Hemp has become a tending tsunami these past years especially following the COVID
pandemic. With the growing number of new users many are asking a very common question when it comes to using CBD, “are hemp and marijuana the same”?
The simple answer is: No. A very big misconception is thinking hemp and marijuana are the same. These two plants of cannabis are more like distant cousins than kin. While the recreational use of cannabis is illegal and many states beginning to legalize cannabis, hemp in the end is legal per the 2019 Farm Bill passed by President Trump and the US Congress: making Hemp available to be grown, processed, sold, and consumed.
So let us dig into the differences between them, and it all starts with the compounds.
Hemp and marijuana are varieties of Cannabis sativa with some major differences. The main one is the amount of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). This is the compound that makes people feel intoxicated (or a common word, "high"). This is the first major misunderstanding and comparison; Marijuana can carry high THC levels while Hemp has only trace amounts. Since both are varieties of Cannabis sativa, the leaves’ structure is basically identical. Yet, marijuana carries and continues to carry, a negative depiction that tends to have many potential users miss out on the benefits of a safe and natural alternative like Hemp versus over-the-counter or prescription medications.
The Main Difference Between Hemp and Cannabis is the THC Level
The key distinction is that hemp contains much less THC content than marijuana (Cannabis). By definition, hemp plants contain no more than 0.3% THC, compared to the utmost 20% THC level found in cannabis. Although THC is known for recreational use, it can also have therapeutic purposes. Hemp can also hold more cannabidiol purity (CBD).
Hemp vs. Marijuana Legal Difference
Authorities across the world, especially here in the United States, were slow to the table to clarify the differences between hemp and cannabis. Still today many countries around the world still criminalize hemp production even in its industrial use segments. Both Hemp and Cannabis were classified as controlled substances up until 2018 when the federal government classified Hemp CBD as a legal substance for its industrial and now personal use segments. Farmers can now grow hemp for many purposes, as it is federally legal as long as the growers, manufacturers, and retailers can show verification of THC levels below 0.3% THC. Cannabis for recreation, however, is only allowed in a few states.
Why Users Choose Hemp over Marijuana
Hemp is found in a variety of segments now, from industrial to health supplements, and is starting to make a major impact in the uses for pain, sleep, and stress.
The industrial use of Hemp has been a major addition for many businesses since Hemp fibers can be used for clothing, paper, hemp concrete, bioplastics, and much more. Plus, Hemp seeds are highly nutritious and make hemp oil for oral products, topicals, and even foods. The flower buds of the Hemp plant are extremely rich in CBD, which continue to be studied and documented to address and help manage a variety of medical conditions.
Where does Hemp oil fall when extracted from the plant? It is not much different as hemp oil, once extracted correctly, contains traces amounts of THC and can even reach 0% THC levels through extraction processes that narrow down the CBD to its purist form known as an Isolate.
These reduced THC levels, either marked as isolate, board or full-spectrum hemp-derived CBD contain less than < 0.3% THC provides maximum strength without the psychoactive or TOX Screen effects, while topical application reassures no first-pass liver processing.
Learn more about how MedEcho Hemp CBD is one of the fastest-growing Hemp CBD product companies in the United States because our proprietary Earth-to-Extract program provides users a guarantee that not only is the HEMP CBD oil a pure organic non-toxic extraction but provide a certificate of analysis for every product that verifies CBD potency and THC level assurance. Know what you are using with only the Earth-to-Extract verification seal.
