Cannabinol (CBN) is best known as a byproduct of THC aging.
Unlike most cannabinoids, cannabinol isn’t synthesized by cannabis plants while they grow. Instead, it’s the result of the degradation of THC over time with exposure to heat, air, and sunlight.
Most cannabis flower will have CBN content under 1%, but processors can oxidize THC sourced from any strain by curing it to create CBN.
What does CBN do?
In the body, CBN behaves somewhat similarly to THC, binding to the CB1 and CB2 receptors, though with significantly reduced potency.
CB1 receptors are found in the brain and central nervous system, and regulate important neurotransmitters including dopamine and serotonin. Stimulation in these areas results in the uniquely recognizable psychoactive effects of cannabis.
CBN, however, preferentially binds to CB2 receptors, which are located throughout the body in immune cells and peripheral organs. Heightened activity at the CB2 receptors over CB1 make CBN non-psychoactive, compared to THC which interacts most significantly at CB1.
CBN is still a relatively new area of research, even as one of the earliest observed cannabinoids in the late 1800s.
Cannabinoids are understood to produce additional entourage effects when metabolized together, and along with terpenes, so research into their individual effects is a necessary starting point in understanding each phytochemical’s important role.
How we use CBN
We blend hemp-derived CBN and CBD in a 1:2 ratio in our CBZ line, in formulations containing little to no THC. Our broad-spectrum approach includes infusing terpenes popular in aromatherapy.
The early history of cannabinoid research | Rendiconti Lincei. Scienze Fisiche e Naturali (springer.com)