Formula: C21H26O2
Molecular Mass: 310.4319 g/mol
Decarboxylation Point: 77°C (171°F)
Boiling Point: 185 °C (365 °F)
LD50 (Lethal Dose): 13500mg/kg for mice (Compare to Nicotine: for mice – 3mg/kg, for humans – 40-60 mg/kg)
Cannabinol (CBN) is what tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) will break down into over time due to exposure to oxygen and heat. By this time CBN will become only mildly psychoactive, and much less intense than when it was THC. However, just because this cannabinoid isn’t very psychoactive doesn’t mean it isn’t potent. In fact, CBN is the strongest cannabinoid identified for promoting sleep, which makes cannabis rich in CBN an ideal treatment for insomnia. Indica strains appear to have more CBN than sativa strains, which would explain the commonly held belief that indicas make you sleepy and give you a body high. CBN is a CB2 and CB1 receptor agonist and may inhibit immune cell functionality.
Therapeutic Uses
Analgesic – Relieves pain.
Antibacterial – Slows bacterial growth.
Anti-Emetic – Reduces vomiting and nausea.
Anti-Epileptic – Reduces seizures and convulsions.
Anti-inflammatory – Reduces inflammation systemically.
Anti-Insomnia – Aids with sleep.
Anti-Proliferative – Inhibits cancer cell growth.
Appetite Stimulant – CBN appears to be a mild appetite stimulant.
Bone Stimulant Promotes bone growth by stimulating osteocytes.
Currently Being Studied For
Analgesic: Both THC and CBN have been identified as pain killers, though THC is far more powerful. A 2002 study identified that both THC and CBN cause a release of certain gene-related peptides from sensory nerves and are the only identified cannabinoids to use this mechanism.
Appetite Stimulant: Everyone knows that THC stimulates the appetite, giving users the “munchies” that many people describe. It was only in 2012 that it was discovered that CBN also stimulates the appetite, though this effect appears to be not as strong as THC.
Cancer: A 2006 study revealed that CBN joins THC and numerous other cannabinoids in having the ability to control the growth of cancer cells. CBN specifically was found to control a type of lung tumor known as a Lewis carcinoma.
*Note: Decarboyxlation A chemical reaction that removes a carboxyl group and releases CO2, often triggered by heat or exposure to sunlight.
Cannabinoid Profiles Series
8. A Crash Course in CBN