Understanding cannabinol (CBN)
While CBD and THC generally attract most of the attention when it comes to cannabinoids, there are actually over a hundred others that have been identified in cannabis. One of the most exciting of these fascinating compounds is Cannabinol or CBN.
What is it?
When Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) ages, its molecular structure is transformed due to oxidation, and its new form is classified as Cannabinol (CBN).
Because CBN is the byproduct of aged THC, it is generally found in older cannabis plants, although, CBN is also produced within the body as THC is passed through the metabolic process.
How does it work?
Similarly to THC, CBN can stimulate the CB1 and CB2 receptors in the body’s Endocannabinoid System (ECS); however, unlike THC, CBN is only mildly intoxicating and, generally, will not induce euphoric effects on the user.
For this reason, CBN is commonly compared to CBD rather than THC and has become an exciting topic in the realm of cannabinoid research.
While CBN is derived from THC, its chemical composition is more closely aligned with CBD. It does, however, naturally possess, some characteristics of THC, and can be viewed as somewhat of a hybrid between CBD and THC.
Compared to the abundance of CBD that is produced in cannabis, which is second only to THC, the amount of CBN produced in cannabis plants, in general, is much lower. This is because higher volumes of CBN can only be produced as the cannabis plant ages. CBD, on the other hand, is produced directly in the resin glands of the plant and can be produced in greatly varying amounts.
One of the main differences between CBD and CBN is that, unlike CBD, CBN can bind to the CB1 and CB2 receptors in the ECS. Inherited from its predecessor, THC, this capability is the source of the infamous cannabinoid’s intoxicating properties; however, the intoxicating effects of CBN are much less intoxicating than those delivered by THC.
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