Cannabinol (CBN)
Also called cannabinol, CBN, CBN oil, CBN gummies, CBN for sleep.
Best grade C across 4 graded outcomes Botanical Last checked
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The short answer
From 13 sourcesCannabinol (CBN) is marketed for sleep, and trials only began recently. In 20 adults with insomnia, a single 300 mg dose did not cut night waking on sleep tests but shortened time to fall asleep. Larger trials of 20 to 100 mg found modest gains in self-rated sleep, and adding CBN to CBD added nothing.
Every graded outcome on this page
4 rows · line = participantsKey facts
- What it is
- An oxidative by-product of delta-9-THC, sold mainly in sleep products2
- Insomnia, sleep lab (20 adults)
- 300 mg once: no change in wake after sleep onset; faster sleep onset and better self-rated sleep2
- Poor sleepers (293 adults)
- 20 mg nightly for 7 nights: fewer awakenings; overall sleep quality not significant3
- Added to CBD (1,793 adults)
- 15 mg CBN with 15 mg CBD did no better than CBD alone5
- FDA status
- No CBN product is FDA-approved; FDA says THC and CBD products cannot be sold as dietary supplements1
- Federal hemp law change
- From December 11, 2026, hemp products with over 0.4 mg total THC (and THC-like cannabinoids) per container lose federal hemp status; FDA had not yet listed which cannabinoids count as of September 28, 202610
What it is
Cannabinol (CBN) is a cannabinoid formed as THC breaks down with age and oxidation; it is sold mainly as a sleep aid.
Forms, side by side
2 forms named in our sources. The rest show what our data holds, and say plainly where it holds nothing yet.
Cannabinol (CBN) forms compared
2 forms| 2 forms | CBN oil or capsules (single cannabinoid) | CBN combined with CBD |
|---|---|---|
| Absorption in people | No head-to-head human data in the cited abstracts.2 | Not measured.35 |
| GI tolerance | 247 mild to moderate adverse events across arms in the 20-person sleep-lab trial; grogginess was the top complaint in the 1,020-person trial.24 | About 12% reported a side effect, none severe, in the 1,793-person trial.5 |
| Studied for | Insomnia, sleep quality | Sleep quality (no added benefit from CBN) |
- CBN oil or capsules (single cannabinoid)
- CBN combined with CBD
- GI tolerance
- About 12% reported a side effect, none severe, in the 1,793-person trial.5
- Studied for
- Sleep quality (no added benefit from CBN)
What the human research says
Human trials only, one row per outcome. The form line shows what each trial actually tested. Grades follow our evidence-grading policy.
Trial map
4 graded outcomes, largest study first4 graded outcomes: 1 improved, 2 mixed, 1 no effect. The largest, a 2024 randomized trial of 1,793 people on sleep disturbance with CBN added to CBD, found no effect.
1Sleep disturbance with CBN added to CBD
No effect · Grade C · RCT, 1,793 people, 2024
Adults with symptoms of sleep disturbance
Dose, result and source| Outcome | Found | People | Study | Who was studied |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sleep disturbance with CBN added to CBD | No effect | 1,793 | Grade C · RCT, 2024 | Adults with symptoms of sleep disturbance |
| Self-rated sleep disturbance | Improved | 1,020 | Grade C · RCT, 2024 | Adults with sleep disturbance in a remote trial |
| Sleep quality and awakenings in poor sleepers | Mixed | 293 | Grade C · RCT, 2024 | Adults aged 18 to 55 rating their sleep as poor or very poor |
| Night waking and sleep onset on polysomnography | Mixed | 20 | Grade D · Crossover RCT, 2026 | Adults aged 25 to 65 with diagnosed insomnia disorder |
Every graded row
4 rowsShowing 4 of 4 outcomes. Human trials only.
CGrade CSleep disturbance with CBN added to CBDSleep qualityNo added benefitRCT
n 1,793 · 2024
No effect All formulations improved sleep from baseline, but adding CBN (with or without CBC) gave no extra benefit over 15 mg CBD alone.
- Design
- RCT, n = 1,793, 2024
- Population
- Adults with symptoms of sleep disturbance
- Form
- 15 mg CBD with or without 15 mg CBN (and 5 mg CBC), vs melatonin formulations
- Dose
- 15 mg CBN with 15 mg CBD
- Duration
- 4 weeks
- Source
- Reference 5 · PubMed 37162192 (opens PubMed)
CGrade CSelf-rated sleep disturbanceSleep qualityBetter self-rated sleepRCT
n 1,020 · 2024
Improved All three CBN doses and melatonin improved PROMIS sleep disturbance scores vs placebo, with no difference between CBN and melatonin; 100 mg also lowered stress, and side effects did not differ from placebo.
- Design
- RCT, n = 1,020, 2024
- Population
- Adults with sleep disturbance in a remote trial
- Form
- Hemp-derived CBN (TruCBN) vs placebo vs 4 mg melatonin
- Dose
- 25, 50 or 100 mg
- Duration
- Not stated in the abstract
- Source
- Reference 4 · PubMed 39204082 (opens PubMed)
CGrade CSleep quality and awakenings in poor sleepersSleep qualityFewer awakeningsRCT
n 293 · 2024
Mixed Overall sleep quality was not significantly better (OR 2.26, p = 0.082), but 20 mg CBN reduced awakenings (p = 0.025) and overall sleep disturbance (p = 0.023); sleep onset, WASO and daytime fatigue did not change, and adding CBD did not help.
- Design
- RCT, n = 293, 2024
- Population
- Adults aged 18 to 55 rating their sleep as poor or very poor
- Form
- CBN alone or with CBD (10, 20 or 100 mg)
- Dose
- 20 mg CBN at night
- Duration
- 7 nights
- Source
- Reference 3 · PubMed 37796540 (opens PubMed)
DGrade DNight waking and sleep onset on polysomnographyInsomniaNo change in night wakingCrossover RCT
n 20 · 2026
Mixed Wake after sleep onset did not change (300 mg: -6.3 min, p = 0.29; 30 mg: -4.0 min); 300 mg increased stage N2 sleep and self-rated sleep quality and shortened sleep onset (p = 0.004). There were 247 mild to moderate adverse events across arms.
- Design
- Crossover RCT, n = 20, 2026
- Population
- Adults aged 25 to 65 with diagnosed insomnia disorder
- Form
- CBN oral solution vs placebo
- Dose
- 30 mg or 300 mg, single dose
- Duration
- One night per arm
- Source
- Reference 2 · PubMed 41698831 (opens PubMed)
What the numbers add up to
Each point is worked out from the data and the sources numbered on this page, with the arithmetic shown under it. It adds no new data and is not medical advice.
Studied doses
Doses used in research, shown against the official limits. They describe the studies, not a recommendation for you.
Studied doses in research, not advice. These are amounts used in research, not personal advice. Your clinician or pharmacist can say what fits you.
Doses studied in human trials
When trials measured an effect
2 outcomes| Outcome | Measured at | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| Time to fall asleep in insomnia disorder | The same night, after a single 300 mg dose | Sleep-lab crossover trial in 20 adults; night waking (the primary outcome) did not change2 |
| Night awakenings in poor sleepers | Over 7 nights of 20 mg | 293-person trial; overall sleep quality was not significantly better than placebo3 |
Interactions and safety
Published interactions only: each row cites a source. No row means none was found in our sources, not that a combination is safe.
What Cannabinol meets
3 cited rows 2 tested togetherMedicines 2
Supplements and foods 2
- Measured in a human study
- Tested together in a graded trial
Choose a medicine or supplement above to read its cited rows here.
Also cited: 2 tested together
Medicines and caffeine cleared by the liver enzyme CYP1A2
PK studyMeasured in a human study
Medicines and caffeine cleared by the liver enzyme CYP1A2, for example Caffeine; any medicine your pharmacist says relies on CYP1A2: In lab and mouse work, CBN potently inhibited CYP1A2, slowing the breakdown of caffeine and melatonin; effects on prescription drugs have not been tested in people.
Source 8, Basic Clin Pharmacol Toxicol (2025)
Sedatives, sleep medicines and alcohol
RCTMeasured in a human study
Sedatives, sleep medicines and alcohol, for example Prescription sleep aids, sedating antihistamines, alcohol: Grogginess or drowsiness was the most often reported side effect in a 1,020-person CBN trial (rates did not differ from placebo); adding other sedating products has not been studied.
Source 4, Pharmaceuticals (Basel) (2024)
MelatoninMelatonin page
PK studyMeasured in a human study
Melatonin, for example CBN + melatonin sleep products: CBN strongly inhibited CYP1A2 breakdown of melatonin and raised melatonin exposure about four-fold in mice; not yet tested in people.
Source 8, Basic Clin Pharmacol Toxicol (2025)
CannabidiolCannabidiol page
Tested together
Sleep quality and awakenings in poor sleepers. Graded on the Cannabinol page; tested together is not a claim that they work better together.
Tested together
Sleep disturbance with CBN added to CBD. Graded on the Cannabinol page; tested together is not a claim that they work better together.
Interactions
3 agents| Agent | What the source says | Evidence |
|---|---|---|
| Medicines2 | ||
| Medicines and caffeine cleared by the liver enzyme CYP1A2e.g. Caffeine; any medicine your pharmacist says relies on CYP1A2 | In lab and mouse work, CBN potently inhibited CYP1A2, slowing the breakdown of caffeine and melatonin; effects on prescription drugs have not been tested in people.8 | PK study |
| Sedatives, sleep medicines and alcohole.g. Prescription sleep aids, sedating antihistamines, alcohol | Grogginess or drowsiness was the most often reported side effect in a 1,020-person CBN trial (rates did not differ from placebo); adding other sedating products has not been studied.4 | RCT |
| Other supplements1 | ||
| Melatonine.g. CBN + melatonin sleep products | CBN strongly inhibited CYP1A2 breakdown of melatonin and raised melatonin exposure about four-fold in mice; not yet tested in people.8 | PK study |
Check with what you take
Kept on this device onlyAdd what you take. We list every interaction our evidence profiles cite between Cannabinol and your picks, and between your picks.
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Add a supplement or medicine you take to check it against Cannabinol.
Starting from one medicine? The interaction checker rates how serious each pair is, on a curated list of 19 entries for 11 medicines. This cabinet has no severity rating: it lists every interaction row our supplement pages cite.
Who should be careful
6 groups- Pregnancy and breastfeeding
- No study has tested CBN in pregnancy or breastfeeding. The FDA strongly advises against CBD, THC and marijuana in any form while pregnant or breastfeeding; CBN is a THC by-product and full-spectrum products contain THC. LactMed reports CBN in about 41% of milk samples from mothers who used cannabis and notes that professional guidelines advise nursing mothers to avoid cannabis.1312111
- Children
- FDA says no cannabis-derived product apart from Epidiolex, Marinol and Syndros has been approved as safe and effective, and advises keeping cannabis products away from children.1
- Melatonin combination products
- In mice, CBN raised melatonin exposure about four-fold by blocking its breakdown.8
- Driving and next-day alertness
- Grogginess or drowsiness was the most reported side effect in the 1,020-person trial, and the CBN gummy label says not to use it before driving or operating machinery.411
- Drug tests and THC
- Full-spectrum CBN products are hemp extracts that contain THC (under 0.3% by label), so people who must avoid all THC should not assume they are THC-free.11
- Medicines and surgery
- NCCIH advises telling your health care providers about every supplement you use.9
How to read the label
What to check on the Supplement Facts panel.
How to read the label
1 checksWhere to buy Cannabinol (CBN)
Products from brands we partner with that contain Cannabinol (CBN). Check the amount per serving against the doses studied above, and the label for other ingredients.
Cannabinol (CBN) products from partner brands
1 product Paid links · we earn a commission- NeuroganNeurogan CBD + CBN Gummies (2,700 mg, 30 gummies)We use this brand at home. What we use
45 mg CBN plus 45 mg full-spectrum CBD per gummy, 30 gummies; full-spectrum hemp, so it contains some THC. Trials tested 15 to 300 mg CBN, and adding CBD to CBN gave no extra benefit in two trials
$75.00one-timeChecked Oct 17, 2026
Frequently asked questions
Short answers to common questions; the numbers link to the sources below.
Common questions
7 answersDoes CBN help you sleep?
Does CBN get you high?
Is CBN better with CBD?
Can I combine CBN with melatonin?
In mice, CBN blocked melatonin breakdown and raised melatonin levels about four-fold. This has not been tested in people, so ask a clinician before using combination products.8
Is CBN FDA-approved?
No CBN product is FDA-approved. FDA has approved one cannabis-derived drug (Epidiolex) and three cannabis-related drugs (Marinol, Syndros and Cesamet), none of which contain CBN, and says THC and CBD products cannot be sold as dietary supplements.1
Is CBN better than melatonin?
In a company-run trial, 25 to 100 mg of CBN improved self-rated sleep about as much as 4 mg of melatonin, with no difference between them.4
Is CBN legal?
Federal law is changing. From December 11, 2026, hemp products with more than 0.4 mg of total THC, plus cannabinoids FDA deems THC-like, per container lose federal hemp status. As of September 28, 2026, FDA had not published that list, so whether CBN counts is unsettled. State laws also differ.10
Sources
13 sources: trial abstracts, NIH fact sheets and reference databases. Numbers in the text link here.
Sources cited on this page
13 sources- 1FDA Regulation of Cannabis and Cannabis-Derived Products, Including Cannabidiol (CBD): Questions and Answers (content current as of July 16, 2024)Fact sheet U.S. Food and Drug Administration, 2024 · fda.gov
- 2Cannabinol for Acute Treatment of Insomnia Disorder in a Randomized Placebo-Controlled Crossover Trial.Crossover RCT J Sleep Res, 2026 · PMID 41698831
- 3A double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study of the safety and effects of CBN with and without CBD on sleep quality.RCT Exp Clin Psychopharmacol, 2024 · PMID 37796540
- 4A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial to Assess the Effectiveness and Safety of Melatonin and Three Formulations of Floraworks Proprietary TruCBN™ for Improving Sleep.RCT Pharmaceuticals (Basel), 2024 · PMID 39204082
- 5The Safety and Comparative Effectiveness of Non-Psychoactive Cannabinoid Formulations for the Improvement of Sleep: A Double-Blinded, Randomized Controlled Trial.RCT J Am Nutr Assoc, 2024 · PMID 37162192
- 6Cannabinol and Sleep: Separating Fact from Fiction.Review Cannabis Cannabinoid Res, 2021 · PMID 34468204
- 7Interactions in man of delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol. II. Cannabinol and cannabidiol.Crossover RCT Clin Pharmacol Ther, 1975 · PMID 1097148
- 8Preclinical Evidence for a Drug-Drug Interaction Between Cannabinol and Melatonin.Animal study Basic Clin Pharmacol Toxicol, 2025 · PMID 39722474
- 9Using Dietary Supplements WiselyFact sheet National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH), 2019 · nccih.nih.gov
- 10Changes to the Statutory Definition of Hemp and Implications for Agricultural Policy (IF13136, updated September 28, 2026)Fact sheet Congressional Research Service, 2026 · congress.gov
- 11Neurogan CBD + CBN Gummies 2,700 mg: product label and ingredient list (read 2026-10-17)Label Neurogan, 2026 · neurogan.com
- 12CannabisDatabase LactMed (NCBI Bookshelf), 2026 · ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- 13What You Should Know About Using Cannabis, Including CBD, When Pregnant or Breastfeeding (content current as of October 16, 2019)Safety communication U.S. Food and Drug Administration, 2019 · fda.gov
What changed
Every dated change to this page: what changed, who made it and why.
Change log
2 entries| Date | Change | Who and why |
|---|---|---|
| who should avoid, time to effect, questions, related | Pregnancy and breastfeeding note now cites the FDA consumer update (strong advice against cannabis products, including CBD and THC, in pregnancy and breastfeeding) and LactMed's cannabis record (CBN found in about 41% of milk samples from mothers who used cannabis). Added time-to-effect rows from the sleep-lab and 7-night trials, page questions and a goal-hub link. Searched PubMed for 2023–2026 CBN trials: nothing new qualifies; not added: a 10-day crossover pilot of a THC, CBN and CBD softgel (39980821; effects cannot be attributed to CBN). LiverTox has no CBN entry; no new interaction data found. | Writer: Kymata Health EditorialTrigger: A–Z audit against docs/supplements/AUDIT-STANDARD.md |
| all | Initial editorial evidence review. Every PMID checked against NCBI E-utilities esummary (title, year, journal) and each cited abstract read; numbers taken from the abstracts. Company sponsorship disclosed (Radicle Science 2024); the null primary outcomes of the sleep-lab and poor-sleeper trials are stated. Melatonin interaction from mouse and in vitro data, labelled as such. Safety from the FDA cannabis Q&A. Where to buy: one CBD + CBN gummy listed (checked 2026-10-17), label facts only. Adversarial review 2026-10-17: added sedation/driving, CYP1A2 and THC-content cautions, the federal hemp-definition change (CRS, effective December 11, 2026) and the full FDA approved-drug list (incl. Cesamet); pregnancy row re-sourced to FDA. | Writer: Kymata Health EditorialTrigger: new page |
Supplement & Nutrient Encyclopedia. Educational information only; it is not medical advice and does not replace a clinician. Dietary supplements are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. Statements about supplements have not been evaluated by the FDA.