Sleepy CBN Oil Recipe + What is Cannabinol (CBN)

Why You Will Love This Recipe

The cannabis plant contains more than 100 cannabinoids, which give the plant its powerful properties.

While you usually hear about CBD and THC, the minor cannabinoid called cannabinol, or CBN, has been getting a lot of attention due in my Well With Cannabis Community to its unique sleep effects.

But what is CBN, why is it nicknamed the sleep cannabinoid, and is it right for you?

In this guide, we will review CBN’s potential benefits, and I will show you how to make your own CBN oil at home.

Ingredient Notes

• THC Flowers – To make a CBN oil at home, you must start with a cannabis flower that has THC already present. Aged cannabis is a great option, too. You can purchase this from your local dispensary.
• Lecithin, optional: If you’re new to working with lecithin, you can learn more about adding lecithin to edibles here. If needed, you can purchase liquid lecithin or powdered lecithin. This ingredient is optional.
• Carrier Oil Of Choice– There are many oil options to choose from. Unsure what to pick? Check out my guide to understanding different types of cannabis oils here. 

Note: a complete list of ingredients with amounts and printable instructions is located in the recipe card below.

The Step-by-Step Process

• Step 5 – Whether it be a paper filter and funnel, cheesecloth, French press, or a simple coffee filter, you will want to set up a straining station to separate the plant matter from the oil.
• Step 6 – Once cool enough to handle, strain the prepared oil with your method of choice. You can save the leftover cannabis pulp for use in future recipes.
• Step 7 – Return the prepared CBN oil to whatever jar you would like to store it in; I use a small blue tincture dropper bottle.
• Step 8 – Store the prepared CBN oil in a cool, dry place. It will last longer if stored in the refrigerator and even longer if stored in the freezer.

Note: complete step-by-step printable instructions are located in the recipe card below.

Storage Instructions

Store your prepared CBN oil in a cool, dry place. It will last longer if stored in the refrigerator and even longer if stored in the freezer.

Learn More About CBN (Cannabinol)

In most strains of cannabis, THC and CBD are the two most prominent active cannabinoids.

CBN, among other cannabinoids, is considered a minor cannabinoid because it is only found naturally in trace amounts.

Fortunately, CBN can be achieved through two different processes.

In the first process, CBN is formed through the degradation of THC.

The process of THC degrading to CBN involves exposure to UV light, heat and/or through the process of oxidation, or prolonged exposure to air.

This means if you have old cannabis or expose the THC to oxygen and/or heat, you will have plant material that has developed a higher concentration of CBN.

In the second process, THCA converts to cannabinolic acid (CBNA), and the CBN molecule is then produced by decarboxylating CBNA into CBN (2). 

CBN attaches to cannabinoid receptors in our body through the endocannabinoid system, producing sedative effects when consumed.

CBN, the metabolite of THC, is considered to be mildly-intoxicating in nature.

According to an article published in the Advances in Pharmacology co-authored by Dr. Ethan Russo, CBN maintains about ¼ the potency relative to THC (3).

CBN is best known anecdotally among my community as a solution to manage conditions like insomnia or anxiety due to its calming, relaxing nature. 

How To Decarb To Get CBN

According to a decarboxylation study of acidic cannabinoids published in Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research, “Δ⁹-THC itself readily oxidizes to cannabinol (CBN) with oxygen and light during the decarboxylation process”.

The study goes on to note that the “formation of an oxidation product, CBN, was observed at 160°C and 180°C” (2).

For my Fahrenheit friends, that is 320°F to 356°F.

At these high temperatures, I’ve seen THC being converted into CBN in 90 minutes.

Of course, many people prefer to decarboxylate at lower temperatures in order to preserve the valuable terpenes present in the plant.

Because decarboxylation operates on a time-to-temperature scale, we can decarb for CBN at a lower temperature for a longer period of time to achieve CBN formation.

If you want to stick with the traditional 240°F used for decarboxylation, it is recommended to decarb for 180 minutes (as opposed to 40 minutes for THCA to THC conversion or 90 minutes for CBDA to CBD conversion).

You can also try to decarboxylate for CBN using the Instant Pot.

*Please note: I do not yet have lab tests to confirm these times and temperatures for CBN formation.

These recommendations are based on anecdotal reports of what is currently working for consumers inside my Well With Cannabis Community.

Follow this process at your own discretion, and consider starting with a small batch according to the chart shared below.

Why is CBN Called The ‘Sleep Cannabinoid’?

CBN is commonly referred to as ‘the sleep cannabinoid’ or ‘the sleepy cannabinoid’.

Consumers who have aged cannabis that has been sitting around for a while (years) report that they find that it produces more sedative effects than fresh cannabis.

As THC further breaks down into CBN, this effect becomes even more pronounced.

Through Dr. Russo’s research, it has been found that “CBN can be sedative, anticonvulsant in animal and human studies, and has demonstrated significant properties related to anti-inflammatory, antibiotic, and anti-MRSA activity” (3).

With millions of Americans dealing with mild to severe insomnia, CBN has been getting a lot of attention from health practitioners and consumers alike.

While more research is needed before anyone can make definite claims, many consumers hope that CBN may one day replace addictive and potentially dangerous prescription sleep medications.

What Are The Effects and Side Effects of CBN?

Before you start making or using CBN, it’s important to understand both the positive effects and the potential negative side effects.

First, it’s important to note that pure, isolated, CBN won’t make you sleepy.

Like most cannabinoids, it works best when combined with other cannabinoids and terpenes, as a part of ‘The Entourage Effect‘ theory proposed in the British Journal of Pharmacology (4).

This theory believes that a full spectrum of cannabinoids produces a more powerful effect than isolated cannabinoids on their own.

CBN is often combined with a complementary cannabinoid, like CBD, to produce ideal effects.

CBD and CBN can work synergistically to relax and produce calming feelings.

Make or Buy CBN Oil

The best part is that CBN, unlike some other cannabis products, is not directly considered a controlled substance.

This means more and more CBN products are appearing on the market, like sublingual tinctures, capsules, or even tea bags.

However, many CBN products may fall into a legal gray area depending on where you live, so it’s important to be careful and check your local regulations.

While you can purchase CBN products from my shop, you can also make your own CBN oil at home from cannabis flower by breaking down the THC into CBN.

Aging the cannabis with exposure to air will produce more oxidation, and the more oxidation there is, the more of the THC will degrade in CBN.

Unfortunately, most people don’t have aged cannabis available, or the patience to wait.

The next best option to get the desired results is to take your THC dominant cannabis flower and expose it to heat for a long period of time through the decarboxylation process.

Frequently Asked Questions

Below are some of the most frequently asked questions I receive in my Well With Cannabis Community about making CBN oil at home.