CBN for Sleep: What the Double-Blind Clinical Study Actually Found
Jake Jones
If you've ever reached for a Gold Naturals Sleep product and wondered what's actually making it work, the answer goes deeper than CBD alone. Our Sleep tinctures, soft gels, and gummies are formulated with CBN — cannabinol — a naturally occurring cannabinoid that has emerged as one of the most promising compounds for supporting healthy sleep.
Here's what the science says, why we use CBN, and what a landmark clinical study revealed about its effectiveness.
Related reading: CBD for Sleep: How Cannabinoids Help You Rest • What Is the Entourage Effect? Why It Matters • All about CBG
What Is CBN?
CBN is a minor cannabinoid that forms naturally as THC ages and oxidizes in the hemp plant. Unlike THC, CBN is non-intoxicating at the concentrations found in hemp-derived products. It was actually one of the first cannabinoids ever isolated — predating even CBD in the scientific literature — but only recently has serious research attention turned to its sleep-specific properties.
CBN interacts with both CB1 and CB2 receptors in the body's endocannabinoid system (ECS), as well as with non-ECS pathways involved in pain modulation and circadian rhythm regulation. This multi-pathway mechanism is what makes CBN particularly interesting for sleep researchers.
The Peer-Reviewed Evidence: What a 293-Person Double-Blind Trial Found
The largest placebo-controlled study of CBN for sleep so far was published in 2023. Researchers enrolled 293 adults aged 18–55 who rated their sleep as "poor" or "very poor." Each person took a placebo, 20 mg of CBN, or 20 mg of CBN plus 10, 20 or 100 mg of CBD every night for seven nights.
- Compared with placebo, 20 mg of CBN reduced the number of times people woke up during the night and lowered overall sleep-disturbance scores.
- It did not change how long it took to fall asleep or how long people were awake after first falling asleep, and the change in overall sleep quality was not statistically significant.
- Next-day fatigue was no different from placebo.
- Adding CBD did not improve the results compared with CBN alone.
"Findings suggest 20 mg of CBN taken nightly may be helpful for improving overall sleep disturbance, including the number of times one wakes up throughout the night, without impacting daytime fatigue."
— Bonn-Miller et al., 2023, Experimental and Clinical Psychopharmacology
Worth knowing: the study's authors were employees of Canopy Growth Corporation and Wana Brands, two cannabis companies.
A smaller 2026 trial tested much higher doses
In a 2026 sleep-lab study, 20 adults with doctor-diagnosed, long-term sleep problems took a single dose of 30 mg of CBN, 300 mg of CBN or a placebo on separate nights. Neither dose changed time spent awake during the night. The 300 mg dose improved some measures, including self-rated sleep quality and time to fall asleep, while 30 mg showed no measurable effect. As the researchers put it, "Larger, longer trials are warranted." (Lavender et al., 2026, Journal of Sleep Research)
How Gold Naturals Formulates CBN Into Our Sleep Products
Gold Naturals Sleep products aren't just CBD with a "sleep" label slapped on. Our formulas are built around the science:
- Sleep Tincture: Full-spectrum hemp oil with CBN and natural terpenes known to support relaxation (including myrcene and linalool). Taken sublingually for faster absorption — typically felt within 15–30 minutes.
- Sleep Soft Gels: Precise, consistent doses of CBN + CBD in a softgel shell for slower, sustained release throughout the night. Ideal for people who wake up in the early morning hours.
- Sleep Gummies: CBN + CBD in a delicious, easy-dose format. Each gummy delivers a measured amount with no guesswork. For guidance on how much CBN to start with, see our CBN dose guide.
All three products are third-party lab tested and Certificates of Analysis are publicly available on our COA page.
What the Research Means for You
If you've tried CBD for sleep and felt it "sort of" worked but not consistently — the missing piece may be CBN. In the largest trial so far, 20 mg of CBN a night meant fewer wake-ups, and adding CBD didn't change that result. We pair CBN with CBD as a formulation choice, not because a study proved the combination works better.
CBN is not a sedative. It doesn't knock you out. Instead, it appears to help your body's own sleep systems — particularly the ECS — do what they're designed to do: wind down and stay asleep.
Ready to Try CBN for Sleep?
Explore the full Gold Naturals CBN sleep gummies and tinctures line, formulated with CBN + full-spectrum CBD, terpenes, and no artificial additives:
*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Consult your physician before beginning any new supplement regimen.
References & Sources
- Bonn-Miller MO, Feldner MT, Bynion TM, et al. A double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study of the safety and effects of CBN with and without CBD on sleep quality. Exp Clin Psychopharmacol. 2024;32(3):277-284 (published online October 5, 2023). doi:10.1037/pha0000682. PubMed
- Lavender IG, Marshall NS, McCartney D, et al. Cannabinol for Acute Treatment of Insomnia Disorder in a Randomized Placebo-Controlled Crossover Trial. J Sleep Res. 2026;e70284. doi:10.1111/jsr.70284. PubMed
- Lavender I, McCartney D, Marshall N, et al. Cannabinol (CBN; 30 and 300 mg) effects on sleep and next-day function in insomnia disorder (CUPID study): protocol for a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. BMJ Open. 2023;13(8):e071148. doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2022-071148. PubMed
- Bhagavan C, Kung S, Doppen M, et al. Cannabinoids in the Treatment of Insomnia Disorder: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. CNS Drugs. 2020;34(12):1217-1228. doi:10.1007/s40263-020-00773-x. PubMed
