CBN is rapidly gaining ground in the wellness market due to its reported health benefits, especially in aiding sleep. Most discussions related to cannabinoids are centered on CBD and THC, but more compounds from the cannabis plant are coming up: CBN is one of them. Nevertheless, as with numerous products derived from cannabis, the questions surrounding the legality of CBN are still a source of concern for consumers and businesses.
This article will analyze the current state of the legalization of cannabinol products, outline how CBN is different from other cannabinoids in the legal context, and examine the key points that need to be understood before engaging in the purchase or sale of cannabinol products.
What is CBN?
CBN, or Cannabinol, is a psychoactive cannabinoid that is produced through the degradation of THC mainly by air, light, and heat. Therefore, old cannabis sources usually have higher concentrations of CBN. It is much less psychoactive than pure tetrahydrocannabinol cannabinoids.
Is CBN Legal?
Let’s look at a breakdown of the legal stance in the United States and across the globe.
Federal Law (U.S.)
As it stands, the legality of CBN gummies is still a little obscure. The Hemp Bill of 2018 marked an eventful change in the status quo regarding cannabinoids. With this bill, the production of hemp and its derivatives was made legal in the United States within the framework of the strict law that contains less than 0.3 percent THC in dry form. This resulted in the legalization of both the production and the sale of cannabis products, with a boom in the CBN market.
However, there are some concerning ambiguities, in particular CBN's place in the legal classification. Although the Farm Bill stated in clear terms that hemp-extracted products, including CBD derivatives, are federally legal in the US, CBN was not one of those hemp products named in the bill.
This puts CBN in a grey area as most of its derivatives can be extracted through THC, which incites the debate on whether it is the same as CBD or synthesized as THC, which is illegal across the federal level.
State Law
The standing of CBN is also dependent on the respective state. Some states have incorporated the federal policy on hemp, so hemp-derived cannabinoids are free to be sold under the restriction of THC amount of less than 0.3 percent.
On the contrary, some states enacted tougher laws regulating the sale of cannabinoid products by limiting or prohibiting specific items, especially those that have traces of tetrahydrocannabinol. However, the sale and usage of CBN are legal in those states within which recreational cannabis use has been made legal.
It would be the opposite case for states that have maintained the prohibition of cannabis. It is likely that CBN could be scheduled as a controlled substance if it is considered a THC analogue.
Since state laws regarding CBN are different and span between legal to very prohibitive, it is advisable to consult the laws of the state before either engaging in the sale, or purchasing such products.
What About International Laws?
While there are countries that fully embrace the full legalization of cannabis, there are others that do not allow it or related compounds. For instance, nations like Canada, which has allowed the use of cannabis for both medical and recreational purposes, have no restrictions on the selling of gummies.
Most of the European nations, however, tend to have stricter measures, especially on the level of THC in CBD oil. Although CBN is non-psychoactive, the fact that it is a derivative of THC makes it even more of an awkward legality.
In the case of the United Kingdom and Germany, hemp-derived CBD is legal, but restrictions may apply for CBN products if they do not comply with the THC limit set by those countries.
Countries where cannabis is criminalized such as Japan or Saudi Arabia do not allow the use of CBN at all.
What is the Difference Between Hemp-Derived and Marijuana-Derived CBN?
The aspect that will determine the legal status of Cannabinol products usually hangs on the origin of the CBN, whether marijuana or hemp-derived CBN. In terms of the classification of cannabis, the 2018 Farm Bill defines hemp to be a cannabis plant with a THC level of not more than 0.3%. This means that hemp-based CBN generally may enjoy similar legal requirements offered to hemp-based Cannabinol products.
On the other hand, CBN derived from marijuana (cannabis containing more than 0.3% THC) is more likely to be classified as illegal federally if not manufactured in a state where cannabis is legal for recreational or medicinal purposes.
However, before you go about purchasing CBN, it is worth checking that the product is hemp-derived, which is distilled from the cannabis plant, to avoid any legal disappointment.
Does CBN Show Up on Drug Tests?
Since CBN is derived from the breakdown of THC, it may be responsible for testing positive for THC. Most drug tests of common use do not discriminate between various cannabinoids and are targeted at the presence of THC or its breakdown products. Such aspects become crucial in drug monitoring.
What is the FDA’s Stance on CBN?
For the time being, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has made no special mention of CBN rule-making. Despite the fact that Epidiolex and some other cannabis drugs that contain CBD and are aimed at the treatment of epilepsy have been approved by the FDA, there is no medicinal CBN that has been approved for the cure of any condition.
Like Epidiolex in the case of CBD, the FDA provides a strong caution discouraging the use of cannabidiol and making any health claims about them without proof. This, and the increasing popularity of CBN, brings a possibility that the FDA might have particular CBN regulations in the future.
So, sleep aid cannabis products are more or less in a no man’s land as far as clarity of the position on their legality is concerned and therefore marketers should exercise caution regarding making health claims in promotions.
How Does CBN Interact with the Endocannabinoid System?
However, in order to understand the effects of CBN, it is imperative to look into how it interacts with the endocannabinoid system (ECS). The ECS is essentially a biological system comprising endocannabinoids and their receptors so as to mediate several bodily functions, mood and pain being two of them, as well as sleep.
CBN is thought to possess an affinity for the CB1 receptors and CB2 receptors within the ECS. Such interaction may mediate different effects, which gives it hope of being useful in therapy. The unique way of how CBN acts on these receptors may help in the entourage effect that is accomplished by the use of many cannabinoids, where other cannabinoids enhance the effect of CBN itself more than when used individually.
CBN, when bound to CB1 and CB2 receptors, can help several activities in the sleep, pain, and immune domains. The health of a person lies in the body’s ability to maintain equilibrium, and cannabinoids such as CBN may, in one way or another, help achieve this.
Conclusion
Cannabinol products possess complicated legal status as the laws of the federation, states, and countries are quite all over the board. Although the Farm Act of 2018 legalized cannabinoids based on the hemp plant, the association of CBN with THC brings some issues. As more consumers buy CBD and CBN for their perceived benefits, particularly for sleep, it can be predicted that the regulatory frame will change sooner or later, especially as researchers and regulators begin responding to the cannabinoid market.
For now, it is important both for consumers and businesses to understand where it is possible to buy or sell CBN products and the risk of legal consequences such actions will bring.