Japanese health officials have banned the cannabinoid cannabinol, or CBN, following reports of illnesses and hazardous behavior associated with the substance, the Japan Times reports.
Cannabis and THC, the cannabinoid most commonly associated with being high, are strictly prohibited in Japan, but there is a market for hemp-derived cannabinoids, including CBD and CBG.
An expert panel with the Ministry of Health & Welfare last year decided to regulate CBN after animal experiments suggested there was a high risk of hallucinations.
The crackdown also follows at least four reported hospitalizations, and one instance of a university student jumping from their dormitory’s second floor after eating CBN-infused cookies last year.
The rules will ban the production, sale, possession, and use of CBN, with violators facing imprisonment of up to five years.
Previously, CBN products were marketed primarily in Japan as a sleep aid.
Under the new rules, CBN is only allowed as a treatment for intractable epilepsy, and only where no alternatives are available (and the health ministry must be informed), the report said.
What is CBN?
CBN: Benefits and Uses, According to WebMD,
CBN can be understood as a weaker version of THC. When THC components found in the cannabis plant age, they break down.
This leads to the formation of a less potent cannabinoid called CBN. It’s about 25% as effective as THC, which makes it a mild chemical.
Unlike CBD, which is entirely non-psychoactive, CBN in larger doses can produce mild psychoactive reactions.
CBN has not been studied or used as widely as CBD or THC, so there’s very limited knowledge or research on its uses and benefits. Some of the potential uses and benefits observed in few studies include:
Sleep aid. CBN has shown to have sedative properties that could relieve conditions like insomnia. However, more research is required.
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