CBN: The First Discovered Cannabinoid deserves a Second Look

While the cannabis plant and its extracts have been used by humans in one form or another for the past 5,000 years, our understanding of the cannabinoids responsible for the various effects the plant can induce has happened predominantly in the last 50 to 60 years.  The first discovery of a cannabinoid actually occurred in the late 1800’s.  Near the turn of the 19th century, CBN (Cannabinol) was the first plant-based cannabinoid isolated in a laboratory.  Since then, at least 66 phytocannabinoids have been documented and researched.  With the onset of the burgeoning new hemp and CBD product industry, let’s take a second look at the CBN, the first discovered cannabinoid.

Where Does CBN Come From?

As the THC (Tetrahydrocannabinol) in a hemp plant is oxygenated over time, CBN is a byproduct of its decomposition.  This is why it is more dominant in aged and flowered hemp plants.  While it was the first phytocannabinoid discovered, we are only recently learning what role it plays in the body’s Endocannabinoid System.  

Is CBN the Same as CBD?

Research from a study conducted by a study by Steep Hill labs purports higher than expected sedative effects associated with CBN.  If this study is confirmed, then it would represent a major difference between CBN and CBD where CBD is known to have no psychoactive effects whatsoever.  In this sense, CBN relates more to research already confirmed about THC.  As a byproduct of THC decomposition, this might not sound surprising.  

The other obvious difference between CBN and CBD is that in a young hemp plant, there is virtually no CBN present whereas CBD is already part of the makeup of the plant.  As CBD and CBN also behave differently in regards to their interaction with receptors in the body’s Endocannabinoid System, which will likely allow for their effective differences to become more pronounced with further research.

While the industry awaits FDA certification on research conducted into all phytocannabinoids, definitive statements about the therapeutic impact of CBD or CBN are strictly regulated in the marketplace.  

As Our Understanding of the Endocannabinoid System Grows, CBN may Prove to Be as Popular as its Peers

Seeing as the Endocannabinoid System in the human body was only discovered 100 years after the first phytocannabinoid, it makes sense that our understanding of the impact that CBD, CBN, CBG, and others have on our body is extremely limited.  Research is on-going and the FDA has yet to make firm decisions regarding the findings in studies done to date.  If early indications are that CBN has some of the sedative effects of THC, then it may soon take a prominent place in the marketplace.  

Additionally, while small amounts of CBN may not have obvious effects on the brain and body, the role it plays in the Endocannabinoid System could end up being the driver of its increased presence in hemp farms, laboratories, and consumer products.  

Know What’s in your CBD Product

Ethical CBD companies routinely post lab reports concerning the phytocannabinoid breakdown in their oils, flower, and salves.  CBN is rarely a prominent contributor due to the timing of the hemp harvest and the necessity that CBN form as a breakdown of THC.  In the United States, CBD products must be derived from hemp plants that contain less than 0.3% THC, hence the resulting CBN from these plants is low.  At Roselli Farms, our lab reports are available for each of our CBD products in a special tab at the top of each web.  In these reports, you will find the complete breakdown of phytocannabinoids present.  As you take our CBD products, it’s useful to note which phytocannabinoids are present so that you can better understand their impact on your body and discover which blend you prefer.