Cannabinol
CBN
A mild degradation product of THC, heavily marketed as a sleep aid on evidence that does not support the claim.
Evidence status
The sleep claim is not supported by adequate human trials. NASEM found moderate evidence for cannabinoids and short-term sleep outcomes, but that finding was primarily driven by nabiximols (a THC:CBD product), not by CBN.
CBN forms as THC oxidises over time. Old, poorly stored cannabis contains more of it. That is the entire origin of the "CBN makes you sleepy" idea — old cannabis has a reputation for being sedating, and CBN is what old cannabis has more of.
The problem with that reasoning is that degraded cannabis also has less THC and a changed terpene profile, so attributing the sedation to CBN specifically is an inference, not a measurement. Controlled human evidence that isolated CBN improves sleep is weak.
CBN is mildly intoxicating at high doses but is generally treated as non-intoxicating at the amounts present in commercial products.
Commonly used for
- • Marketed for sleep — evidence does not support this
Cautions
- • Widely oversold. Buying a product for its CBN content is not well justified.