Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD) are by far the two biggest and most popular cannabinoids, but they have competition as more options hit the market. One of these is CBN, which is unique both for the way it is produced and the effects it provides.
Individually, they are all very interesting. But what happens when you combine them? Is it safe? Is it effective? What doses work best?
Effects of THC on its Own
THC is the main psychoactive component of cannabis. It produces many of the effects associated with marijuana, including red eyes, slowness of speech, relaxation, euphoria, increased appetite, anxiety, paranoia, and tiredness. But that’s only true for high doses.
If you stick with small doses, known as micro-dosing, it may provide many benefits without making you “high” or giving you any side effects.
Anecdotal reports suggest that low doses of THC can provide feelings of relaxation without any sedation. It can also help you to de-stress and may alleviate feelings of anxiety, which is interesting considering that these feelings can be heightened with heavy doses.
One of the most interesting studies on this subject was conducted by the University of Illinois at Chicago. They split participants into three groups. One took a dose of just 7.5 mg, another took 12.5 mg, and the final group took a placebo.
The participants were then placed in a couple of high-stress situations, including a job interview. Interestingly, based on what we know about THC, you might expect the placebo group to perform the best. Or maybe the THC did help, so the 12.5 mg faired best. In fact, the 7.5 mg reported the best reactions overall, with little change among those on the placebo, and the 12.5 mg group reporting adverse changes in mood.
Effects of CBD on its Own
CBD is a well-researched and widely available cannabinoid. Like THC, it seems to provide a number of benefits with regard to relaxation and positive mood changes. It can also help with pain relief, attributed to its anti-inflammatory response. In fact, its pain-killing properties are the reason it generated so much buzz several years ago, and one of the main benefits being touted today.
It has been recommended as a complementary therapy for the treatment of everything from arthritis to addiction and sleep disorders. It does all of this without triggering any major side effects, and there is no risk of addiction, few contraindications, and very few side effects.
Effects of CBN on its Own
CBN was first discovered over 125 years ago, and its structure was identified a quarter of a century after that. But it’s a little more complicated than other cannabinoids, so its progress has been slow.
CBN is created following the degradation of THC, and extracting it has traditionally been very expensive and time-consuming. In an industry that has such an appetite for THC and CBD, it also hasn’t always been a viable option. But that has steadily been changing, and following improved production methods, CBN is now produced in much greater quantities.
And that’s great news for anyone using cannabinoids to sleep, as this is one of its most apparent benefits. Unfortunately, there haven’t been as many studies on this cannabinoid as there have been on THC and CBG, so most of what we know comes from anecdotal reports, including suggestions that it can also help with pain and anxiety.
Effects of Taking THC, CBD, and CBN Together
When combined with THC, CBN, and CBC can support many of its effects while also triggering something known as “the entourage effect”, whereby multiple cannabinoids combine to enhance individual effects.
Studies on the effects of all three of these cannabinoids in combination are practically non-existent, but there was one small study conducted in the 1970s that found a combination of THC and CBN could help with sleep, and that the effects were more pronounced when the CBN levels were greater.
Interestingly, this also supports a claim that cannabis users have had for generations, which is that older cannabis is more likely to make them tired. If true, this could be the result of the THC turning into CBN, which happens as the THC degrades over time.
By adding CBD to the mix, you have something that could enhance these effects while also providing more painkilling and anti-anxiety effects.
What are the Side Effects?
It’s always good to question the safety of taking multiple products at the same time. Contraindications are very common in medicine, and there are even many foods that can influence how well certain supplements and medications are absorbed. But cannabinoids are perfectly safe to take in combination.
They are all contained within the same plant after all. You take them in combination whenever you smoke hemp or cannabis, and you also consume multiple cannabinoids (including CBD, CBN, and THC) every time you take a full-spectrum hemp product.
The risk of serious adverse reactions is slim, but there may be some mild side effects, especially in higher doses. THC is the main culprit here, as it is known to cause drowsiness, headaches, nausea, paranoia, and anxiety when consumed in high doses and over a long period of time.
As always, your health comes first, so if you do experience any adverse reactions from taking CBD, CBN, and THC in combination, stop taking all of them immediately. If you have any preexisting health problems, consult your doctor. You should also speak with your doctor if you are taking any prescription medications. Although risks and contraindications are rare, it’s always good to keep care providers in the loop.
Summary: THC, CBD, and CBN Together
Although there have been no concrete conclusions on the effects of THC, CBN, and CBD in combination, we do have reports that suggest all of these cannabinoids are safe and effective when taken alone. We also know that these products lean more toward sedative and analgesic effects, which is why we included a balanced quantity of all of them in our Dream Lavender Mints, which also include herbal extracts of passion flower and valerian, both of which may also aid with restful sleep.
References
- https://news.uchicago.edu/story/uchicago-research-examines-how-cannabis-impacts-distinct-demographics-differently
- https://nida.nih.gov/publications/drugfacts/cannabis-marijuana
- https://today.uic.edu/low-dose-thc-can-relieve-stress-more-does-just-the-opposite/
- https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/cannabidiol-cbd-what-we-know-and-what-we-dont-2018082414476
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9658060/
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/1221432/
