Hemp vs cannabis
JavaScript seems to be disabled in your browser. For the best experience on our site, be sure to turn on Javascript in your browser. A question we are starting to receive from medical cannabis patients is whether CBD derived from cannabis is more beneficial than CBD derived from hemp. Differences in full-spectrum extracts are a result of the extraction process, the parts of the plant used, and the percentage of cannabinoids found in the final product. This results in a clean, consistent product.
Hemp vs Marijuana
Although hemp and marijuana are both classified biologically as cannabis, there are a number of important differences between them. These differences are evident in the way each variety is used. The differences are also documented in the language, laws, and regulations that apply to both.
We break down the anatomy, history, use, and legality of the hemp plant to get to the heart of not only what distinguishes it from marijuana, but also what makes it such a viable, versatile commodity. A variety of Cannabis sativa L, hemp is a dioecious plant, which means it can be separated into male and female plants. Hemp fibers can be used to make items including paper, clothing, furnishing fabric, rope, and building materials. The whole hemp plant , from stalk to seed, can also be used to make fuel and feedstock.
For more specific applications, hemp can be divided into four categories:. The hemp plant produces a broad range of cannabinoids, including tetrahydrocannabinol THC , the intoxicating cannabinoid in marijuana. However, hemp does not produce enough THC to create intoxicating effects when consumed.
In fact, hemp-derived CBD is rapidly becoming one of the most popular forms of the therapeutic cannabinoid on the market today. Many countries differentiate hemp vs. In the U. The European Union has set the limit at 0. In fact, smoking is not the best way to tap into the therapeutic potential of the cannabinoids that hemp is rich in, most notably CBD. Depending on the desired final product, hemp cultivars are chosen based on several factors, including:.
CBD production, in particular, has become a major factor in recent years. As the CBD market continues to grow, more and more cultivars are also being chosen based on their CBD production and unique aromatic, or terpene , profiles. CBD oil is extracted from hemp leaves and flowers. The CBD oil extracted from hemp can be used for treating a wide variety of ailments, hence the ever-growing popularity of CBD-focused cultivation.
Hemp fibers are primarily used for textiles, paper, building materials, and other industrial products. Raw materials such as hurds, or shives, are short woody fibers typically found inside the stalk. Bast fibers make up the outer portion of the stalk and are typically split into three categories — primary, or line fiber, secondary, and tow.
Hemp seeds are rich in protein, dietary fiber, vitamins, and minerals. They contain an optimal ratio of omega-6 to omega-3 fatty acids for healthful consumption. A study also found that hemp proteins are more digestible for humans than common soy protein isolates SPIs used in food products.
Hemp can be used as a food product as either raw seeds or oils. Hemp oil is pressed from the seeds for a concentration of protein, meaning both food product forms are utilizing hempseed as a nutritional resource. Seeds can also be ground up for flour or mixed with water to create hempseed milk. The CBD oil extracted from hemp can be used for treating a wide variety of ailments, hence the ever-growing popularity of CBD-focused hemp cultivation.
Hurds , or shives, are short woody hemp fibers typically found inside the stalk. Bast fibers make up the outer portion of the stalk and are typically split into three categories — primary, or line fiber, secondary, and the tow. Many types of processing techniques are utilized to process hemp seeds and stalks. The technique used depends on the purpose of the final product.
Seeds can be consumed whole, or refined by being pressed or crushed to produce hemp seed oil and flour. These seeds are also hulled, or shelled, to make them more palatable.
The remaining shells, which are rich in fiber, can also be used for making flour. Hemp stalks are processed through decorticating, a multistep method for removing the long fibers from the rest of the plant. The steps taken during the intermediate processing period include:. Hemp stalks have tough cellular tissue that makes up their surface and must be dissolved through a process called retting.
There are three modes of retting:. The decorticating process typically involves three stages:. Modern decorticating techniques employ steam explosion treating the fibers with steam through a pressurized chamber and ultrasonic breaking breaking down fibers using ultrasonic waves to maintain the integrity of the fibers throughout the process.
These techniques are not as harsh on the stalks and allow processors to use the fibers on already fabricated cotton and wool processing machinery. Hemp stalk is baled for transportation and long-term storage using traditional farming balers.
Hemp bales should be stored in a dry environment in conditions intended to reduce as much humidity as possible. Other key differences between hemp and marijuana have to do with cultivation and harvesting.
Male plants flower much faster than females and do not produce nearly as much fiber. In stark contrast to marijuana fields, most female hemp fields include sporadically placed males. The male hemp plants release pollen for the female plant to produce seeds that will either be used for future crops or sold as food. In marijuana fields, male plants are typically eliminated to ensure the maximum production of sinsemilla flowers.
While marijuana cultivation requires ample spacing to reduce the risk of mold or bacteria, hemp can be planted more densely.
Most marijuana crops are planted at one plant per four square feet. Hemp plants that are grown for oil are planted at roughly 40 to 60 plants per four square feet. Those grown for fiber are even more densely planted at a rate of about to plants per four square feet.
Hemp plants are almost always cultivated outdoors , as opposed to marijuana plants, which are often planted in greenhouse or indoor settings. Because hemp is susceptible to the same predators, diseases, and insects that attack marijuana, many cultivators employ a technique called crop rotation , in which alternating crops are planted in the same place, to avoid any buildup of these organisms and to allow nutrients to return to the soil.
The specific order of crop rotation and types of crops being rotated with hemp will depend on the location of the farm. Hemp is also used as a rotational crop at farms where it is not the primary agricultural product. The Agricultural Act , more commonly known as the Farm Bill, signed by Democratic President Barack Obama, includes section , which allows for universities and state departments of agriculture to cultivate industrial hemp, as long as it is cultivated and used for research.
Under the Agricultural act, state departments and universities must also be registered with their state, and defer to state laws and regulations for approval to grow hemp.
This move to federally legalize industrial production of the plant allowed for cultivation and distribution as a legal agricultural product. Under the Hemp Farming Act, hemp cultivation is no longer limited to state departments and universities. In addition, the act allows farmers rights to water, crop insurance, and federal agricultural grants, as well as legal access to national banking.
Hemp may also be transported across state lines. Prior to the Hemp Farming Act of , 41 states had passed industrial hemp-related legislation. Thirty-nine of those states legalized statewide cultivation programs that defined hemp specifically to differentiate it from marijuana, establish licensing requirements, and regulate production.
The Hemp Farming Act now requires state departments of agriculture to consult with their governors and chief law enforcement officers on a regulatory program, which will then be submitted to the United States Secretary of Agriculture for approval. According to Section B of the bill, state hemp regulatory programs must include a system to maintain information on all land where cultivation takes place, procedures for testing THC levels in hemp, and procedures for disposing of products that violate THC content restrictions.
Hemp has been cultivated on a global scale for thousands of years. Some of the earliest known prolific uses of hemp began in China about 10, BCE, where it was used for making clothing, rope, and paper.
The Yangshao people, who lived in China from roughly BCE, wove hemp and pressed it into their pottery for decorative purposes. From about to BCE, the plant was also grown in Japan and used for fiber and paper. Cannabis played a large role in the Greco-Roman cultures as a source of fiber, intoxication, and medicine. Cannabis seeds were discovered in the ruins of Pompeii, and Greek rhetorician Athenaeus made note of hemp being used to make rope between and CE. Roman author and naturalist Pliny the Elder also made reference to a cannabis root decoction as a treatment for joint stiffness and gout in the first century BCE.
Exactly how and when hemp originated in the New World is still highly debated. Hemp products from pre-Columbian native civilizations were also found in Virginia.
Vikings, who used the plant for making rope and sails, may also have brought seeds with them when they attempted to colonize the New World.
Hemp was a prominent crop in the United States until , when the Marihuana Tax Act virtually obliterated the American hemp industry. The U. The World War II hemp resurgence was short-lived, though. Until the passing of the Farm Bill, the Controlled Substances Act of kept industrial production dormant. Wang, Xian-Sheng, et al. Callaway, J. Ryz, Natasha R.
Holmes, William Henry. The information contained in this site is provided for informational purposes only, and should not be construed as medical or legal advice. By checking this box you consent to Weedmaps' collection of your email address for the limited purpose of subscribing to Weedmaps' email communications. Home Order Online New. In stark contrast to marijuana fields, most female hemp fields include sporadically placed males to pollinate the females in order to produce nutrient-rich seeds.
Hemp was a prominent crop in the United States until , when the Marihuana Tax Act virtually obliterated the industry in America.
What Is Hemp? Can You Smoke Hemp? Consuming a hemp-derived CBD product, such as CBD oil or tincture, is the best way to tap into the therapeutic potential of the cannabinoids that hemp is rich in. Depending on the desired final product, hemp cultivars are chosen based on several factors, including: Stem quality Cannabinoid content Resistance to disease Time to harvest Hemp oil content Seed production per acre CBD production, in particular, has become a major factor in recent years.
What is Hemp Used For? How is Hemp Used as a Food Product? How is Hemp Processed?
Hemp, or industrial hemp, is a variety of the Cannabis sativa plant species that is grown specifically for the industrial uses of its derived products. It is one of the fastest growing plants and was one of the first plants to be spun into usable. Hemp plants are defined as any cannabis plant that has percent or less THC. Even a plant with percent THC would be classified as a.
First and foremost: Hemp is not marijuana. Marijuana is not hemp. Oftentimes people believe that hemp is the male plant of marijuana. This is false. Hemp and marijuana are both cannabis.
Last February, the Idaho State police pulled over a truck carrying 6, pounds of hemp and promptly seized it, allegedly claiming it was marijuana.
While there are few genetic differences between hemp and marijuana plants, there are drastic differences in terms of cannabis slang, legal interpretation, and use of the plants. In practical terms, the differences between hemp and marijuana are quite significant. Below, we will take a close look at the similarities and differences of marijuana vs.
Hemp vs. Marijuana: Why Can't Cops Tell Them Apart?
Your primer on all things cannabis, including how to make the most of the therapeutic benefits with or without the high. Cannabis is one of the buzziest new wellness trends, and it's only gaining momentum. Once associated with bongs and hacky sacks, cannabis has made its way into mainstream natural medicine. And for good reason-cannabis has been proven to help with epilepsy , schizophrenia , depression , anxiety , and more, while pre-clinical trials are also proving its efficacy with preventing the spread of cancer. Hands down, CBD is the most popular component of this herbal remedy.
What’s the Difference Between Hemp and Marijuana?
Hemp , or industrial hemp , is a variety of the Cannabis sativa plant species that is grown specifically for the industrial uses of its derived products. Although cannabis as a drug and industrial hemp both derive from the species Cannabis sativa and contain the psychoactive component tetrahydrocannabinol THC , they are distinct strains with unique phytochemical compositions and uses. Some governments regulate the concentration of THC and permit only hemp that is bred with an especially low THC content. In those languages "hemp" can refer to either industrial fiber hemp or narcotic cannabis strains. Hemp is used to make a variety of commercial and industrial products, including rope, textiles, clothing, shoes, food, paper, bioplastics, insulation, and biofuel. The inner two fibers of the plant are woodier and typically have industrial applications, such as mulch, animal bedding, and litter. When oxidized often erroneously referred to as "drying" , hemp oil from the seeds becomes solid and can be used in the manufacture of oil-based paints, in creams as a moisturizing agent, for cooking, and in plastics. Hemp seeds have been used in bird feed mix as well. Hemp seeds can be eaten raw, ground into hemp meal, sprouted or made into dried sprout powder.
Although hemp and marijuana are both classified biologically as cannabis, there are a number of important differences between them. These differences are evident in the way each variety is used.
Short Answer: They are two forms of the cannabis plant that are used very differently. Hemp is different from marijuana in its function, cultivation and application. Many states are slowly legalizing recreational marijuana, but marijuana remains federally illegal.
Hemp vs. Marijuana: What’s the Difference?
Share your location to get the most relevant content and products around you. Leafly keeps personal information safe, secure, and anonymous. By accessing this site, you accept the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. We use cookies to enable essential features of our site and to help personalize your experience. Learn more about our use of cookies in our Cookie Policy and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe from Leafly email messages anytime. Understanding cannabis nomenclature and the chemical difference between the two plants is essential to making informed choices about CBD. Cannabis refers to a genus of plants which has three species: indica, sativa, and ruderalis. Hemp is not a different species of the cannabis plant. The above classifications have been devised to differentiate intoxicating cannabis from non-intoxicating cannabis. Hemp is a sativa species, while cannabis can be sativa, indica, or ruderalis.
Hemp vs. Marijuana
Marijuana stocks are soaring because of recent changes to how hemp is regulated in the United States. That's got everyone asking: What are the top marijuana stocks to buy in ? In order to understand the impact from hemp deregulation on marijuana companies, it's useful to understand how marijuana and hemp are different. Marijuana is the dried flower of the female cannabis plant, and it can come from either the cannabis indica or cannabis sativa species. Hemp is only a member of the cannabis sativa family. Although marijuana and hemp can both come from the cannabis sativa family, they're distinctly different. Marijuana is bushier with broader leaves, while hemp is leaner with shinier leaves.
