A recent peer-reviewed study found that cannabinol — a cannabis compound often marketed as a natural sleep aid — can cause tolerance, physical dependence, and withdrawal.
Nationwide, many states have legalized marijuana to varying degrees, and federal regulators have eased restrictions on the drug. But while the marijuana industry keeps rolling out new products and new promises, the science tells a different story.
Researchers at the University of Connecticut recently published a study in the journal Drug and Alcohol Dependence examining cannabinol, or CBN — a minor cannabinoid found in cannabis plants. It is widely sold as a sleep supplement and is often described as mild or non-psychoactive.
But the study found mice that were repeatedly given CBN developed tolerance to the drug — meaning they needed more of it to get the same effect. They also developed physical dependence. When researchers blocked the drug’s effects, the mice showed clear signs of withdrawal.
The study also found that CBN produced effects in the brain that were similar to THC — the main psychoactive substance in marijuana.
The research suggests CBN — a compound closely related to THC — may carry its own serious risks as well.
Contrary to popular belief, a number of health problems have been linked to products made from marijuana and hemp.
Cannabis use disorder — a measure of marijuana dependence — is on the rise in America. Yale reports roughly 30% of current cannabis users now meet the criteria for addiction. This new research suggests that even products marketed as gentle sleep supplements may carry similar risks.
In Arkansas, lawmakers have worked hard to keep dangerous cannabis-derived products off store shelves. In 2023, the legislature passed Act 629 to prohibit certain products made from industrial hemp. Arkansas lawmakers also passed additional protections in 2025. Those were good decisions. Studies like this one remind us that more probably needs to be done.
All of this underscores what we have said for years: Marijuana may be many things, but “harmless” simply is not one of them.
Articles appearing on this website are written with the aid of Family Council’s researchers and writers.
