Cannabinol (CBN) is a minor cannabinoid found in the cannabis plant and is often marketed as a sleep aid. The scientific evidence supporting CBN’s use for sleep, particularly for restless or disturbed sleep, is limited and largely based on preclinical (animal) studies and anecdotal reports. Early research from the 1970s suggested that CBN may have mild sedative effects, but these studies were small and often involved co-administration with other cannabinoids such as THC, making it difficult to isolate CBN’s effects. A 1975 human study (Karniol et al.) concluded that CBN alone did not produce notable sedative effects, though it slightly enhanced the sedation caused by THC.

More recent interest has spurred additional preclinical research, but robust clinical trials in humans are lacking. Contemporary reviews (e.g., Corroon, 2021; Russo & Marcu, 2017) consistently note that claims of CBN’s sedative properties are not strongly supported by scientific evidence. Despite this, CBN continues to be marketed for sleep, likely due to these early studies and persistent anecdotal reports from consumers. Thus, while there is some scientific investigation into CBN’s potential for sleep support, the overall quality and quantity of evidence are low, and its use for sleep cannot currently be considered well-validated by modern scientific standards.