old flower and CBN

It seems pretty established that THC degrades to CBN over time. I have some flower that I harvested in 2021 and kept stored in mason jars in the dark. Thinking much (most?) of the THC would have converted to CBN at this point. Was thinking of making some infused oil and using it to treat insomnia. Anybody try this? How were the results?

I think your flower is still better than what I can get at dispensaries around here. And I don’t even have to see it.

NewEnglandFarmer said:

It seems pretty established that THC degrades to CBN over time. I have some flower that I harvested in 2021 and kept stored in mason jars in the dark. Thinking much (most?) of the THC would have converted to CBN at this point. Was thinking of making some infused oil and using it to treat insomnia. Anybody try this? How were the results?

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If you kept it cool and in the dark in jars it should still be high in THC. I don't know how badly it has to be stored to degrade it but mine is stored as you say and it's still good since 2020.

As for sleep oil, yes. I don't use it any more but my wife does. After about 30 minutes she can't keep her eyes open. It doesn't matter old or new.

For sleep oil I just infuse one once to one cup of MCT. Weeds, my wife, takes 1 or 2 half dropper full. It takes a teaspoon full for me, but I'm a heavy hitter and need a tolerance break.

Also, a pain rub is easy to make. I use infused coconut oil and add 1 tablespoon full of DMSO per cup. That, also doesn't matter that much it it is old.

DancesWithWeeds said:

If you kept it cool and in the dark in jars it should still be high in THC. I don't know how badly it has to be stored to degrade it but mine is stored as you say and it's still good since 2020.

As for sleep oil, yes. I don't use it any more but my wife does. After about 30 minutes she can't keep her eyes open. It doesn't matter old or new.

For sleep oil I just infuse one once to one cup of MCT. Weeds, my wife, takes 1 or 2 half dropper full. It takes a teaspoon full for me, but I'm a heavy hitter and need a tolerance break.

Also, a pain rub is easy to make. I use infused coconut oil and add 1 tablespoon full of DMSO per cup. That, also doesn't matter that much it it is old.

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Have you tested your 4-year-old flower? Based on what I've read I would guess some of the THC converted to CBN.

I make a coconut oil-based balm, too. Great stuff.

Curious to learn more about CBN though and its potential for treating insomnia.

NewEnglandFarmer said:

Have you tested your 4-year-old flower? Based on what I've read I would guess some of the THC converted to CBN.

I make a coconut oil-based balm, too. Great stuff.

Curious to learn more about CBN though and its potential for treating insomnia.

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Just make RSO half a teaspoon knock out a horse.

NewEnglandFarmer said:

Have you tested your 4-year-old flower? Based on what I've read I would guess some of the THC converted to CBN.

I make a coconut oil-based balm, too. Great stuff.

Curious to learn more about CBN though and its potential for treating insomnia.

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I'm pretty sure that CBN will help with sleep. I don't know but I think whatever it is in the THC pretty much gets carried over to the CBN. I make the sleep oil out of old or new. It doesn't seem to make any difference.

I have been smoking (don't tell the doc) some of the 2020 Super Lemon for the last few days and it's good. I have to say that I haven't been feeling any pain. I'm not quite to the point of talking to E.T.'s

Most of the older stuff is in the freezer and kind of forgotten about. That's in case of a failed year. A hail storm can wipe your crop in short order. Keeping it frozen should keep it good.

How long does it take to convert to cbn? I got some trim in the freezer from last year and its still hitting like the first day

amneziaHaze said:

How long does it take to convert to cbn? I got some trim in the freezer from last year and its still hitting like the first day

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I've got no idea. Today I'll try some of the freezer stuff and see if it's still good. I've heard it takes time, heat, light, and air. If it's sealed up...IDK. Maybe we should check Google Scholar. There may have been some high level research done by some big university. Not likely, but maybe. Going there now.

Here's a link to Google Scholar about the conversion:

I haven't read it yet but it's just an example of whats there.

NewEnglandFarmer said:

Have you tested your 4-year-old flower? Based on what I've read I would guess some of the THC converted to CBN.

I make a coconut oil-based balm, too. Great stuff.

Curious to learn more about CBN though and its potential for treating insomnia.

Click to expand...

Yes, I tried 2 different strains, Super Lemon Haze and Chocolope from the 2020 harvest. I was wrong about how it was stored. It was in the freezer.

I only have half a jar (quart) of SLH left from the 2021 grow. It was on the shelf. It's still good but doesn't have the freshness of that in the freezer. The 2023 Critical mass isn't as good as the 2022.

Sorry it took so long to come up with the answer but I "had" to try some of all of it.

Thanks for sharing your experiences. If it's in the freezer I would guess that slows down the conversion of THC to CBN.

I'm going to make some oil with the 2021 flower I have on had and see what that does for lights out.

I suppose another approach would be to do a late harvest, when most of the trichome heads are turning amber. That's the stage where THC starts converting to CBN which give the well-known "couch-lock" effect.

Or grow some “couch-lock” strains

amber trichs are the only thing I know about CBN conversion from thc. I thought THC evapes and dries if improperly cured and stored. So........the age of weed can do it as well?? Of course most organic things do have a shelf life so...

Squatchsmoke said:

amber trichs are the only thing I know about CBN conversion from thc. I thought THC evapes and dries if improperly cured and stored. So........the age of weed can do it as well?? Of course most organic things do have a shelf life so...

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THC doesn't evaporate (terpenes volatize, maybe that's what you're thinking of?) but it will slowly convert to CBN over time as it ages/oxidizes.

NewEnglandFarmer said:

Thanks for sharing your experiences. If it's in the freezer I would guess that slows down the conversion of THC to CBN.

I'm going to make some oil with the 2021 flower I have on had and see what that does for lights out.

I suppose another approach would be to do a late harvest, when most of the trichome heads are turning amber. That's the stage where THC starts converting to CBN which give the well-known "couch-lock" effect.

Click to expand...

Yeah you want all amber but it helps if your starting material is higher in cbn naturally see some lines actually produce more than others the old big bud line and its progeny put out higher than average cbn levels i been looking for it pure for the same reason as you cos insomnia but everyone these days that sells it now sells it crossed to skunk not pure so not what i want with the original seedline to make it nevil crossed a nl1 male to the pnw cutting 3 times to make the original seedline that's the one the seedbank and sensi sold before skunk was added its that line id recomend looking into if you can find it anyway hope it helps bud i think it will if you can find it