CBD vs CBN: What’s the Difference?

(CBD) vs (CBN) are two of the more than 100 types of natural chemical components called cannabinoids found in the cannabis plant.

You may have heard of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the psychoactive chemical in marijuana that produces a high. But unlike THC, CBD and CBN are dubbed as milder drugs. That means they are non-psychoactive and don’t alter your mind. Instead, they’re touted for their medical benefits.

However, they’re not the same. Though CBD and CBN interact with the same receptors in your body, they produce different effects.

CBD is more popular than CBN. It’s mostly derived from the hemp plant and legal for consumption. But state laws vary. You can find CBD-infused products in grocery stores to gas stations. It’s found in several beauty and food products such as oils, shampoos, creams, pills, and chocolates. People often use it to help manage symptoms from anxiety, insomnia, and a range of chronic pain and other medical conditions.

CBN, on the other hand, is not as popular or readily available. This is because there hasn’t been a lot of human or animal research done on the benefits, uses, and side effects. But CBN is slowly gaining popularity for its potential benefits for sleep and pain management.

CBD vs CBN: CBD Benefits and Uses

CBD is hailed as a cure-all for variety of medical conditions and pain symptoms. However, the jury is still out, and there needs to be more scientific research to back up the claims.

There is strong evidence on CBD’s benefits and effectiveness against certain seizure-causing epilepsy syndromes such as:

Dravet syndrome
Lennox-Gastaut syndrome
Tuberous sclerosis complex

These medical conditions, which mostly affect children, don’t respond well to several antiseizure medications. But numerous studies have shown that CBD can significantly lower symptoms or stop them altogether in some cases.

To combat epilepsy conditions, the FDA approved the first and only CBD drug, called Epidiolex. Research on CBD use for medical treatment for health conditions is still ongoing and limited.

Currently, its uses are being looked into for medical conditions like:

Parkinson’s disease
Schizophrenia
Diabetes
Multiple sclerosis
Anxiety
Cancer

Other animal studies and self-reported benefits of CBD use for conditions include:

Insomnia. Certain studies have shown that CBD may help with sleep issues like falling or staying sleep.

Chronic pain. While research is limited, some studies have shown that CBD may help lower inflammation in your joints and muscles in conditions like arthritis. This may help improve quality of life, but there needs to be more evidence.

Addiction. Some studies suggest that CBD can reduce cravings caused by mind-altering drugs like opiates, THC, other stimulants, and alcohol.

CBN: CNB Benefits and Uses

CBN can be understood as a weaker version of THC. When THC components found in the cannabis plant age, they break down. This leads to the formation of a less potent cannabinoid called CBN. It’s about 25% as effective as THC, which makes it a mild chemical.

Unlike CBD, which is entirely non-psychoactive, CBN in larger doses can produce mild psychoactive reactions.

CBN has not been studied or used as widely as CBD or THC, so there’s very limited knowledge or research on its uses and benefits. Some of the potential uses and benefits observed in few studies include:

How Can You Consume CBD vs CBN?

CBD is in a variety of oral and topical products that you can find online or in your local grocery store, gas station, or a pharmacy. It’s also available in legally operated marijuana dispensaries.

You can consume CBD as: