What’s the Difference Between Hemp and Marijuana?

It’s a common misconception to think hemp and marijuana are two separate plants. Scientifically, they’re the same thing, and the names are merely synonyms. So, what has caused this widespread misunderstanding?

Well, the law is what made the distinction between hemp and marijuana, and this is largely based on how much THC both variants have. In summary, hemp has around 0.3% of THC content, while marijuana can produce up to 30%–an astonishing difference that leads to drastically different effects from the plant. 

For a more comprehensive understanding, we will dive deeper into the topic and uncover the main differences between hemp and marijuana. 

Understanding Hemp And Marijuana

Hemp and marijuana are two names used to describe cannabis, which is a flowering plant in the cannabeceae family. Nevertheless, for legal reasons, scientists had to dig deeper to make a distinction.

What Does “Hemp” Mean?

When the law mentions hemp, it particularly refers to cannabis that only contains >0.3 percent of THC content once dried and weighed. This percentage was first proposed in 1979 in a book called “The Species Problem in Cannabis: Science & Semantics.”

The book’s author, Ernest Small, pointed out the difficulty in distinguishing hemp from marijuana since they have no true taxonomical difference. While the author proposed the 0.3% limit for hemp, he also admitted that the figure is arbitrary and can be refuted at any time.

Nevertheless, the legal system accepted the distinction in the Agricultural Act of 2018 alongside other laws in the United States. In summary, hemp is a “variant” of cannabis that cannot get you high due to its low THC content.

What Does “Marijuana” Mean?

On the other hand, when someone mentions marijuana, they are usually referring to the type of cannabis that can get you high. This term is often used alongside “weed” and many other slang names for cannabis.

Nevertheless, the legal name for the variant with the most hallucinogenic effects is “marijuana.” The law categorizes it as a substance that has more than 0.3% THC content after it has been dried and weighed.

If you’re knowledgeable about cannabis, you’ll find the distinction confusing since there are several types. These include cannabis sativa, cannabis indica, or a hybrid. The law regards these as marijuana as long as their THC levels are above 0.3%

Hemp Vs. Marijuana: Misconceptions

Despite this distinction, there remains some misconception about hemp and marijuana, typically from a lack of understanding and proper education about the plant.

One fact people often get wrong is that hemp can get you “high” like marijuana. This is untrue because it has a low THC content, which is legally required to be less than 0.3%. 

This misconception is further debunked by hemp-derived products, such as CBD oil, which offer various health benefits without any hallucinogenic effects.

There’s also the idea that hemp has no medicinal value because it doesn’t contain high levels of THC. As explained later in this content, there are hemp-derived CBD products with the ability to treat conditions such as anxiety, pain, seizures, and inflammation.

Differences in the Uses of Hemp Vs. Marijuana

Over the decades, conversations associated with cannabis refer to the variant with hallucinogenic effects. One can get high by smoking or extracting the cannabinoids from the flower, stalk, and leaves into tinctures and edibles. 

Marijuana can also be used for more besides getting high. It often has medicinal properties like treating obstructive sleep apnea, fibromyalgia, chronic pain, or multiple sclerosis.

Hemp, the type of cannabis that can’t get you high, is grown for other benefits. It’s often used for manufacturing useful items like:

• clothing
• paper
• textiles
• plastic
• animal food
• hempcrete

Companies can even make food products out of hemp, such as milk, protein powder, hemp oil, or hemp seed. Ultimately, both cannabis variants are useful in their own ways.

Other Uses For Hemp

It’s worth noting that while marijuana doesn’t have much THC content, it is mostly farmed for its CBD properties. Cannabidiol (CBD) is a cannabinoid that’s present in both marijuana and hemp; however, it’s easier to extract it from hemp due to its low THC content.

Nevertheless, CBD has various purposes, both cosmetic and medicinal. It is effective for pain relief, sleep disorders, and anxiety and depression. A recent study even suggests that CBD has the potential to treat crack addiction and facilitate recovery. 

As for the cosmetic benefits, CBD can help with skin hydration, sensitivity reduction, inflammations, hair and scalp treatment, and more. In recent years, CBD has been more frequently found in balms, facemasks, serums, creams, and even shampoos.

Growing Cannabis: Hemp Vs. Marijuana

Growing cannabis is illegal in most US states, but the law isn’t that straightforward. The 2018 Farm Bill reclassified hemp as being perfectly legal for growing. As you may have guessed, this is because using hemp has no hallucinogenic effects and can’t cause individuals to behave “irrationally.”

However, it’s worth noting that people can’t merely plant hemp whenever they want. They must submit plans outlined by the  USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) and ensure production is done correctly.

On the other hand, growing marijuana (cannabis with over 0.3% THC) is illegal depending on the state laws. The places that allow you to grow the plant have strict requirements to prevent abuse.

Conclusion

Ultimately, while hemp and marijuana are scientifically the same species of plant, there are some legal, chemical, and practical distinctions between them. Understanding these differences is crucial for anyone who plans to grow these plants, use them, or start a business based on cannabis.

To be on the safe side, consider doing more research on your local laws, as each state has different restrictions on cannabis and how to grow it.