What Is The Difference Between Hemp And Marijuana?

Marijuana and hemp are more similar than different. In fact, they both are varieties of cannabis, which means they come from the same plant. 

However, the details that set marijuana and hemp apart are very significant. So what’s the difference between the two? 

 

The Little Known Difference Between Cannabis & Marijuana 

Nearly everyone has heard of cannabis in the context of the plant that gets people “high”. However, it is more than that. 

Cannabis is the plant that produces hemp and marijuana. Kind of like how there are different varieties of apple trees that will produce different apples depending on their genetics. 

The genetics of the cannabis seed will dictate whether the cannabis will produce hemp (non-psychoactive) or marijuana (psychoactive). From there, the soil, climate, nutrient profile and many other variables will impact how those genetics are expressed. 

For example, gene expression of cannabis can be seen in qualities such as THC and CBD content, terpene and flavor profiles, broadness of leaves and stockiness (or flimsiness) of stalks. 

Even though hemp and marijuana come from the same plant, it is important to explore the differences. 

 

What is Hemp? 

As we said above, Hemp is a type of cannabis plant. However, this cannabis plant will not get you high. In order for cannabis to be considered hemp, it needs to have less than 0.3% THC. 

THC is the molecule in cannabis that will get you high and >0.3% of it will have zero psychoactive effects. It would be like drinking a non-alcoholic beer. 

Generally hemp is cultivated for its flowers, which are high in CBD. CBD is the compound everyone is talking about, due to its amazing health effects. However, hemp can also be used for food, fuel, and fiber. There are literally thousands of different uses for hemp. 

Some of these uses include:

            • Clothing
            • Rope
            • Biodiesel
            • Superfood Seeds (hemp seeds)
            • Health & Beauty products
            • Paper
            • Canvas 
            • Building material (hemp-crete)

Hemp will be grown differently depending on its uses. Hemp grown for CBD will have big huge flowers, or “buds”. Other varieties, such as industrial hemp, have thick, strong stalks that can be utilized for organic rope, clothing and even canvas. 

Hemp tends to be robust and easy to grow, and even regenerates damaged soil. New and exciting uses for hemp are regularly discovered. 

Hemp is nothing short of a miracle plant. It offers solutions to many of the modern world’s problems. Now, thanks to the 2018 Farm Bill, hemp is legal across all 50 states. It is an exciting time to be part of this industry! 

 

What is Marijuana? 

The key difference with Marijuana compared to hemp, is that it is primarily used for its high THC content. THC stands for Tetrahydrocannabinol, and it is the chemical in cannabis that gets people high. 

However beyond getting people “high”, THC is also utilized for its medicinal effects, and serves a crucial role in medical marijuana. Whether marijuana is a drug or a medicine, depends on the dose, application and relationship to the substance. 

Some of the medical issues people use Marijuana for include:

            • Cancer 
            • Relief from chemotherapy symptoms
            • Digestive issues, especially crohn’s disease
            • Insomnia
            • PTSD
            • Anxiety & Depression
            • Chronic pain

The applications of Marijuana are also numerous, but tend to focus more on consumables such as smoke, eatables, salves and oils, rather than industrial purposes. 

Marijuana is the variety of cannabis that is illegal in many states and countries.  

What This All Means For the Consumer… 

Although Marijuana and Hemp share many similarities, the differences are important to be aware of. Marijuana can contain CBD, however it still contains more than 0.3% THC and thus is psychoactive. 

As well, hemp can contain minuscule amounts of THC, but it is still considered NON-psychoactive. As long as CBD oil contains less than 0.3% THC, it can be sold legally in the United States. 

This amount of THC is too small to get you high, however in certain circumstances, people will test positive for THC from CBD supplements. So those who are routinely tested, or those who wish to abstain from THC, should avoid marijuana all together, and consider carefully the brand of CBD supplement they consume. 

Our focus at Patriot Hemp is to provide high quality CBD products, including zero THC CBD consumables. This means those who choose to avoid THC, can still experience all the benefits of CBD without the risks of THC.  

What is your experience with Cannabis, either in the form of Hemp or Marijuana?

Comment and share, we would love to hear your perspectives! 

Difference Hemp and Marijuana

Patriot Hemp

At Patriot Hemp, our mission is to provide high quality CBD oil to those who can benefit from it. We focus particularly on government employees, veterans, people suffering from PTSD, military personnel, nurses and those in positions of service. That is why we offer several CBD products that contain zero THC. This means you can enjoy all the benefits of CBD without the risk of THC. Find our products and more at https://patriotcbd.org/