CBN for Sleep? Don’t Count on It.

Service members are no strangers to sleep challenges like not getting enough due to mission requirements or insomnia or sleeping poorly due to factors like noise or variable duty schedules. This may lead some Service members to turn to over-the-counter sleep aids to help them. A new sleep aid gaining popularity is called cannabinol, or CBN. CBN is a member of the cannabinoid family (think: a group of chemicals from the cannabis plant). It forms when THC breaks down due to exposure to heat, air and/or light. Read on to learn more about CBN and find resources to help improve sleep without it.

CBN is prohibited for Service members to use

Products that contain CBN such as gummies, tinctures (small bottles with cannabis infused in alcohol, glycerin or oil), oils and sleep aid supplements are rolling onto the market and increasing in popularity, but it is always prohibited for Service members to use. Since CBN is produced from THC, there is a high risk of a positive result on a drug test for those who use it.

How does CBN affect sleep?

Claims about the effects of CBN include making users sleepy, but more information is needed. There is limited research on this substance including no guidelines for CBN dosing, but that hasn’t stopped companies from introducing it into sleep aid products. Many products even combine CBN with other sleep aids like melatonin which, research shows, may raise the risk of excessive sleepiness and slowed breathing. CBN production also lacks strict regulation which means products could contain things like bacteria, heavy metals and varied amounts of THC.

Improve your sleep without CBN

There are a variety of strategies to try if you and sleep have an on-and-off-again relationship. If you’re having trouble sleeping, talk to your health care provider. They can offer safer options that may be right for you like sleep medications or a sleep evaluation.

Restful sleep is crucial for the wellness and resilience of Service members, but CBN is not the answer to slumber woes. If you are having trouble sleeping, don’t count on CBN—it’s not worth the risk to your health or career.