Many people perceive hemp and marijuana as different plant species. But, the truth is that both are strains of cannabis, the world’s most controversial plant — the difference between the two lies in their chemical profile.
Hemp contains low levels of intoxicating tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and high levels of therapeutic cannabidiol (CBD). Its sibling marijuana contains high amounts of tetrahydrocannabinol and low levels of CBD.
Nature’s Greenhouse, a leading cannabinoid store in Fort Lauderdale, FL, publishes this hemp versus marijuana article to help you apprehend the key differences between the two strains of cannabis.
What is Hemp?
Hemp is a type of cannabis with a maximum of 0.3% THC. With the low levels of tetrahydrocannabinol, users do not get high upon consuming hemp products like protein powders, gummies, tea, and oil.
Manufacturers use hemp extracts to make nutritional supplements, edibles, pet treats, beverages, and therapeutic products. As well, the industries use hemp stalks to make textile and biofuel.
What is Marijuana?
Marijuana strains contain more than 0.3 percent THC. Because of their high levels of THC, marijuana and its products such as vapes, joints, blunts and gummies intoxicate people.
The Difference Between Hemp and Marijuana
The main differences between hemp and marijuana relate to growth habits, chemical composition, and legality. However, the most notable difference is the psychoactive component, THC.
Hemp contains less than 0.3%, removing the traditional “high” associated with marijuana and producing more CBD. Hemp-derived CBD is becoming a more popular form of CBD. Additionally, hemp has been removed from the Schedule 1 classification for drugs thanks to the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 (or 2018 Farm Bill). Lastly, CBD products derived from hemp have been approved as a treatment for epilepsy by the US Food and Drug Administration.
Why Does Hemp Exist?
Though marijuana dates back to 2800 BC, scientists discovered the hemp strain after several years of research. They discovered that some strains of marijuana contained low amounts of psychoactive THC and high amounts of therapeutic cannabidiol.
The scientists classified the THC-low cannabis as hemp and pushed for its legalization. Apart from the low levels of THC, hemp differs from marijuana in terms of legality, growth habits, use, and chemical composition.
Growth Habits: Hemp vs. Marijuana
Hemp has a slender stalk and long narrow leaves with a light shade of green. Under the right conditions, hemp grows up to 5 meters and produces small, greenish-yellow flowers. It takes up to 4 months to mature.
Contrarily, there are two types of marijuana—cannabis sativa and indica. Cannabis sativa has a tall, stalky shoot with light green leaves — but it looks like hemp.
Cannabis indica has a thick, short shoot with several side branches. The shoot grows to a maximum height of two meters. Cannabis Indica’s leaves are dark green, and the blades are short and wide.
Chemical Composition: Hemp vs. Marijuana
Hemp contains 0.3% THC and more than 10% of CBD.
In contrast, marijuana’s tetrahydrocannabinol is above 0.3%, and cannabidiol is under 20%. The strains have similar therapeutic compounds like flavonoids, phenols, terpenoids, and hydrocarbons.
Legality: Hemp vs. Marijuana
Hemp and its products are legal in the United States and most other countries.
On the contrary, the recreational use of marijuana is federally illegal in the United States except for some States like:
- California
- Alaska
- New Jersey
- Michigan
- Colorado
- Oregon
- Montana
- Massachusetts
- Nevada
- Washington
- Vermont
- Connecticut
- Illinois
- Virginia
Find the Best CBD Products in Fort Lauderdale, FL
Finding pure and safe CBD is hard because several fakes are marketed as high-quality — an issue that would mislead you into buying the wrong product. Fortunately, you can avoid substandard CBD products by exercising vigilance when buying.
If this is the first time buying a CBD product, and you do not understand how to pick the best, these tips from our experts at Nature’s GreenHouse will help you pick the right cannabidiol for medicinal or therapeutic use.
Get the Right Type of CBD
Isolate, broad-spectrum, and full-spectrum are the three types of CBD. Full-spectrum CBD contains cannabinoids, low amounts of THC, and other natural compounds found in marijuana and hemp.
Isolate contains pure CBD, and broad-spectrum CBD contains all hemp compounds except THC. The isolated CBD is great for users who want the purest form of cannabidiol.
Full-spectrum and broad-spectrum CBDs are ideal for users who want the entourage effect from CBD’s organic compounds.
Watch Out For Counterfeit CBD
You can identify counterfeit CBD by simply looking at the product label.
The label of high-quality CBD products has the manufacturer’s name, address, CBD content, batch number, expiry date, ingredients, directions of use, and cautions.
Check for USDA and CoA Certification
The cannabis plant absorbs almost everything from the soil, including heavy metals, fertilizers, and pesticides. To be safe, go for a product with USDA or CoA safety marks. Such CBD products have been tested and approved to be safe and pure in third-party laboratories.
Find the Best CBD Products in Florida
If you wish to buy high-quality CBD, contact Nature’s Green House, Fort Lauderdale, FL, today. Our company stocks high-quality CBD from vetted manufacturers. Check out our selection of best-rated CBD products, or get a medical marijuana card to let you buy marijuana products without restrictions.
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