CBN hash is hash in which the cannabinoid CBN, cannabinol, makes up a large part of the content. CBN is also the oldest known cannabinoid. It was first isolated from Indian hashish at the end of the 19th century, long before anyone had heard of CBD or THC. Here we look at what CBN is, what sets CBN hash apart from ordinary CBD hash and how to read the lab report, using two of the hashes in our range as examples.
Key facts
- CBN forms when THC is broken down by oxygen, light and heat over time.
- CBN was the first cannabinoid to be isolated, from hashish at the end of the 19th century.
- CBN binds much more weakly to the CB1 receptor than THC and is not considered intoxicating.
- In CBN hash, CBN is one of the main cannabinoids, unlike ordinary CBD hash where CBD dominates.
- The lab report shows exactly how much CBN, CBD, CBG and THC the hash contains.
What is CBN?
CBN, or cannabinol, is one of the many cannabinoids in the Cannabis sativa plant. Unlike CBD and THC, the plant makes hardly any CBN itself. Instead, CBN is formed when THC oxidises, meaning it is broken down by oxygen, often sped up by light and heat. That is why older cannabis and hash that has been stored for a long time often contain more CBN than fresh material.
Historically, CBN holds a special place. British chemists described the compound as early as 1896 and 1899 in studies of charas, a hand-pressed Indian hashish, which made cannabinol the first cannabinoid ever isolated. Its exact structure was only established in 1940. CBN binds to the same receptors as THC, but its affinity for the CB1 receptor is around ten times lower, and pure CBN is not considered intoxicating.
If you want to know more about how CBN differs from CBD, we have written about it in
CBN vs CBD: what sets them apart?.
What is CBN hash?
Hash is the concentrated resin from the trichomes of the hemp plant, pressed into a solid mass. In ordinary CBD hash, CBD is the dominant cannabinoid. In CBN hash, CBN makes up a large part of the content, often together with CBD and CBG. As fresh industrial hemp contains very little CBN, it is above all the cannabinoid profile in the lab report that shows what you are actually getting.
Like other CBD hash, CBN hash must have a THC content below 0.3 percent. What sets the products apart is therefore the balance between the non-intoxicating cannabinoids, and it varies a great deal between different hashes. If you want to compare with other types of hash, we have gathered them in
CBD hash: what it is, how it’s made and how to choose.
Two examples: Le Mousseux and Nepalese
Our range includes two CBN hashes from the same French producer, made in two classic styles. The figures below come from the lab reports and are calculated as the sum of the cannabinoids, including their acidic forms.
Le Mousseux
Le Mousseux is made in the Moroccan style, with a light, golden-brown colour and a soft but firm texture reminiscent of classic Beldia. The total cannabinoid content is 48 percent, of which CBN accounts for 28.5 percent, CBD for 13.1 percent and CBG for 5.6 percent. The THC content is 0.08 percent. The aroma is floral and woody with a subtle earthiness.
Nepalese
Nepalese is inspired by traditional Nepalese hash and has a dark brown colour and a soft, sticky texture. The total cannabinoid content is 46 percent, with 20.1 percent CBD, 13.2 percent CBN and 12.4 percent CBG. The THC content is 0.18 percent. The aroma is sweet and dominated by citrus, with notes of lemon, bergamot and kumquat.
The two hashes show how different CBN hash can be. In Le Mousseux, CBN is the largest cannabinoid, while Nepalese has a more even balance between CBD, CBN and CBG. Both therefore contain several cannabinoids at once, something often mentioned in connection with the entourage effect, the theory that the plant’s compounds work together and enhance each other.
CBN and sleep
CBN is often marketed as a cannabinoid for better sleep, but the research is limited. A review from 2021 found that most human studies were carried out in the 1970s and 80s with few participants, and that there were no studies measuring sleep with validated methods. We have looked at what newer research says in
Research 2025: CBN may support calmer nights and fewer nighttime awakenings.
Read the lab report
Because the cannabinoid profile differs so much between hashes, the lab report is the most important thing to look at. Check the levels of CBN, CBD, CBG and THC, and whether the analysis reports both the neutral and the acidic form of each cannabinoid. We explain how to interpret a report step by step in
How to read a CBD lab report (COA), step by step.
Further down the page you will find Le Mousseux and Nepalese in our shop.
What is CBN hash?
CBN hash is hash in which the cannabinoid CBN makes up a large part of the content, often together with CBD and CBG. The THC content is below 0.3 percent.
How is CBN formed?
CBN is formed when THC oxidises, meaning it is broken down by oxygen, light and heat over time.
Is CBN intoxicating?
Pure CBN is not considered intoxicating. It binds around ten times more weakly to the CB1 receptor than THC.
What is the difference between CBN hash and CBD hash?
In CBD hash, CBD is the dominant cannabinoid. In CBN hash, CBN accounts for a large part of the cannabinoid content.
Does CBN help with sleep problems?
There is too little research to say. A review from 2021 found no studies that measured sleep with validated methods.
Sources
- Maioli, C. et al. (2022). Cannabinol: History, Syntheses, and Biological Profile of the Greatest “Minor” Cannabinoid. Plants, 11(21), 2896.
- Corroon, J. (2021). Cannabinol and Sleep: Separating Fact from Fiction. Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research, 6(5), 366–371.
- Wood, T. B., Spivey, W. T. N. and Easterfield, T. H. (1896). Charas. The resin of Indian hemp. Journal of the Chemical Society, Transactions, 69, 539–546.
- Wood, T. B., Spivey, W. T. N. and Easterfield, T. H. (1899). Cannabinol. Part I. Journal of the Chemical Society, Transactions, 75, 20–36.
