HEMP vs MARIJUANA

I came across this article by Aaron Cedena, "Hemp vs Marijuana: The Difference Explained", and found it to be very helpful.  When I start to think about the difference or try to explain it to someone else, I find myself getting a bit confused.  The words "hemp" and "marijuana" get thrown around so loosely and sometimes are used interchangeably.  Hemp and marijuana are broad classifications of Cannabis.  Cannabis is a genus of flowering plants found in the Cannabaceae family.  There are three primary species: Cannabis Sativa, Cannabis Indica and Cannabis Ruderalis.

What is hemp? 

"Hemp" is a term we use for varieties of Cannabis (Sativa) that contain 0.3% or less of THC.  It has been around for thousands of years.  Hemp is grown outdoors to maximize its size and yield.  It is used for a variety of products such as rope, paper, clothing, plastics, building material, food, and CBD oils.  Hemp had been regulated as an illegal substance until it was removed earlier this year under the Agricultural Improvement Act of 2018 (2018 Farm Bill).  This Bill only applies to "hemp and hemp-derived products". 

What is Marijuana?

"Marijuana" is a term we use for varieties of Cannabis (Indica) that contains more than 0.3% of THC.  It also has been around for thousands of years.  Marijuana is primarily used for medicinal purposes and because of this, it is cultivated under very controlled environments to optimize the breed's characteristics.  A grower has to pay close attention to the plant at each stage of its life cycle.  Unlike hemp, marijuana is an illegal substance and is still controlled under the Controlled Substance Act of 1970. 

CBD Oil   

CBD oil can be derived from hemp and marijuana.  Even though the genetic make-up of the hemp and marijuana plant is different, the molecular structure of CBD is the same whether derived from hemp or marijuana.  The big difference is the legality of both.  CBD produced from hemp is legal if it contains 0.3% or less of THC under the Agricultural Improvement Act of 2018.  CBD produced from marijuana is NOT legal under the Controlled Substance Act of 1970 regardless of its percentage of THC.

Hopefully, this helps to clear things up a little when it comes to the difference between hemp and marijuana.  For an in-depth explanation, please take a look at "Hemp vs Marijuana: The Difference Explained" by Aaron Cedena.