CBD vs CBN: What’s the Difference?
The cannabinoid market is improving more and more, and more research is coming to light in each passing day. Up until recently, CBD was the main thing people went for when treating themselves with cannabis products. Now, they also have CBN and a variety of other extracts.
But what is CBN for, and how exactly is it different from CBD? Are there any advantages to using one in favor of the other? Well, it looks like we are just about to find out.
What Is CBD?
CBD, or cannabidiol, has become pretty much the cure-it-all ingredient. Apparently, it can cure anything from period cramps to anxiety and oral ulcer. It has strong anti-inflammatory properties, so not only can it improve the condition of your skin, but it can also help you with pain relief.
Ulcer is not the only disease for which CBD has become a natural treatment. The ingredient can also combat a series of other conditions. This includes Parkinson’s disease, schizophrenia, diabetes, cancer, and many more. It can also be used for insomnia, chronic pain, or even reduce cravings caused by opiate addictions.
CBD is one of the main cannabinoids found in the cannabis plant, alongside THC. That being said, unlike THC which has a psychoactive component, CBD does not have such a component. As a result, you cannot get that euphoric effect – the ‘high’ – of weed by consuming CBD.
What Is CBN?
CBN, or cannabinol, is also a cannabinoid present in the cannabis plant. That being said, while one may think it has the same origin as CBD (due to the similarity in their name), CBN is actually “mothered” from THC (tetrahydrocannabinol). We can say that CBN is a weakened version of THC.
When the THC component within weed starts to age, it begins to break down as well – to wither. When this happens, a less potent cannabinoid begins to form, which is the CBN. It only has around 25% of the power of THC, meaning that it is not as powerful as the latter.
While the chances of addiction are low, CBN still has a psychoactive part within it. There is not as much knowledge on it as there is on CBD and THC as a whole, but significant CBN consumption may lead to a euphoric feeling. However, the average amounts used for medicinal purposes may not lead to a high.
CBN is often used as a sleeping aid, as well as for pain relief in diseases such as fibromyalgia. Pain caused by inflammation might also be brought down by CBN. Neurological diseases might also see relief if consumption of CBN is associated with the treatment, but there is still more research to be done in that regard.
Where Are They Different?
The main thing that makes the two different is their origin. CBD comes from the cannabis plant, whereas CBN originates from THC. CBN is potentially psychoactive, whereas CBD is not. Indeed, CBN is not that strong, but higher consumption of it can still give you a slight feeling of euphoria. It has 1/4th the intoxication level of THC, whereas CBD will have none of that.
CBD has more research backing it up as compared to CBN. For example, both CBN and CBD show promise to be able to treat neurological diseases, but there is still not enough research to prove that CBN can do that as well. Human studies have only been started, and for the most part, they focused on the sedative effects of CBN on a limited number of people.
Where Are They Similar?
While they may have different origins, there are also some similarities between the two. For instance, both CBD and CBN have shown to be greatly effective at treating sleep conditions – although CBD still showed more promise in that regard. As CBN still has a slight THC component, its sedative effects might be lower compared to CBD.
Both can be highly effective as pain relief, with research still being done on CBN. The effects of both used on their own are relatively mild, with CBN showing great promise in treating conditions like fibromyalgia. However, in combination, they seem to have a stronger analgesic effect, while not leading to a high.
The Bottom Line
Both CBD and CBN have the potential of aiding in anxiety, sleeping problems, and chronic pain. The main difference is that while CBN has a psychoactive potential, CBD does not. The effect is very small, and cannot be felt unless high quantities of CBN have been consumed – nonetheless, the intoxicating element is still there.
