CBN: The Greatest Minor Cannabinoid
Cannabinoids are the chemical compounds in marijuana that interact with our central nervous systems, and there are at least one hundred of them. Most people have heard of THC (?9-Tetrahydrocannabinol) and CBD (Cannibidiol), which are both the most popular and most abundant in the cannabis plant. Today we’re taking a deep dive into a lesser known cannabinoid: CBN, also known as Cannabinol.
Over time, as weed is exposed to air and heat, oxidation of the THC can create CBN. CBN has tons of benefits, is mildly psychoactive, and produces a sedative effect when combined with THC. CBN is linked with reduction in pain, and is even more effective at pain management when used in conjunction with THC. It is also useful for helping with symptoms of insomnia, nausea, lack of appetite, chronic pain, and even seizures.
While Cannabinol was the first cannabinoid to be isolated from hash in the late 1800s, its structure was not fully understood until 1940. Although it was discovered early, CBN has been studied significantly less than THC and CBD, largely because it is classified as a minor cannabinoid. Minor cannabinoids are secondary in abundance to the Big Four: THC, CBD, CBG, and CBC. Among the minors, CBN has been called “the greatest minor cannabinoid,”
What we do know from the little research done on Cannabinol, is that it has many benefits and medicinal properties, all of which can be increased or enhanced by CBD and/or THC. This is an example of The Entourage Effect, which is the idea that weed is greater than the sum of its parts and that all of its components work together to create a unique and full experience. Cannabinoids typically increase in effectiveness when combined with other cannabinoids and terpenes.
CBN has exceptional stability and a direct chemical relationship to THC. Research shows that it remains remarkably stable and maintains its structural integrity under heat and light over long periods of time, which suggests that CBN may actually extend the shelf life of weed. In fact, it lasts so long that seeds discovered in a tomb in China dating back to 750 BC were found to contain high levels of CBN. One study from 2005 found that CBN could help to delay the onset of ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis). It is a great sleep aid, and can be safely taken along with other sleep aids such as melatonin – although you may not need it with CBN! Experts are hopeful that CBN’s distinct properties and advantages have the potential to help manage sleep issues, chronic pain, lack of appetite, immunity, inflammation, glaucoma, tumor growth, and ADHD.
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