Cannabinol (CBN) is an emerging natural remedy that is popular in countries including the US, Canada, and Israel, though it’s still nowhere near as popular as Cannabidiol (CBD). However, as with all medicinal marijuana products, users are often concerned that taking CBN may have a psychoactive effect (or, in other words, induce a high.)
So, can taking CBN actually make you high? Unlike CBD, which isn’t psychoactive and therefore doesn’t make you high, the question is slightly more complicated when it comes to CBN.
Some research has found Cannabinol to be “mildly psychoactive,” while other studies have suggested it isn’t psychoactive at all, or at least not enough for it to be felt by your body.
Why is CBN Potentially Psychoactive?
To explain why CBN is believed to have psychoactive properties, it’s important to stress that Cannabinol is a minor cannabinoid, so it’s not generally found in significant quantities in a marijuana plant.
Instead, it is formed as a result of the degradation of THC (Tetrahydrocannabinol) – the primary psychoactive compound in marijuana. This degradation happens as a result of oxidation, which may occur naturally over time as cannabis is exposed to sunlight and oxygen. This process may be deliberately initiated by manufacturers of Cannabinol products, such as CBN oil.
Because CBN is derived from THC, it has quite a similar structure to it – and researchers believe this is what causes Cannabinol to be psychoactive.
What Does “Psychoactive” Actually Mean?
Any substance that can impact your mental state, brain function, mood, and behavior is considered to be psychoactive.
Cannabinoids, such as CBN and THC, are far from the only psychoactive substances out there, but whether or not a substance is psychoactive is particularly important when it comes to medicinal marijuana.
This is because A) people considering taking such drugs may be deterred from trying them out if they are psychoactive/high inducing, and B) governments are less likely to legalize a drug that is psychoactive than one which isn’t. This is clearly demonstrated by the fact that CBD – a non-psychoactive cannabinoid – is legal in far more countries than Cannabinol.
For example, CBD can legally be sold and consumed in the UK, while CBN can’t.
Counteracting CBN’s Psychoactive Effects
If you’re concerned about CBN being potentially psychoactive and are now shying away from trying it out, don’t despair just yet! Cannabinol’s psychoactive properties can be offset by taking CBN with CBD, according to research and reviews.
Taking CBD with Cannabinol can counteract the latter’s psychoactive effects, as CBD is an anti-psychoactive compound.
What Can CBN Be Used For?
You’ve probably heard Cannabinol being referred to as the “sleepy cannabinoid,” as it’s an incredibly effective sedative – and is, therefore, a great natural remedy for people suffering from sleeping trouble – but it can also be used to treat many other conditions.
For example, CBN is believed to be an effective anti-inflammatory drug. It can also be taken to stimulate your appetite, relieve pain, aid growth, and potentially even be useful in the fight against cancer.
How Should CBN Oil Be Administered?
The best way to take CBN oil is sublingually. Put simply, this means you lift your tongue above the bottom of your mouth and place a few drops of the oil underneath it. You then leave it for 30 to 45 seconds to be absorbed by your body and enter your bloodstream.
There are other ways to take CBN, such as simply ingesting the oil, but taking it sublingually is usually the most effective and fast-acting way.
A Quick Summary
- CBN, a minor cannabinoid that is known as the “sleepy cannabinoid,” is believed to be mildly psychoactive, though some research suggests it isn’t psychoactive at all, just like CBD.
- It is believed to be psychoactive because it is derived from THC – the primary psychoactive/high inducing compound in marijuana – and therefore has a similar structure to it.
- Because of Cannabinol’s psychoactive properties, it is illegal to sell or consume CBN products in many countries where CBD is legal.
- If you want to take CBN but don’t want to risk feeling any of its psychoactive effects, you should consider taking it with CBD, as it can reportedly offset its high inducing effects as Cannabidiol is anti-psychoactive.
- CBN is best known as a sedative, but it is also believed to be effective at relieving pain, stimulating one’s appetite, serving as an anti-bacteria drug, plus much more.
- Cannabinol oil can be administered in various different ways, but in most cases, the best way to take it is sublingually. This simply means you should place a few drops of the oil underneath your tongue and give it some time to be absorbed by your body.