These Popular Weed Sleep Gummies May Be Riskier Than Advertised

A less studied ingredient in cannabis-related products might not be quite as harmless as advertised, recent research suggests.

Scientists at the University of Connecticut studied the effects of cannabinol, also known as CBN, on mice in the lab. They found evidence that mice could develop a physical dependence on CBN and that CBN can mimic some of the same psychoactive effects as tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). Though more study will be needed, the findings indicate that products high in CBN aren’t inherently risk-free, the researchers say.

“The steep rise in demand for minor cannabinoid products in recent years has considerably outpaced empirical research on their purported health effects,” the authors wrote in their paper, published in the November edition of the journal Drug and Alcohol Dependence.

The unknowns of CBN

The main active ingredients in cannabis are THC and cannabidiol (CBD), while THC is primarily responsible for the psychoactive “high”  of cannabis.

Weed has many other cannabinoids in smaller amounts that have started to garner some popularity, including CBN. CBN is supposed to provide a milder psychoactive effect compared to THC, and gummy or edible products containing it are commonly marketed as THC-free sleep and relaxation aids that are non-habit forming. According to the study authors, however, there’s been little research actually done on CBN, particularly on its potential long-term effects.

The researchers dosed mice with CBN twice a day for five straight days. The mice seemed to develop a tolerance to CBN, they found, meaning that the drug’s bodily effects lessened over time. And when the researchers gave the mice a different medication that blocks certain receptors triggered by cannabinoids on the sixth day of testing, the mice appeared to show signs of drug withdrawal, such as head twitches and paw tremors.

Some of the team’s other experiments did suggest that CBN provides a milder high than THC. At the same time, mice previously trained to respond to THC also responded in a similar way to CBN, suggesting CBN can activate some of the same pathways in the body that can cause THC dependence, the researchers say.

“These data indicate that repeated CBN administration induces tolerance and physical dependence,” they wrote.

What this might mean for taking CBN

Mice are not humans, so it’s not certain whether these effects translate to our biology. And even if people can develop a dependence on CBN, that’s not necessarily a serious health concern. Millions of Americans are dependent on caffeine, for instance, and plenty would experience withdrawal symptoms like headaches if they had to suddenly stop taking it. But studies have also consistently shown that caffeine consumption is an overall healthy habit for most people, so long as you’re taking it in moderation.

At the same time, some substances are more likely to cause an unhealthy dependence that can negatively affect people’s lives, and people can develop such a dependence on THC and cannabis in general. If nothing else, these latest results suggest that the marketing around CBN as non-habit forming might not be accurate after all.

The researchers argue that we need to study CBN a lot more to truly understand its potential risks and benefits. In the meantime, they add, people should be mindful about fully buying into the advertising they see on these products.

“CBN may still have therapeutic value,” said study author Steven Kinsey, a professor at UConn’s Elisabeth DeLuca School of Nursing, in a statement released by the university. “But until we know more about dosing and long-term effects, the message for consumers is simple: buyer beware.”