Is CBN Legal for Sale in the US?

In a consumer market now flooded with CBD products, some readers might see “CBN” and wonder if it is a typo or perhaps assume it is just another name for CBD. CBN and CBD are certainly similar as they are both cannabinoids, but they have their own unique properties. 

In fact, there are more than 100 plant-derived cannabinoids, so it can be difficult to keep up with what these ingredients mean as it relates to gummies or other products in the marketplace. Additionally, many consumers have questions about whether or not certain products in the hemp market are legal when used for health benefits.

Read on to learn more about CBN, why it is growing in popularity, and whether or not it is legal to sell CBN products in the United States.

What Is CBN?

CBN, or cannabinol, is a cannabinoid that has started gaining more attention recently. Just like CBD or THC, CBN is a plant-derived cannabinoid. It occurs due to THC breaking down, so essentially, you will find it in small amounts in aged cannabis plants. The longer the plant grows and the more air and sunlight it is exposed to, the more THC is oxidized and converted into CBN.

While CBN does not have psychoactive properties like THC, it does share in common with CBD many therapeutic benefits for overall health and well-being. With so many CBD products on the market, we can expect to see more manufacturers carving out a space for CBN products as well as continued research and development as we learn more about its benefits.

CBN is a non-psychoactive cannabinoid, which is important for those who want the therapeutic benefits of a cannabinoid without the high. 

Cannabinoids like CBN bind to receptors in the human Endocannabinoid system to create desirable effects such as a sense of calmness, which can benefit those who struggle with anxiety, sleep problems, or other conditions. This type of natural remedy is also a preferred alternative to some prescription medications, which can lead to addiction.

CBN and US Law

When it comes to cannabinoids, we have seen a number of important changes in recent years regarding legal status. However, you may have specific concerns about whether it is legal for you to purchase CBN products and whether they would create problems in situations where a drug test was required as a condition of employment, education, or other scenarios.

Because CBN products are still a relatively new and developing market, there remains considerable debate around their legal status. We do know that CBN is not found in the list of controlled substances as it relates to the Controlled Substances Act of 1970 (CSA). Possession of substances on that list can result in various fines or imprisonment as dictated by specific local, state, or federal laws.

More recently, the Farm Bill of 2018 has addressed hemp-derived products, making legal in the US any hemp-derived product with less than 0.3 percent THC. Therefore, if you are in possession of CBN derived from a hemp plant, you would not violate federal law. 

However, CBN derived from marijuana is illegal. This could be a moot point, considering that it is virtually impossible for a manufacturer of a CBN product to come close to what you would need for commercial quantities when trying to derive it from marijuana.

The trickiest piece of this ongoing debate relates to CBN as a byproduct of THC’s degradation, with some arguing that it should still be illegal based on its origin.

CBN is nowhere near as potent an endocannabinoid as THC, and its effects on our bodies are much more subtle. It stands to reason that as we know more about its benefits, we will see increasing efforts to solidify its status as legal in the United States.

What About the FDA?

When it comes to questions about the legality of a particular substance, these conversations often overlap with concerns about FDA approval. Remember that the two are different classifications, but the FDA status is also incredibly important regarding patient access to therapeutic benefits.

Currently, the FDA has approved a drug with CBD as an ingredient (Epidiolex), but there is no FDA approval (yet) for CBN. This has not stopped some companies from beginning to promote it as a sleeping aid, and with continued attention and research, it may be approved by the FDA in the future. 

CBN shows promise in its ability to guide our Endocannabinoid system to achieve greater rest and relaxation, and by improving the quality of sleep, we could see widespread benefits across the health spectrum. CBN could serve as a useful tool to improve overall health for many people.

Know Your Ingredients

Consumers are responsible for looking closely at the ingredients of any product used to promote health and wellness, be it a gummy for sleep, a daily multivitamin, or a supplement intended for weight loss. 

With CBN in particular, you should be looking for information on the source of the CBN as well as whether it has been mixed with other ingredients.

Snoozy stands behind our sleep products that boast natural, organic ingredients, including gummies with CBN (containing zero THC). We want our customers to put only the safest and most natural ingredients in their bodies, and we are upfront about exactly what you can expect in our products.

Final Thoughts on the Legal Sale of CBN in the United States

The most important takeaway to consider is that only hemp-derived CBN is legal. Use that as your guiding piece of information when assessing any CBN products, but also keep an eye out for future legislation that may address lesser-known cannabinoids specifically. We think CBN is here to stay!