What Is CBN?

CBN is one of the lesser occurring compounds in the hemp plant that is getting a lot of attention lately, especially for its effect on increasing sleep quality. If you are curious about dosing CBN, you probably already know a little about what CBN is and its benefits. Let me share a little more.

CBN is a “late-blooming” cannabinoid, which means that it is made when other cannabinoids break down. CBN, like THC, has the ability to bond directly with the body’s CB-1 receptors, part of the human Endocannabinoid System. This means that CBN does have a mildly psychotropic effect, however is generally used in very small amounts – not nearly enough to create a ‘high.’

How Much CBN Should You Take?

Before we talk about how much CBN you should take, it’s essential to know that CBN is more powerful than many other cannabinoids. Because of this, you’ll often see products that say you should take a smaller dose than what is usually suggested for CBD products. A user might take 20–50 mg of CBD, but they might find that 2-5 mg of CBN packs a lot of punch.

CBN occurs naturally in very small amounts, making it a more expensive option, so it’s great news that only a little is needed for sleep and pain management. In fact, this author experimented with CBN for sleep support, including taking large doses of CBN alone (20-30 mg), but found that CBN alone it was not nearly as effective as a high dose of CBD with a small amount of CBN.

CBN Dosage for Sleep

Most of the time, CBN is used to help people have healthy sleep-wake cycles. If you want to sleep better with CBN, you should take it at night, right before you go to bed. How long it takes for CBN to work depends on how you take it. Tinctures may work faster than some edibles, but most CBN products take between 30 minutes and an hour to be fully metabolized by the body.

Look for CBN in your sleep aids for deeper, more restful sleep. You’ll probably notice that each serving of these products has only about 2–5 mg of CBN. Many people find that taking just 3 mg of CBN combined with a high dose of CBD at night is all they need to get a good night’s sleep. Taking a CBN for sleep edible, like a gummy, is especially effective as this delivery method slow releases all night giving longer sleep support that when taking a tincture with the same profile.

CBN Dosage for Daily Wellness

CBN is also proving to enhance CBD for pain management, and new research is indicating positive effects on the immune system and the brain. In all applications, small doses appear to be sufficient, and many CBD products – even full spectrum extracts, are being fortified with extra CBN for optimal efficacy.