Hemp and Cannabis used to refer to the same thing. Both are the name of the cannabinoid plant marijuana. Cannabis plants as old as 12,000 years old have been found in East Asia, hinting that our forefathers enjoyed a little pot as much as we do now. But in 1937, the U.S. government heavily taxed Hemp production, altogether halting hemp research and development until the early 90s. So is there a difference between Hemp and Cannabis?
The distinction matters now due to the legal system. In 2018, the federal government passed the Farm Bill of 2018. In essence, this bill legalized the sale and production of cannabis plants, as long as they contained less than .3% THC.
Is Hemp the same as Marijuana?
In short, no. While hemp and marijuana are just terms and have no taxonomic significance, marijuana usually refers to the type of cannabis that makes you high. THC, the active ingredient of marijuana, can cause strong feelings of euphoria and lightheadedness. This feeling is especially strong with THC-heavy marijuana. Hemp usually has very minute amounts of THC, so you won’t feel the same high as marijuana. Studies after the 2018 farm bill have also indicated that Hemp, cannabis with less than .3% THC, usually has more CBD than marijuana referred to as Weed or Cannabis. A brief summary of the differences between the two:
Hemp
Marijuana
Psychoactive
Federally a Schedule 1 substance
Has tight state-by-state regulations
Used often in vapes, oils, and flower
Since 2018, the federal government has relied on a .3% THC concentration to distinguish Hemp from Marijuana. So before you make your Hemp or Marijuana purchase, do your research and know your local laws. It may save you a headache that weed won’t be able to solve.
At Upgrade, we produce hemp-derived THC & CBD products with the highest purity and quality. Our products are backed by lab-proven results, industry-leading formulas, and mouth-watering flavors. They are manufactured from high-yielding industrial hemp strains and extracted using supercritical CO2 processes.
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