The differences between hemp and marijuana confuse more and more people as the CBD industry has skyrocketed. What is hemp vs marijuana? This confusion arises, especially in today’s world, as everything that falls under “cannabis” is understood mistakenly as a psychotropic drug.
With increasing demand, the CBD market has become unique and independent, and yet it is undeniably linked to the Cannabis Industry. Many people refuse to try hemp products simply because they are mistakenly confused about hemp and marijuana.
To avoid this confusion, it is crucial to understand the differences between hemp and marijuana plants.
The Difference Between Hemp and Marijuana
Frequently both are referred to as “species” or “strains” of the cannabis plant; however, they are not “strains” or “species” of cannabis at all. Hemp and Marijuana are simply classifications of cannabis with some specific differences. More than 100 different cannabinoids are found in the cannabis plant, but the amount and concentration of these cannabinoids differ dramatically between hemp and marijuana.
To identify each of them, let’s talk about them separately.
What is Hemp?
Hemp comes from the cannabis plant and has 0.3% or lower levels of THC, the psychoactive cannabinoid. Typically, hemp contains very high levels of CBD (Cannabidiol), the non-psychotropic cannabinoid.
Hemp is grown and harvested for industrial purposes, and different parts of the plant can be used for various purposes:
- Seeds can be used for foods, supplements, and cosmetics.
- Stalks can be used for fiber and used in building and clothing materials.
- Flowers can be used for their cannabinoid content (which is the part that differs most from marijuana).
- In addition, roots, seeds, and flowers can produce oils that have nutritional value and can be used for medicinal purposes.
Hemp has been used for thousands of years. Hemp is indigenous to Central Asia and has been cultivated since as far back as 2800 BCE in Ancient China. Ancient civilizations were knowledgeable about hemp fiber’s durability and strength - it is known today as the world’s strongest natural fiber. For this reason, it’s used as an ingredient in many different products, including textiles, paper, building materials, body care, foods, and clothing.
The 2018 Farm Bill excluded hemp from the Controlled Substances Act. According to this new act, hemp can be legally grown, transported, and manufactured and sold as high CBD content products to the public.
Hemp won’t make you high since its main cannabinoid is CBD, which is a non-psychoactive cannabinoid. The CBD compound found in cannabis is the one that interacts with the human endocannabinoid system and can offer a wide variety of medicinal benefits.
What is Marijuana?
Marijuana is also a cannabis plant that contains more than 0.3% levels of THC. Marijuana is harvested for its euphoric, relaxing, and psychoactive properties. Unlike hemp, the seeds and stalks of marijuana are not used for industrial purposes. It is mainly harvested for its flower and the flower’s cannabinoids.
In marijuana, THC levels can reach up to 30% (per dry weight), depending on the strain, but, as mentioned before, hemp THC levels can reach no more than 0.3% of THC (per dry weight). And in marijuana, the CBD compound concentration is much lower than in hemp.
Marijuana is regulated as one of many controlled substances under the US federal government. Marijuana remains federally illegal, even though many states have begun legalizing medical or recreational use of marijuana. As both marijuana and hemp contain similar cannabinoids, including CBD and THC, they only differ in cannabinoid concentration levels.
CBD oil can be extracted from both plants, and the main difference in the extraction is the resulting THC level. Hemp Oil Extract or CBD Full Spectrum Oil has no more than a 0.3% THC level, while marijuana-derived CBD oil can contain high THC levels ranging between 5% and 30%.
Hemp Oil Extract
Hemp Oil Extract is hemp-derived oil that is rich in CBD cannabinoid. Even though THC is present in this oil, it has no more than the legal amount of 0.3% of THC. Besides these two cannabinoids, full-spectrum hemp oil extract contains more than a hundred other cannabinoids, which all interact with our endocannabinoid system and can be used for medicinal purposes. Hemp Oil Extract is non-psychoactive and won’t make you high. It has many health benefits ranging from relaxed mood and reduced stress to reduction of muscle discomfort.
If you are looking for Organic, Full-Spectrum Hemp Oil Extract, Nesa’s Hemp is for you. Nesa’s Hemp is grown organically and holistically with the highest degree of care and without chemicals, additives, or pesticides.
It is uniquely cold-pressed without damaging the plant and thereby providing “living hemp” in a bottle, so you can receive the full benefits and nutrition of the Hemp plant. We promise the best quality and amazing results! We hope this article helped you learn the difference hemp vs marijuana.
