There are so many cannabinoids hitting the market these days that it’s hard to keep up! While they are all the rage in the cannabis industry, CBD and CBN have escaped the stoner bubble and entered the health and wellness sphere as well.
Because of this–now more than ever–people have many questions. However, don’t worry, we have answers.
Keep reading to find out more about CBD and CBN.
What is CBD?
CBD is short for cannabidiol, which is a cannabinoid found in hemp and cannabis.
CBD products have been on the market for many years at this point. Thanks to this, you can find CBD in lots of forms, including:
Gummies
Oils
Tinctures
Balms/salves
Pills
CBD is also infused into cannabis products–mostly edibles–to achieve certain CBD: THC ratios. For example, a gummy may be infused with extra CBD to achieve a 2:1 ratio (or sometimes even higher), which is common for indica edibles aimed at sleep and relaxation.
CBD Effects
CBD has many potential effects and is being heavily researched to see how it can best be used therapeutically. People use CBD for a lot of different things, such as to ease anxiety, induce sleep, and relieve pain.
This study found that “CBD-rich treatment has a beneficial impact on pain, anxiety, and depression symptoms as well as overall wellbeing only for patients with moderate to severe symptoms; however, no observed effect on mild symptoms.”
Similarly, another study boldly states, “There is clear evidence supporting the utility of CBD to treat epilepsy.” It also lists some areas of CBD research, such as “Various medical conditions, including epilepsy, anxiety, pain/inflammation, schizophrenia, various substance use disorders, post-traumatic stress disorder, and others.”
As you can see, CBD is a powerful cannabinoid with promising results.
What is CBN?
CBN is short for cannibinol. It’s a cannabinoid found in hemp and cannabis that occurs when THC-A oxidizes.
CBN is on the rise in popularity and is finally catching traction. It’s most commonly sold as an oil.
One way people seek CBN is in their cannabis strain ratios. With the rise in legal dispensaries–and, hence, lab results for the specific strains you may be buying–you’re often able to see the exact percentage of each of the tested cannabinoids in the strain.
If you’re a fan of CBN, you may look for a strain with a high CBN percentage.
CBN Effects
CBN is marketed as having sedative effects, but this study begs to differ. They argue that the current studies have small sample sizes, the questionnaires are self-reporting, and the dosages contained in the studies are higher than most products on the market. Yikes!
That being said, CBN studies are few and far between, so let’s not jump the gun. It’s one of the newer cannabinoids on the block, so we have to give scientists time to do the proper research and uncover all that CBN has to offer.
CBD vs. CBN
People often get confused about the differences between CBD and CBN because of their similar names. It’s an easy mistake to make!
As mentioned earlier, CBD and CBN are both cannabinoids found in hemp and cannabis plants. They are extracted from hemp to be used in products found both in dispensaries and health and wellness stores/websites.
CBD is more popular than CBN because it’s been on the market longer. It’s also been studied more extensively.
You’ll commonly find CBD products as pure isolates, whereas CBN is often mixed in with other cannabinoids. CBN is found in hemp in smaller amounts than CBD, so it’s harder to isolate enough of it to warrant its own unique products.
Frequently Asked Questions
Let’s go over two common questions regarding CBD and CBN.
Are CBD and CBN legal?
CBD and CBN are both legal under the 2018 Farm Bill. This bill states that any hemp-derived products are federally legal. Hemp is defined as a plant containing less than 0.3% THC.
Since CBD and CBN are both derived from hemp, they’re completely legal.
This bill is responsible for the big boom in the cannabinoid market for products including Delta 8, Delta 10, THC-0, CBG, and more.
However, CBD and CBN are not regulated. It’s very important to search for third-party testing on your desired brand’s website to make sure that your product doesn’t have any unwanted pesticides or impurities.
Will CBD or CBN get me high?
CBD or CBN will not get you high.
Delta 9 THC is the main cannabinoid responsible for getting you high. THC is a psychoactive compound found in cannabis that’s well-known for its intoxicating effects.
On the other hand, CBD and CBN are non-psychoactive and are responsible for other effects of cannabis. Non-psychoactive cannabinoids still contribute to your experience, just not the “high” itself.
Final Thoughts
CBD and CBN are popular products for a reason!
As the market continues to grow, there will be more and more cannabinoids to keep up with and learn about. It’s important to be a well-educated consumer, especially in unregulated markets.
Remember, these products didn’t exist just a few years ago. We’re lucky to be living in an age where hemp and cannabis products are readily available and able to be studied.
So, let’s keep fighting for cannabis legalization in states that haven’t gotten the memo–all the while enjoying our favorite cannabinoids!
The post CBD vs CBN: What’s the Difference? appeared first on Cannabis Central.
