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PL Cannabinoid index · Mildly intoxicating
CBN (cannabinol) is a mild cannabinoid that forms when THC ages and oxidizes, not from a fresh acid precursor. It is only weakly psychoactive, roughly a tenth the potency of THC, and builds up in older, air-exposed cannabis. It is widely marketed as a sleep aid, but the human evidence for that is limited.
Formation & infusion
Overheating during decarb is one way THC drifts toward CBN, which is why gentle heat matters. See the tableau des températures de décarboxylation et THC.
Reviewed 2026-09-04. Not legal or medical advice.
What the published literature examined
CBN’s chemistry as an oxidation product of THC is well described, and it is used as a marker of cannabis age and degradation. Its most-discussed property, sedation, comes largely from older studies where CBN was given alongside THC, plus a great deal of marketing. Controlled human trials of CBN on its own are few, and results are mixed.
What is established, and what is not
Established: that CBN forms from THC as cannabis ages, is only mildly psychoactive, and serves as a degradation marker. Not established: that CBN alone is a reliable sleep aid; the evidence is limited and often confounded by THC. Products sold on the sleep claim run ahead of the data. This page describes the compound and summarises research; it is not medical advice.
Sources
- Russo EB. Taming THC: potential cannabis synergy and phytocannabinoid-terpenoid entourage effects. Br J Pharmacol. 2011;163:1344-1364. PubMed
- Reviews of cannabinol pharmacology and cannabis degradation. PubMed
- Registered human studies for cannabinol. ClinicalTrials.gov
- World Anti-Doping Agency. Prohibited List (cannabinoids, CBD excepted). wada-ama.org
Frequently asked questions
What is CBN?
CBN, or cannabinol, is a mild cannabinoid that forms when THC ages and oxidizes. It is only weakly psychoactive and is found mostly in older, air-exposed cannabis.
Will CBN get you high?
Barely. CBN is roughly a tenth as psychoactive as THC, so on its own it produces only a very faint effect at normal doses.
Does CBN really help you sleep?
The evidence is limited. Much of CBN’s sleepy reputation comes from studies where it was paired with THC; controlled trials on CBN alone are few and mixed.
Part of the cannabinoid index. See also the precursor cannabinoid, CBG.
Educational information about a compound. Not medical advice or guidance on use.
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