Cannabinol, a lesser-known compound found in the cannabis plant, might hold promise as a sleep aid, according to new research published in the journal Neuropsychopharmacology. Researchers found that cannabinol improved sleep quality by increasing the duration of deep sleep and stabilizing overall sleep patterns.
Cannabinol, or CBN, is one of many naturally occurring chemicals in cannabis, though it is present in much smaller amounts than compounds like delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) or cannabidiol (CBD). CBN forms as THC ages and degrades, leading to its nickname, the “sleepy cannabinoid.” Despite the growing popularity of CBN products marketed as sleep aids, scientific evidence supporting these claims has been limited.
CBN immediately helped improve the length of sleep in all patients within 48 hours of the study. Most patients recorded a deeper sleep within two weeks, which lasted for the duration of the study.
