A sleepy cannabis constituent: cannabinol and its active metabolite influence sleep architecture in rats

Products containing purified minor cannabinoids are being consumed without
sufficient scientific evidence. Cannabinol (CBN) is claimed to be a
“sleepy cannabinoid”; however,  no study has examined whether it
impacts sleep architecture using objective measures. We therefore examined
the effects of CBN on sleep in rats using polysomnography. We found CBN
increased total sleep time, although there was evidence of biphasic
effects. Following CBN dosing, a primary metabolite of CBN attained
equivalently high brain concentrations to CBN. The primary metabolite of
CBN was active at cannabinoid receptors, but CBN had lower activity. We
then discovered that the primary metabolite also influenced sleep
architecture. This study shows CBN affects sleep and suggests an active
metabolite may contribute to its hypnotic action.