Can You Get High From CBN?

diogo.ribas@ext.blaze.me (Diogo Ribas) — Fri, 29 Apr 2022 00:04:30 GMT

CBN doesn’t get as much airtime as CBD or THC, but most cannabis fans have probably heard about it. Throughout the 20th century, rumors started to circulate about this cannabinoid’s unique properties. According to most accounts, CBN-heavy strains will glue users to the couch for hours.

While there’s not much science on CBN’s effects, there are a few things we know about this cannabinoid. Opting for CBN strains may be more experimental than using CBD or THC flowers, but it may be worth trying for some cannabis users.

Where Does CBN Come From?

Cannabinol (CBN) is an all-natural cannabinoid, but it’s usually ≤ 1 percent of a weed strain’s total chemical make-up. However, unlike other cannabinoids, cultivators could quickly increase a strain’s CBN concentration during harvest. The longer people wait to harvest their cannabis, the more CBN will appear.

However, there is a significant trade-off for harvesting late in the season. The higher a strain’s CBN content, the lower its delta-9 THC percentage will be. Why? CBN is oxidized THC!

As a flowering cannabis plant reaches maturity, its tiny trichomes will change color. The first major shift is from clear to milky white trichomes. Typically, cultivators will start cutting cannabis nugs when most trichomes are opaque and white.

However, if cultivators let their cannabis plants continue growing, these white trichomes will morph into an orange-red color. This amber hue signals the THC is transforming into CBN molecules. So, if cultivators wanted to, they could naturally increase CBN exposure by waiting for their trichomes to turn orange.

So, How Does CBN Weed Feel?

Since CBN is broken-down THC, most people assume the two cannabinoids have similar properties. But does that mean you could get high from CBN just like a THC-rich strain?

Interestingly, most reports suggest CBN has a much weaker intensity than THC. In fact, CBN’s psychoactivity is so low it may be closer to non-psychoactive cannabinoids like CBD than THC.

Although that may sound crazy, please remember that THC and CBD have a similar molecular structure. For those who aren’t aware, the cannabinoid CBG-A transforms into THC-A and CBD-A during each cannabis plant’s vegetative and flowering phases. Therefore, CBN has structural similarities with both THC and CBD.

If you were to take a CBN tincture, chances are you wouldn’t give you the same buzz as with a THC-rich oil. You could still feel “high” when smoking a CBN-rich flower, but it’s unlikely the CBN isn’t responsible for these psychoactive effects. Instead, you’re probably experiencing residual THC molecules in your marijuana nugs.

OK, if CBN doesn’t have strong psychoactive properties, does it have any effects? Anecdotally, cannabis fans swear CBN has sedative properties. Indeed, many cannabis cultivators deliberately harvest buds late to take advantage of CBN’s supposed “couchlock” effects.

Unfortunately, recent research into this phenomenon has been inconclusive. CBN may have a slightly sedating effect, but there’s no empirical evidence this is the case.

Some studies suggest CBN may have antimicrobial properties, but we can’t say for sure how CBN affects the ECS. Most people who take CBN supplements report a relaxed and soothing sensation similar to CBD, but the association with THC may give CBN a slightly higher potency.

People who already have a high THC tolerance should have no issues moving down to CBN strains or tinctures. However, if customers only have experience with non-psychoactive hemp, it’s best to take it slow with CBN. Since this cannabinoid seems to be slightly psychoactive, it may have a more substantial “head buzz” effect versus CBD.

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Can You Get High From CBN?

Where Does CBN Come From?

So, How Does CBN Weed Feel?