Cannabinol (CBN) is a beneficial naturally-occurring cannabinoid that many people find beneficial for sleep. Unlike THC, it’s legal in nearly every US state.
But will it show up on a drug test?
While CBN isn’t screened for on most drug tests, it is very chemically similar to THC, which is. Therefore, you may test positive for THC if you consume a lot of CBN beforehand. We recommend avoiding CBN products if you have an upcoming test.
In this article, we’ll dive deeper into why CBN may cause you to fail a drug test, discuss its legality, benefits, and effects, and give you some tips to stay safe before your next test.
What is CBN?
Cannabinol, or CBN, is a cannabinoid that naturally occurs in the cannabis sativa plant. Hemp is a variant of cannabis sativa containing less than 0.3% THC by dry weight.
CBN has been known to scientists for nearly a century, but unlike THC, it was relatively unused by the general public for a long time.
The thing that made CBN popular is that some people noticed aged hemp flower made them drowsier than newer flower.
And one of the main differences between aged and new hemp flower is the CBN content: over time, THC degrades into CBN. This means aged flower contains higher amounts of CBN, which they inferred to have sedative properties.
While the research on CBN for sleep is mixed, anecdotal evidence suggests this cannabinoid is a sleep aid. But it may not be drug-test-safe.
Will CBN Show Up on a Drug Test?
While CBN isn’t a target analyte in the vast majority of drug tests, it may be interpreted by tests as tetrahydrocannabinol (THC).
THC is the target analyte that most drug tests use to determine if you’ve been consuming cannabis, which is prohibited by many organizations.
CBN is very chemically similar to THC, and it also interacts very similarly with your endocannabinoid system. This means drug drug testing technology may have a hard time distinguishing the two.
Research has documented this. A 2020 study from the University of Utah looked at whether CBN might show up as THC in urinalysis tests. The researchers assessed two different tests, and measured the amount of CBN required to cause a failure (in which CBN shows up as THC).
In one test, 20 times as much CBN as THC was required to cause a failed test, whereas in another study, consuming just 5 times as much CBN resulted in a failure [1].
The implication is that if you consume a significant amount of CBN, it might show up as THC on a drug test. Because of this, we strongly recommend you steer clear of CBN if you have an upcoming test.
How Long Does CBN Stay in Your System?
CBN can stay in your system anywhere from 24 hours to several weeks.
This reason this window is so large is because several factors influence how long it takes you to process all the CBN out of your system:
- Frequency of Use: The main determinant of how long CBN stays in your system is how often you use it. If you’re an occasional or once-off user, the CBN will typically be gone from your system in 24-48 hours. However, if you routinely consume CBN products, it can take them several weeks to clear your system.
- Dosage: The amount of CBN you take influences how long it takes to clear your system – your body will take longer to process larger doses.
- Metabolism: People with a naturally faster metabolism will process CBN more quickly than people with a slower metabolism. This varies from person to person.
Based on these factors, be sure to put enough time between your last consumption of CBN and your drug test to allow it to clear your system.
Is CBN Legal?
Yes, CBN is federally legal in the US.
The 2018 Farm Bill (which has been extended through 2024) legalized hemp and hemp-derived cannabinoids, including CBN, on a federal level.
Hemp is a variant of the cannabis sativa plant that contains less than 0.3% THC by dry weight.
However, CBN still poses complications on drug tests for two main reasons:
- It may appear as THC, and cannabis is federally illegal (hemp is not), so companies typically ban it, too.
- Standards vary, depending on why you are being drug tested. Some companies ban other cannabinoids besides THC; the military bans all cannabinoids.
Potential Benefits of CBN
If you’ve never used CBN before, you may wonder why people make such a big deal about it or are concerned about it showing up on drug tests.
Here are some of the potential therapeutic benefits of CBN, according to research.
- Sleep: CBN may promote restful sleep via its sedative, relaxing effects. A 1995 study done on mice found that CBN may prolong sleeping time [2]. CBN is also commonly used as a replacement for over-the-counter melatonin supplements.
- Pain: A 2016 study from University of Massachusetts researchers found CBN may have anti-inflammatory properties [3]. Research out of the University of British Columbia, Canada, found that CBN reduces muscle pain in rats. The study also found that a 1:1 combination of CBD and CBN was more effective for pain than CBN alone [4].
- Anxiety: Although no scientific research has investigated whether CBN may render anxiolytic (anxiety-reducing) effects, anecdotal evidence suggests CBN may be beneficial for stress and anxiety due to its mentally relaxing effects.
- Focus: A 2020 study by researchers in Israel looking at the impact of cannabinoid and terpene consumption on ADHD found that a high dosage of CBN was associated with a lower Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale ASRS score [5].
- Eye Health: A 2021 study from the University of British Columbia, Canada, found that CBN promoted neuroprotection and normalized intraocular pressure levels in the eye [6].
- CBN May Enhance THC: A 1975 study found that a CBN-THC combination will render a greater psychoactive effect than THC alone [7]. Anecdotal accounts corroborate this; most people describe this effect as a calmer, drowsier version of the normal THC high.
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Will CBN Make You High?
Yes, CBN will create a mild head high. However, the high is typically characterized more by relaxation and sedation than by inebriation. Anecdotally, CBN is only about ¼ as strong as THC.
Because of CBN’s psychoactive, yet relaxing effects, many people find it beneficial for sleep and nighttime support.
Side Effects of CBN
While CBN is very beneficial, it may create adverse side effects:
- Tiredness
- Dizziness
- Difficulty thinking and speaking
- Slowed reaction time
Many people either don’t feel these side effects or feel them very mildly; CBN’s side effects can often be eliminated through proper dosing. Still, they’re important to be aware of.
Conclusion: How to Stay Safe Before a Drug Test
There is really only one foolproof way to stay safe before a drug test: abstain from using CBN altogether for the period needed to allow it to clear your system.
If you’re using CBN for sleep support, a CBD isolate product is your best bet in the meantime. CBD may offer many of the same benefits as CBN does for sleep, and it won’t show up as THC.
However, be aware that with any hemp-derived product, there is always potential for THC to sneak in. That’s why it’s important to shop with reputable companies that provide 3rd-party lab tests for their products.
CBN & Drug Tests: Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some questions customers commonly ask us about CBN and drug testing.
Will CBN gummies show on a drug test?
Yes, CBN gummies may cause a false positive for THC on a drug test. Because CBN and THC are very similar on a chemical level, drug testing technology may conflate the two.
Will CBN show up on a urinalysis?
Yes, CBN has the potential to show up as THC on a urinalysis drug screen because it is very chemically similar.
What’s the difference between CBN and CBD?
Cannabinol (CBN) and cannabidiol (CBD) are both naturally occurring cannabinoids in the cannabis plant. The primary difference between CBN and CBD is their effects. CBN, which is produced when THC breaks down, produces mild psychoactive effects when consumed. CBD, by contrast, is not psychoactive. Instead, it tends to have a subtle balancing and relaxing effect.
How long does CBN last?
CBN’s effects typically last 4-6 hours after you take it. It may last in your system anywhere from 24 hours to several weeks.
How does CBN affect you?
CBN may create a mild, drowsy head high that is roughly ¼ as strong as that of THC.
Is CBN a narcotic?
No, CBN is not a scheduled drug in the US under the Controlled Substances Act.
Sources
[1] Kroner, Grace M et al. “Cannabinol (CBN) Cross-Reacts with Two Urine Immunoassays Designed to Detect Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) Metabolite.” The journal of applied laboratory medicine vol. 5,3 (2020): 569-574. doi:10.1093/jalm/jfaa020
[2] Yoshida, H et al. “Synthesis and pharmacological effects in mice of halogenated cannabinol derivatives.” Chemical & pharmaceutical bulletin vol. 43,2 (1995): 335-7. doi:10.1248/cpb.43.335
[3] Zurier, Robert B, and Sumner H Burstein. “Cannabinoids, inflammation, and fibrosis.” FASEB journal : official publication of the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology vol. 30,11 (2016): 3682-3689. doi:10.1096/fj.201600646R
[4] Wong, Hayes, and Brian E Cairns. “Cannabidiol, cannabinol and their combinations act as peripheral analgesics in a rat model of myofascial pain.” Archives of oral biology vol. 104 (2019): 33-39. doi:10.1016/j.archoralbio.2019.05.028
[5] Hergenrather, Jeffrey Y et al. “Cannabinoid and Terpenoid Doses are Associated with Adult ADHD Status of Medical Cannabis Patients.” Rambam Maimonides medical journal vol. 11,1 e0001. 30 Jan. 2020, doi:10.5041/RMMJ.10384
[6] Somvanshi, Rishi K et al. “Cannabinol modulates neuroprotection and intraocular pressure: A potential multi-target therapeutic intervention for glaucoma.” Biochimica et biophysica acta. Molecular basis of disease vol. 1868,3 (2022): 166325. doi:10.1016/j.bbadis.2021.166325
[7] Karniol, I G et al. “Effects of delta9-tetrahydrocannabinol and cannabinol in man.” Pharmacology vol. 13,6 (1975): 502-12. doi:10.1159/000136944
