CBD and CBN are both cannabinoids from cannabis, but they form in different ways and act differently in the body. CBD comes from CBDA, which the living plant makes in large amounts. CBN forms when THC breaks down with air and age, so fresh plants contain little of it. CBN binds weakly to the CB1 receptor, about ten times less strongly than THC; CBD does not switch that receptor on. CBD has been studied in far more human trials than CBN.
Key facts
- Origin
- CBD: made by the plant (as CBDA). CBN: a breakdown product of THC, formed by air oxidation
- Amount in hemp
- CBD is usually the main cannabinoid; CBN is a small share. Our Zermatt Balance oil: 15.83% CBD and 0.18% CBN (April 2026 certificate)
- Intoxicating?
- CBD: no. CBN: most human studies found no cannabis-like effects from CBN alone
- CB1 receptor (lab studies)
- CBN: weak agonist, about 10 times lower affinity than THC. CBD: negative allosteric modulator
- Human research
- CBD: many clinical trials. CBN: a few trials, mostly small and focused on sleep, with mixed results (as of October 2026)
- Legal status
- UK: pure CBD is not controlled; cannabinol (CBN) is listed as a Class B drug in the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 (Home Office, as of October 2026)
What is the difference between CBD and CBN?
The main difference is where they come from. Hemp makes cannabinoids as acids. Cannabidiolic acid (CBDA) becomes CBD when the plant material is heated, and in most hemp varieties CBD is the main cannabinoid. CBN is different: no enzyme in the plant makes it. It forms when THC oxidises in air, which is why aged or poorly stored cannabis contains more of it (Fairbairn et al., 1976; Maioli et al., 2022).
That origin also explains the second difference. Because CBN comes from THC, it still acts a little like THC at the CB1 receptor, the receptor behind the cannabis high, but its affinity is about ten times lower (Maioli et al., 2022). CBD works in another way: in cell studies, it changes how the CB1 receptor responds to other compounds rather than switching it on (Laprairie et al., 2015).
CBD vs CBN at a glance
| Feature | CBD (cannabidiol) | CBN (cannabinol) |
|---|---|---|
| How it forms | The plant makes CBDA, which becomes CBD when heated | THC oxidises in air over time; no known plant pathway |
| Amount in fresh hemp | Usually the main cannabinoid | Small; more in aged material |
| CB1 receptor (lab studies) | Negative allosteric modulator; does not activate it | Weak agonist, about 10 times lower affinity than THC |
| Intoxicating | No | Not on its own in most human studies; it added to THC's effects in one small 1975 study |
| Human research | Many clinical trials | A few trials, mostly on sleep |
| Liver enzymes (lab studies) | Inhibits CYP3A4, CYP2B6, CYP2C9, CYP2D6 and CYP2E1 | Inhibits CYP2B6, CYP2C9 and CYP2E1 |
| Through human skin (lab study) | Permeates, about 10 times better than Δ8-THC | Permeates about as well as CBD |
Sources for the table: Maioli et al., 2022; Laprairie et al., 2015; Corroon, 2021; Karniol et al., 1975; Nasrin et al., 2021; Stinchcomb et al., 2004. For more on each one, read What is CBD? and What is CBN (cannabinol)?
Does CBN get you high? Is it stronger than CBD?
CBN is weaker than THC, and on its own it does not usually feel like cannabis. A 2021 review found that most human studies showed no cannabis-like effects from CBN alone (Corroon, 2021). In a small 1975 study, five men who took 50 mg of CBN did not report feeling drugged, but CBN combined with THC made them feel more drugged, dizzy and drowsy than THC alone (Karniol et al., 1975).
"Stronger" is the wrong comparison, because the two act on different targets. CBN acts a little like a very weak THC; CBD is not intoxicating at all. Neither one has been shown in people to be more effective than the other for any purpose.
CBN vs CBD for sleep: what have studies tested?
CBN is often marketed as the "sleepy" cannabinoid, and most CBN trials have looked at sleep. The results so far are mixed, and no trial has shown that CBN works better than CBD:
- In 293 adults with poor sleep, 20 mg of CBN for seven nights did not significantly improve the main outcome, sleep quality, but reduced night-time awakenings. Adding CBD did not improve the results (Bonn-Miller et al., 2024).
- In 20 adults with insomnia disorder, single doses of 30 mg or 300 mg of CBN did not change time awake after falling asleep, the main outcome; 300 mg shortened the time to fall asleep (Lavender et al., 2026).
- In 1,793 adults, adding 15 mg of CBN to 15 mg of CBD made no difference compared with CBD alone. This trial had no placebo group (Saleska et al., 2024).
A 2021 review concluded that there was insufficient published evidence to support sleep claims for CBN (Corroon, 2021). Neither CBD nor CBN is a treatment for sleep problems. Our guide CBD oil and sleep sums up all the trials, including those on CBD alone.
Is CBN hard on the liver?
Nobody can say with confidence yet, because there is very little human safety data on CBN. In laboratory tests, both CBN and CBD block several liver enzymes that break down medicines (Nasrin et al., 2021). This is why cannabinoids can interact with some medicines. If you take any medication, talk to your doctor or pharmacist first, and read our guide to CBD and medication.
Can CBD and CBN be in the same product?
Yes. Full-spectrum hemp extracts contain CBD with small amounts of other cannabinoids, and CBN can be among them. The certificate for the April 2026 batch of our full-spectrum Zermatt Balance oil (report 260410_A01, sample 260408.03) measured 15.83% CBD and 0.18% CBN. All our oils are cosmetics for use on the skin. To check what a batch contains, read how to read a certificate of analysis.
Are CBD and CBN legal in the UK?
They are treated differently. The Home Office states that "pure CBD, as an isolated substance, is not controlled" under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971, and that "cannabinol is a Class B drug" under the same Act, as are cannabinol derivatives such as THC. A product that contains a controlled cannabinoid can only be supplied lawfully under a Home Office licence or if it meets all three conditions of the "exempt product" definition in regulation 2 of the Misuse of Drugs Regulations 2001, one of which is no more than 1 mg of the controlled drug per component part. Internationally, neither CBD nor CBN is named in the schedules of the 1971 UN Convention on Psychotropic Substances, which list THC and its isomers (UNODC). Our guide Is CBD legal in the UK? explains the exempt product rule.
From our production
We test every batch in Switzerland, and we have never had a failed test since 2013. The certificate shows both cannabinoids: our April 2026 batch of Zermatt Balance measured 15.83% CBD and 0.18% CBN.
— Robin Roy Krigslund-Hansen, co-founder and CEO
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between CBD and CBN?
CBD is made by the hemp plant (as CBDA) and is usually its main cannabinoid. CBN forms when THC oxidises over time. CBN binds weakly to the CB1 receptor, about ten times less strongly than THC, while CBD does not activate it. CBD has been studied far more in people.
Is CBN more effective than CBD?
That has not been shown. No trial has found CBN to work better than CBD. In one large trial, adding CBN to CBD made no difference, and in another, adding CBD to CBN did not improve results.
Is CBN or CBD better for sleep?
Neither is a sleep treatment, and the research is mixed. In the largest CBN trial, 20 mg of CBN reduced night-time awakenings but did not significantly improve the main measure of sleep quality. No trial has shown CBN to be better than CBD.
What does CBN make you feel like?
Most human studies found no cannabis-like effects from CBN on its own. In a small 1975 study, CBN combined with THC made people feel more drugged, dizzy and drowsy than THC alone.
Is CBN hard on the liver?
Human safety data on CBN are too limited to say. In lab tests, CBN and CBD both block liver enzymes that break down medicines, so ask your doctor or pharmacist first if you take medication.
Is CBN legal in the UK?
The Home Office lists cannabinol (CBN) as a Class B drug under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971, while pure CBD is not controlled. Products containing a controlled cannabinoid must be licensed or meet the exempt product definition in the Misuse of Drugs Regulations 2001.
This article summarises published research. It is not medical advice. Formula Swiss CBD and CBN oils are sold as cosmetics for use on the skin. They are not food supplements or medicines and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.
Last reviewed:
Sources
- Maioli C, Mattoteia D, Amin HIM, Minassi A, Caprioglio D. Cannabinol: history, syntheses, and biological profile of the greatest "minor" cannabinoid. Plants (Basel) 2022;11(21):2896. doi:10.3390/plants11212896
- Fairbairn JW, Liebmann JA, Rowan MG. The stability of cannabis and its preparations on storage. J Pharm Pharmacol 1976;28(1):1–7. doi:10.1111/j.2042-7158.1976.tb04014.x
- Laprairie RB, Bagher AM, Kelly MEM, Denovan-Wright EM. Cannabidiol is a negative allosteric modulator of the cannabinoid CB1 receptor. Br J Pharmacol 2015;172(20):4790–4805. doi:10.1111/bph.13250
- Corroon J. Cannabinol and sleep: separating fact from fiction. Cannabis Cannabinoid Res 2021;6(5):366–371. doi:10.1089/can.2021.0006
- Karniol IG, Shirakawa I, Takahashi RN, Knobel E, Musty RE. Effects of Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol and cannabinol in man. Pharmacology 1975;13(6):502–512. doi:10.1159/000136944
- Bonn-Miller MO, Feldner MT, Bynion TM, et al. A double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study of the safety and effects of CBN with and without CBD on sleep quality. Exp Clin Psychopharmacol 2024;32(3):277–284. doi:10.1037/pha0000682
- Lavender IG, Marshall NS, McCartney D, et al. Cannabinol for acute treatment of insomnia disorder in a randomized placebo-controlled crossover trial. J Sleep Res 2026;35(4):e70284. doi:10.1111/jsr.70284
- Saleska JL, Bryant C, Kolobaric A, et al. The safety and comparative effectiveness of non-psychoactive cannabinoid formulations for the improvement of sleep: a double-blinded, randomized controlled trial. J Am Nutr Assoc 2024;43(1):1–11. doi:10.1080/27697061.2023.2203221
- Nasrin S, Watson CJW, Perez-Paramo YX, Lazarus P. Cannabinoid metabolites as inhibitors of major hepatic CYP450 enzymes, with implications for cannabis-drug interactions. Drug Metab Dispos 2021;49(12):1070–1080. doi:10.1124/dmd.121.000442
- Stinchcomb AL, Valiveti S, Hammell DC, Ramsey DR. Human skin permeation of Δ8-tetrahydrocannabinol, cannabidiol and cannabinol. J Pharm Pharmacol 2004;56(3):291–297. doi:10.1211/0022357022791
- United Nations. Convention on Psychotropic Substances, 1971, Schedules I and II. UNODC
- Home Office. Drug licensing factsheet: cannabis, CBD and other cannabinoids (updated 3 October 2024). gov.uk
- Misuse of Drugs Act 1971, Schedule 2, Part II; Misuse of Drugs Regulations 2001, regulation 2. legislation.gov.uk
- Formula Swiss. Certificate of analysis, Zermatt Balance, report 260410_A01 (analysed 8 April 2026)
