February 22, 2021 6 min read

Does CBN help with sleep?

And if so, what’s the CBN dosage for sleep management?

CBN hosts a wide range of potential offerings, ranging from pain-management to anti-inflammatory effects and, most notably, sleep management. But its most popular benefit is also the most controversial, sending consumers in search of answers.

Simply put — Yes! People all over may be getting better sleep thanks to CBN, but the dosage and routine differ for everyone.

Curious about how to use CBN for sleep? Here’s everything you need to know:

Table of Contents
How Does CBN Help With Sleep?
Is CBN Stronger Than CBD?
How Much CBN for Sleep?
CBN for Sleep Side Effects?
Where to Find CBN for Sleep?
Resources

Key Takeaways

  • CBN is a non-psychotropic cannabinoid, much like CBD, that has been praised for its potential sleep-enhancing.
  • Limited research suggests that CBN may help induce and prolong sleep, but more research is needed to fully understand these interactions.
  • CBN may be most effective for sleep as part of the entourage effect alongside CBD. Many products on the market combine CBD and CBN in appropriate quantities for nighttime use.
  • CBN is not known to have any severe side effects or toxicity, but we need more research to understand all of CBN’s reactions.

How Does CBN Help With Sleep?

Before you can understand how CBN helps with sleep, you need to understand how CBN interacts with the body in general. Most of its interactions are similar to the way that CBD works.

It’s pretty complex, but we’ll break it down:

A person covering their head with a pillow while struggling to sleepCBN interacts with the body through the Endocannabinoid System, a “regulatory-system” that helps maintain homeostasis and affects all regulatory functions, like appetite, pain signaling, sleep cycles, and more.

Phytocannabinoids found in cannabis (like CBN) have a structure that is similar to endocannabinoids, a natural neurotransmitter produced by the body. Because of the similar structures, phytocannabinoids are sometimes able to act on endocannabinoid receptors to emit (or prevent) certain responses.

Because CBN may interact directly with the Endocannabinoid System, it may have the ability to provide a variety of different effects. We have a lot to learn about CBN, but current research shows that CBN may be useful for managing pain, fighting bacteria, and reducing inflammation.

One piece of research in particular helps shed light on the use of CBN for sleep. This study evaluated the effects of CBN used in combination with THC. It concluded that CBN may boost THC’s effects, creating effects that may induce sedation.

Although this research was not specifically focused on sleep, the primary takeaway was that CBN may provide enhanced sedative effects that help you rest. To evaluate these effects independently of THC, researchers offered isolated CBN to mice to see the effect on sleep. This study found that CBN may help increase sleep time overall.

More research is needed to completely understand the benefits of CBN for sleep, but preliminary data suggest that CBN may work to help induce sleep and prolong it. The lack of data invited backlash from critics, but there are countless anecdotal reports that further support the claim that CBN helps with sleep.

However, the general consensus is that CBN may not just be effective on its own, rather it's a powerful part of the entourage effect. This theory suggests that CBN, CBD, and all other cannabinoids naturally found in hemp provide synergistic effects that outweigh the effects of any isolated cannabinoid.

Since there is also research that may support the use of CBD for sleep, many people seek out products that combine the benefits of full-spectrum CBD and CBN like our Dream line of full spectrum CBD+CBN for sleep.

Is CBN Stronger Than CBD?

It’s generally accepted that using CBN with CBD is the way to go, but it’s still difficult to get a clear look at the two and their differences. Generally speaking, both CBD and CBN may have effects that may help with sleep, but the two perform differently in the body. Most significantly, CBN is thought to be stronger than CBD, so you’ll likely require smaller doses.

If you think about it, it makes sense:

CBN is found in much smaller quantities than CBD in the original hemp material. It varies by strain, and by how the hemp material was handled and stored (especially since CBN forms as THC degrades over time). Still, we know that CBN usually appears at less than 25% of the concentration of CBD.

With that in mind, you’re probably wondering exactly how much CBN (and CBD) you should take to get restful sleep.

How Much CBN for Sleep?

A man measuring his CBN dose for sleep

Similarly to CBD dosage, the CBN dosage for sleep will differ for every person. The amount of CBN you need varies based on your unique endocannabinoid system balance. Certain biological markers may also come into play, like weight, sex, metabolism, and more.

Unfortunately, we don’t have enough clear cut research on CBN dosing to give firm guidelines. Still, figuring out your CBN dose isn’t a daunting task, especially since the cannabinoid has no psychotropic effects or severe side effects. Its mild effects offer wiggle room for you to experiment with your dose.

You may start with a low dosage, like 5 mg of CBN, and increase your dose slowly over time until you experience relief. Keep in mind that the endocannabinoid system thrives on regularity, so you should maintain your dosing routine for several days in order to experience the full effects.

If you already take a certain amount of CBD at night, just add your CBN dose alongside your regular dosing routine. For convenience, look for a CBN product with CBD. It will likely contain more CBD than CBN, allowing you to get a perfectly balanced, full spectrum dose.

CBN for Sleep Side Effects

CBN is a newcomer to the established hemp market, and we are still learning what we need to know about the cannabinoid’s offerings and potential side-effects. Thankfully, no research has ever linked CBN to any toxicity or severe reactions, and there are no psychotropic effects like you’ll experience with THC.

Many people draw conclusions from CBD’s safety profile to determine the potential risks of CBN. According to current research, CBD is generally safe and poses no public safety risks. Some potential side effects have been recorded, like diarrhea and appetite or weight changes, but they are rare.

CBD may have some drug interactions and shouldn’t be used by people who are pregnant or breastfeeding until we have more information about its interactions. It’s unclear if CBN poses this same risk.

If you're worried about the potential side effects of CBN, talk to your doctor.

Where to Find CBN for Sleep

Hemp-derived products like CBN and CBD are legal in the U.S., but cannabinoid laws and accessibility vary by state. In most cases, you may be able to find CBN near you, but you should be wary of the industry’s poor regulation.

If you aren’t willing to take your chances with the CBN products at your local convenience store, you may consider ordering CBN online. When you buy CBN online, you can carefully research the brand and the product to ensure that you’re getting high-quality products.

Look for a company that clearly labels every product with potency and ingredients. The brand should also provide third-party testing to prove accurate potency, and take measures to ensure that they use only clean hemp material that is free of contaminants.

Finally, take a look at different types of CBN products to help determine what’s best for you. CBN is available in different dosing styles, but a CBN tincture may be the best product for new users since it offers the ability to easily adjust your CBN dose.

If you’re looking for products that provide unique, targeted cannabinoid therapy, check out our Dream CBD + CBN Gummies and our CBD for Sleep collection.

Resources

  1. “Cannabidiol, cannabinol and their combinations act as peripheral analgesics in a rat model of myofascial pain” https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31158702/
  2. “Antibacterial cannabinoids from Cannabis sativa: a structure-activity study” https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18681481/
  3. “Cannabinoids, inflammation, and fibrosis” https://faseb.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1096/fj.201600646r
  4. “Effects of delta9-tetrahydrocannabinol and cannabinol in man” https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/1221432/
  5. “Synthesis and pharmacological effects in mice of halogenated cannabinol derivatives” https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/7728937/
  6. “Safety and side effects of cannabidiol, a Cannabis sativa constituent” https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22129319/
  7. “WHO Report Finds No Public Health Risks Or Abuse Potential For CBD” https://www.forbes.com/sites/janetwburns/2018/03/18/who-report-finds-no-public-health-risks-abuse-potential-for-cbd/?sh=601f4b002347 

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