Kratom vs. CBN: How Do They Measure Up Against One Another?

A trend that we’re all about here is the interest in natural plant derivatives to achieve desirable effects, whether for therapeutic or recreational purposes. And, with an array of new products hitting the market lately, it can be hard to keep up with which ones achieve what potential benefits and psychoactive properties.

So, we want to zone in on two distinctive products on the market: kratom and CBN, both of which could provide potential relief in a number of unique ways. We want to highlight what these two substances have in common, but more importantly, how they differ from one another, so you can have a better idea of which one is the most likely to suit your needs.

Contender #1: Kratom

Kratom is derived from the Mitragyna speciosa tree which grows in Southeast Asia, and is an evergreen tree related to coffee. It’s actually the ground up, dried leaves of the tree. These leaves of the tree contain a unique array of alkaloids boasting properties which can change how we feel, both mentally and physically. When we consume kratom, these alkaloids interact with opioid receptors, which are responsible for things like pain, mood, and more.

Kratom is sold in numerous strain choices, according to the specific cultivar of the tree, which can vary from one region of Southeast Asia to the next. It also comes in a few veins, referencing the color of the leaf’s vein at the time of harvest. At unique periods of maturation, the vein changes color to reflect the leaf’s age, and this color tells us how developed specific alkaloids are. Because of that, the vein of the kratom (the color) informs us of how potent the kratom is, and how strong certain effects are going to be.

Can I Get High off of Kratom?

Kratom can get you high, depending on the dosage that you take, as well as the vein and the strain, but at the end of the day, all kratom products can potentially intoxicate you if you consume enough at one time. Again, the alkaloids in kratom interact with opioid receptors in the brain, and one thing we know is that these receptors can initiate a mind-altering response, as we’ve seen with certain opiates.

Is Kratom Legal?

According to federal law, kratom is legal, as it’s never been prohibited in the United States. However, a handful of states have banned it, and they are:

• Alabama
• Alaska
• Arkansas
• Hawaii
• Indiana
• Rhode Island
• Tennessee
• Vermont
• Wisconsin

Just be aware that also, some municipalities have banned kratom throughout the United States, despite being legal in the actual state. So, our recommendation is that you check your state laws and local laws periodically to make sure kratom is still legal where you live, as this can change at any time.

Does Kratom Have Benefits?

Take notice that kratom hasn’t been on the Western market for very long, and due to this, the medical community hasn’t had much time to research and study its effects. However, enough scientific papers have been published for us to conclude that kratom has the potential to:

• Enhance energy, focus, and alertness
• Act as an anxiolytic
• Enhance mood
• Offers analgesic properties
• Improve sleep
• Decrease appetite

Does Kratom Have Side Effects?

Like basically any substance on the market, kratom use can cause certain side effects if it’s not taken as it’s supposed to – basically, if you don’t follow the directions on the label, if you take too much of it, or if your body’s chemistry simply doesn’t agree with it. These side effects can include:

• Nausea
• Drowsiness
• Impaired coordination
• Increased heartrate
• Dry mouth/thirst
• Irritability/confusion
• Potential overdose

What Kinds of Kratom Products are There?

You can buy kratom in a variety of product types, as it’s pretty easy to infuse the water-soluble kratom powder into any formula. The most popular types of kratom products you can find nowadays are:

• Kratom Powder: The dried and ground up leaves, which is the pure form of kratom. It can be added to liquids or any other kind of solution you prefer.
• Kratom Liquid Extracts: These are highly concentrated liquid kratom products that are taken like a shot to offer a fast-acting and very potent experience.
• Bottled Kratom Drinks: Bottled kratom beverages include soft drinks, sparkling water, and any other type of drink infused with kratom powder.
• Kratom Teas: Kratom tea is just kratom powder placed inside of a teabag, for an easy way to extract the alkaloids into hot water.
• Kratom Edibles: Kratom gummies and other kratom-infused edibles promote long-lasting effects that come on more gradually.
• Kratom Capsules: Taking kratom in capsule form can be convenient if you’re already used to taking supplements as part of a routine.
• Kratom Vapes: These are still quite new to the marketplace, but just like any vapes, they’re available in bottle E-Liquids to be used in compatible vape pens, as well as pre-filled cartridges that attach to any 510-threaded pen-style system and AIO (All-In-One) Disposable Vapes. Vaping kratom allows you to feel the effects within minutes, but the effects don’t last as long.
• Kratom Topicals: Kratom topicals are applied to the skin, so that the alkaloids absorb transdermally.

Contender #2: CBN

CBN (Cannabinol) is a cannabinoid that’s become really popular in the last several years. It’s a minor cannabinoid in hemp, making up just a tiny amount of the plant material, and it comes from oxidized delta 9 THC which converts into an entirely new cannabinoid with age.

Similar to all cannabinoids, cannabinol’s effects exist because of a process in which it attaches itself to cannabinoid receptors (CB receptors) in the body, which mainly exist within the nervous system, but are found in other bodily systems as well. Cannabinoid receptors use cannabinoids to regulate processes of the body as part of the endocannabinoid system (ECS). This is a system in every mammal that’s tasked with keeping the body in homeostasis. This is why every cannabinoid can offer a large number of properties that pertain to different physiological systems and processes.

Can I Get High off of CBN?

In fact, you can’t get high from CBN, because it doesn’t act on any cannabinoid receptors that cause intoxication – that is, CB1 receptors that other cannabinoids like THC have an affinity for. No matter how much cannabinol you take, you will not get high off of it, and despite the fact that many people say that the cannabinoid has a “mellowing” effect, it’s not due to intoxication.

Is CBN Legal?

CBN is 100% legal, thankfully. When the U.S. 2018 Farm Bill passed, it allowed for the hemp plant to be legalized. This bill declared that all hemp derivatives can be sold legally as long as they contain no more than 0.3% delta 9 THC by dry weight. CBN and THC are not the same cannabinoid, and so CBN products are legal. And, while states have the right to ban certain cannabis-derived products, no states have restricted sales of nonintoxicating cannabinoids like cannabinol. This means that CBN can be purchased in all 50 states, without limitations on strength, product type, possession amount, etc.

Does CBN Have Benefits?

CBN has actually been studied for decades, as it was first discovered in 1899, being the first cannabinoid ever to be isolated. Because of this, we know a good amount of information about its potential benefits. Remember that these benefits come from the way in which CBN is used by the endocannabinoid system to regulate important physiological processes throughout the body. In studies, cannabinol has found to have the potential to:

• Reduce stress levels
• Offer analgesic properties
• Offer anti-inflammatory properties
• Increase appetite
• Aid in sleep

Keep in mind that by far, the most popular use for cannabinol is sleep-related. A lot of CBN products are specifically geared toward nighttime, and taking cannabinol during the day may cause sleepiness.

Does CBN Have Side Effects?

CBN is completely nontoxic to the body, and in general, cannabis is not associated with any life-threatening risks. Even in high doses, it shouldn’t cause a severe reaction. Possible side effects of CBN are considered mild, if you even experience any, and include:

• Dry eyes
• Dry mouth
• Reduction in blood pressure
• Fatigue/drowsiness
• Appetite changes
• Psychoactive effects at high doses

What Kinds of Product Types are There?

CBN comes in a broad array of product types, such as these ones below:

• Flower: Raw hemp flower can be infused with CBN isolate/distillate, and it can be sold in various strain options.
• Vapes (E-Liquids, Cartridges, and Disposable Vape Pens): Vaping CBN offers a fast-acting and potent way to get in that serving of its effects along with a nice selection of strains, all while being convenient, travel-friendly, and discreet.
• Edibles: Gummies and other edibles produce long-lasting effects with a gradual onset.
• Capsules: Capsules infused with cannabinoids are ideal for those who currently take supplements in a capsulated form and would like to add CBN to their regimen.
• Topicals: Topicals are applied to the skin, allowing the soothing CBN to infuse directly into the deep tissue of the body.
• Concentrates (aka “Dabs”): Concentrates are concentrated cannabis products that are dabbed – that is, flash-vaporized at a high temperature using a special “dabbing” device – for an ultra-powerful and fast-acting experience.
• Beverages: CBN-infused beverages offer a faster absorption than edible products, and possibly more potency due to the fact that beverages are water-soluble.
• Tinctures: CBN tinctures offer a sublingual solution that’s easy to administer, with an onset time, duration of effects, and potency that’s between edible products and inhalable products.

Kratom or CBN: Which One Will You Choose?

Both kratom and CBN can offer a whole lot of valuable effects, with kratom being intoxicating and CBN being non-psychoactive. Now, you have a better understanding of which substance can deliver what response in the body, and that should help you figure out the one you’d like to try. Still, it’s best to experiment with both to find what works with your unique body. At The Calm Leaf, you explore both CBN and kratom in all kinds of exceptional products and formulations.