5 Best CBN Products for Sleep: Reviews & Guide (Mar. 2023)

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Cannabinol (CBN) is a minor cannabinoid touted for its sleep benefits. CBN oil is relatively new, so finding high-quality products isn’t easy.

Many contain little to no CBN. Price is also an issue, as some brands overcharge for their CBN oil. That’s why I examined over 20 CBN products, comparing their effects, third-party lab reports, potency, hemp source, reviews, price, and other factors.

Read on for my review of the best CBN oils, gummies, and capsules for sleep, plus a research-backed guide to this lesser-known cannabinoid.

Summary

The overall best CBN product for sleep is CBDistillery’s sleep synergy tincture. It helped me fall asleep faster and easier and performed slightly better than the other CBN products I tested.

1. Best Overall: CBDistillery Sleep Synergy CBD+CBN Tincture | Full review
2. Best Value: Lazarus Naturals Sleep Tincture | Full review
3. Best Potency: NuLeaf Naturals Full Spectrum CBN Oil | Full review
4. Best Gummies: Receptra Serious Rest Gummies | Full review
5. Best Capsules: CBDfx CBD+CBN Night Capsules | Full review

CBDistillery Sleep Synergy CBD + CBN Tincture (Best Overall)

My top pick for the best CBN oil goes to CBDistillery. Its sleep synergy tincture is full spectrum, so you’ll be getting all of the other beneficial terpenes and cannabinoids as well.

The 30 ml tincture contains a 1:3 ratio of CBN to CBD and comes in two strengths, a regular one with 150 mg CBN/450 mg CBN and an extra-strength version with 300 mg CBN/900 mg CBD. The price is about average but you can also get free shipping by spending over $75.

CBDistillery is a vertically integrated Colorado company, which means it does everything in-house from growing the hemp to making the finished products. It’s also certified by the U.S. Hemp Authority, highlighting its commitment to hemp industry best practices.

My experience: I took 3 full droppers of the regular strength tincture (60 mg CBD/CBN) an hour before bed. I felt subtle relaxation and drowsiness within 40 minutes, which helped me sleep.

Lazarus Naturals Sleep Tincture (Best Value)

If you’re looking to save money on CBN oil for sleep from Lazarus Naturals. This third-party tested tincture costs only 2-3 cents per mg, which is one of the lowest prices you’ll find. You can save even more thanks to free shipping on orders above $50.

This tincture provides 30 mg CBD/10 mg CBN/10 mg CBG per ml for a total of 1500-6000 mg cannabinoids.

Lazarus Naturals is an employee-owned brand known for its unbeatable combination of quality and low prices. A vertically integrated company, it grows and extracts its own USDA-certified organic hemp in Central Oregon.

My experience: I took a full dropper an hour before bedtime. Although the effect was subtle, I felt relaxed and fell and stayed asleep better.

NuLeaf Naturals Full Spectrum CBN Oil (Best Potency)

It’s difficult to find high-strength, full-spectrum CBN oil. Most tinctures actually contain more CBD than CBN. If you’re looking for a truly potent CBN oil, I recommend NuLeaf Naturals. It has a high CBN potency of 60 mg/ml.

Founded in 2014 in Colorado, NuLeaf Naturals is a trustworthy, top-tier CBD brand. Its products are third-party tested and sourced from organic Colorado hemp.

Our experience: Our product reviewer Antonio took 3 servings (90 mg CBN) before bed and felt drowsy within an hour. He slept better but felt a bit groggy in the morning. The next night, he took two servings and woke up feeling more rested.

Receptra Serious Rest Gummies (Best Gummies)

If you prefer to take CBN in the delicious form of gummies, I recommend Colorado’s Receptra.

Its full-spectrum serious rest CBD+CBN gummies come in strawberry flavor. They combine 25 mg of CBD and 3 mg of CBN alongside many minor hemp cannabinoids. That’s a sign of a high-quality, full-spectrum hemp product.

These vegan gummies are made from organic Colorado hemp grown on a small family farm. Founded in 2015, Receptra is a high-quality CBD brand known for its effective products.

My experience: I had 4 gummies an hour before going to bed. They tasted amazing and I noticed better sleep and waking up more rested. I also noticed some psychoactive effects because I’m sensitive to THC; it’s best to stick to the recommended 1-gummy dosage if you’re also sensitive.

CBDfx CBD + CBN Night Capsules (Best Capsules)

I recommend CBDfx for CBN capsules, which combine 15 mg CBD and 1.25 mg of CBN with a blend of relaxing terpenes and three more sleep-promoting ingredients: valerian root (3), GABA (4), and magnesium (5).

This effective formula, THC-free formula works better than CBD or CBN on its own. CBDfx is a popular California brand best known for its innovative formulations. Its products are sourced from organic Kentucky hemp and comprehensively tested by a third-party lab.

My experience: These capsules have a strong herbal smell. I took 6 an hour before bed and slept deeper than normal, waking up rested. But I got diarrhea the next morning, probably because I took too much magnesium (150 mg/capsule), so I recommend sticking to the listed 2-capsule dosage.

What is CBN?

Cannabinol (CBN) is a naturally occurring, non-intoxicating cannabinoid present in cannabis. It’s considered a “minor” cannabinoid because its levels in regular cannabis plants are quite low.

That’s because unlike most other cannabinoids, which are made directly from the “mother cannabinoid” cannabigerolic acid (CBGa), CBN is made from THC.

More specifically, THC and its precursor tetrahydrocannabinolic acid (THCa) break down into CBN and CBNa when exposed to oxygen (6). That’s why old cannabis plants contain more CBN.

CBN products can be made in a variety of ways, including extracting cannabis plants bred for high CBN levels, converting THC into CBN, and even converting CBD into THC and then CBN.

Although it’s most popular as a sleep aid, CBN has a wide range of potential health benefits.

What is CBN Oil?

CBN oil is essentially a cannabinol-rich version of CBD oil. It can contain either pure CBN or a CBN-rich extract that may have other cannabinoids and terpenes. 

The CBN is dissolved in MCT oil or another carrier oil, which helps the body absorb cannabinoids. Similar to CBD, CBN can also be formulated into capsules, gummies, isolates, and other types of products.

How Does CBN Differ from CBD?

Both CBN and CBD are non-intoxicating, which means they won’t get you high. They’re present in both regular cannabis and in hemp, the THC-low variety of the plant.

But while they do share some similar health effects, CBN is a distinct cannabinoid, and researchers are hard at work figuring out its exact benefits and uses.

CBN and Sleep: a Common Misconception

Many people believe that CBN is particularly helpful for insomnia and other sleep issues. That’s because of the observation that aged cannabis, which is high in CBN from the breakdown of THCa, seems to work especially well as a sleep aid (7).

But as noted by esteemed cannabis researcher Dr. Ethan Russo, CBN doesn’t have sedating properties of its own. Instead, it may be the higher levels of sedating oxygenated terpenes that make aged cannabis such a potent sleep inducer.

Another possibility is that CBN might enhance the sedating effects of other cannabinoids. This was demonstrated by a 1975 study that compared the effects of CBN and THC. 

The researchers found that pure CBN did not make people more sleepy (8). However, when CBN was combined with THC, it enhanced its sedative effects.

Still, one small, outdated study is not enough to confirm that CBN helps you sleep.

As the researchers of a 2021 review paper concluded, “…there is insufficient published evidence to support sleep-related claims. Randomized controlled trials are needed to substantiate claims made by manufacturers of cannabis products containing CBN.” (9)

The bottom line: CBN may improve the sleep-inducing effects of CBD and other cannabinoids, so it makes sense to look for full-spectrum CBD products with added CBN. But the evidence is limited and not strong enough to support claims that CBN promotes or supports sleep.

CBN Benefits

Its sleep effects aside, research suggests that CBN has numerous beneficial properties. Here’s a quick summary of the findings:

• A 2005 study in mice found that CBN delayed the onset of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), suggesting it may protect neurons from damage (10)
• A 2022 study found that CBN may protect mitochondria from age-related neurodegeneration, which is involved in Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and Huntington’s disease (11)
• A 2008 study reported that CBN has antibacterial properties (12)
• A 2012 study found that CBN encouraged rats to eat more, which means it may have potential as an appetite stimulant (13)
• A 2016 study noted that CBN has anti-inflammatory effects (14)
• A 2019 study in rats reported that CBN reduced muscle pain (15)
• A 2022 study found that CBN may help with glaucoma by reducing eye pressure and promoting neuroprotection (16)

As we can see, cannabinol has a wide range of potential health benefits, including anti-inflammatory, pain-relieving, neuroprotective, and appetite-stimulating effects. This gives it a wide range of applications.

However, research is still in its early stages so we can expect to see more interesting findings in the coming years.

Safety & Side Effects

There’s no evidence that cannabinol causes any side effects. But that’s most likely due to a lack of research.

Once more studies are done, we can expect to see similar potential side effects as CBD, like tiredness or dry mouth.

CBN Dosage

There’s no consensus on the best dosage for CBN due to a lack of research.

On top of that, there are many factors that determine the ideal dosage of cannabinoids, such as body weight, tolerance, the benefits you’re hoping to achieve, and the type of formula you’re using.

The best approach is to start as low as possible and gradually raise the dosage (17). Be sure to wait for about two hours after a dose to see how it affects you and continue to slowly increase until you start experiencing the desired effects.

How I Chose and Tested CBN Products

I started off with a list of about 20 CBN oils and other products containing CBN. Then, I narrowed down the options based on the following criteria:

• Third-party testing: Independent tests are essential for verifying the potency, purity, and accuracy of CBD products. I only recommend third-party tested CBN products and check the test reports myself to make sure they match the label.
• Type of CBN: There’s pure CBN, products with pure CBN and CBD, and full-spectrum CBN, which contains other beneficial cannabinoids. I prefer full-spectrum CBN products for the greatest effects but also suggest alternatives if you need to avoid THC.
• Potency: This means the amount of CBN (and other cannabinoids) in the product. I prefer high-potency products because they’re more cost-effective and both beginner and advanced users can be sure they’ll get the desired effects.
• Hemp source: Great products start out from quality hemp. I prefer brands that list where and how their hemp is grown. Third-party certifications like US Hemp Authority and USDA-organic are awesome as well.
• Company reputation: Great customer reviews and disclosure about the company’s production process, third-party tests, history, and to her details are all signs of a reputable brand.
• Price: I break down the prices of CBN products into cents per mg of cannabinoids, making it easy to compare and see if you’re getting a good deal. I also keep in mind deals like free shipping and subscriptions.

Next, I tested the remaining CBN products for at least several nights. I took them all at similar doses, usually before bed, since most CBN products are marketed as sleep aids.

I also took breaks of at least a day between trying different products to make sure there weren’t any tolerance issues. Finally, I considered the efficacy of the products and the above factors to choose the five best options.

Keep in mind that I’m a seasoned CBD user so the doses I take are on the higher end.

CBN FAQs