treat this bacteria. Because CBN has strong antibacterial properties against this bacteria, it is expected to have cosmetic effects against acne and skin inflammation.
Increased appetite
A 2021 study on rats in the UK found that rats administered CBN had a significantly increased appetite. Since no clinical trials have been conducted, its effects on humans have not been proven, but it has long been said that consuming cannabis increases appetite and makes food taste better.
Although THC is well-known to increase appetite, it also causes addictiveness and a high. CBN is an alternative that does not cause these side effects and can be expected to increase appetite safely.
Also used in glaucoma medication
CBN is expected to have the effect of lowering intraocular pressure, and a publicly listed American company is conducting research into it as a drug for glaucoma, a disease in which high intraocular pressure causes damage to the eye's nerves.
In tests conducted prior to clinical trials to confirm safety and efficacy, CBN has been shown to be more effective at protecting the retinal nervous system than CBD or THC, making it an ingredient that is currently attracting attention.
Hopes for an entourage effect
The entourage effect is when two or more of the cannabinoids and terpenes found in the cannabis plant are consumed together rather than individually, resulting in a synergistic effect that maximizes health benefits.
The sedative and hypnotic effects of the mixture of CBN and CBD mentioned above can also be considered an example of the entourage effect. CBN also works particularly well with terpenes, and some research has shown it to be effective against toxic cells, so further research and product development is needed.
Skew also sells several products that combine CBN and CBD, so if you're interested, be sure to check them out.
What are Terpenes?
Terpenes are compounds found in cannabis plants that give them a unique aroma. They are mainly found in the flowers of male hemp plants, and there are over 100 types. Since cannabinoids do not have a scent, the unique scent of cannabis is determined by the amount of terpenes. Terpenes alone also have the same stress-relieving effect as cannabinoids.
Side effects of CBN
A US pharmaceutical company conducted a test in which CBN was administered at a 1,000-fold increased blood concentration to confirm safety and efficacy prior to clinical trials. The results showed that no problems were found with central nervous system function, even when various evaluations were performed (checking 108 aspects, including behavioral posture and walking).
However, while CBD is already available as a prescription drug and its side effects are clearly stated (although there have been very few actual cases of side effects), there is almost no evidence of such effects for CBN, so further clinical trials and research will be needed in the future.
summary
This time, we have introduced in detail what kind of ingredient CBN is, how it differs from CBD and CBG, its safety, illegality, effects, side effects, etc. CBN is highly rare, so research on it has not progressed as much as CBD. However, there are high expectations for it as a substitute for the highly addictive THC, and further research will likely be conducted in the future.
Various products, including mixtures of CBD and CBN, are already on the market, and it looks set to become an ingredient that will attract more and more attention in the future.