{"id":35485,"date":"2024-07-16T08:00:16","date_gmt":"2024-07-16T12:00:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.veriheal.com\/blog\/?p=35485"},"modified":"2024-10-08T05:21:07","modified_gmt":"2024-10-08T09:21:07","slug":"whats-the-difference-between-hemp-and-marijuana","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.veriheal.com\/blog\/whats-the-difference-between-hemp-and-marijuana\/","title":{"rendered":"What’s the Difference Between Hemp and Marijuana?"},"content":{"rendered":"

It\u2019s a common misconception to think hemp and marijuana are two separate plants. Scientifically, they\u2019re the same thing, and the names are merely synonyms. So, what has caused this widespread misunderstanding?<\/span><\/p>\n

Well, the law is what made the distinction between hemp and marijuana<\/a>, and this is largely based on how much THC both variants have. In summary, hemp has around 0.3% of THC content, while marijuana can produce up to 30%–an astonishing difference that leads to drastically different effects from the plant.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

For a more comprehensive understanding, we will dive deeper into the topic and uncover the main differences between hemp and marijuana.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Understanding Hemp And Marijuana<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Hemp and marijuana are two names used to describe cannabis<\/span><\/a>, which is a flowering plant in the cannabeceae<\/em> family. Nevertheless, for legal reasons, scientists had to dig deeper to make a distinction.<\/span><\/p>\n

What Does \u201cHemp\u201d Mean?<\/strong><\/h3>\n

When the law mentions hemp, it particularly refers to cannabis that only contains >0.3 percent of THC content once dried and weighed. This percentage was first proposed in 1979 in a book called \u201c<\/span>The Species Problem in Cannabis: Science & Semantics<\/span><\/a>.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

The book\u2019s author, Ernest Small, pointed out the difficulty in distinguishing hemp from marijuana since they have no true taxonomical difference. While the author proposed the 0.3% limit for hemp, he also admitted that the figure is arbitrary and can be refuted at any time.<\/span><\/p>\n

Nevertheless, the legal system accepted the distinction in the Agricultural Act of 2018 alongside other laws in the United States.\u00a0<\/span>In summary, hemp is a \u201cvariant\u201d of cannabis that cannot get you high due to its low THC content.<\/span><\/p>\n

What Does “Marijuana\u201d Mean?<\/strong><\/h3>\n

On the other hand, when someone mentions marijuana, they are usually referring to the type of cannabis that can get you high. This term is often used alongside \u201cweed\u201d and many other slang names for cannabis.<\/span><\/p>\n

Nevertheless, the legal name for the variant with the most hallucinogenic effects is \u201cmarijuana.” The law categorizes it as a substance that has more than 0.3% THC content after it has been dried and weighed.<\/span><\/p>\n

If you\u2019re knowledgeable about cannabis, you\u2019ll find the distinction confusing since there are several types. These include cannabis sativa, cannabis indica, or a hybrid. The law regards these as marijuana as long as their THC levels are above 0.3%<\/span><\/p>\n

Hemp Vs. Marijuana: Misconceptions<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Despite this distinction, there remains some misconception about hemp and marijuana, typically from a lack of understanding and proper education about the plant.<\/span><\/p>\n

One fact people often get wrong is that hemp can get you “high” like marijuana. This is untrue because it has a low THC content, which is legally required to be less than 0.3%.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

This misconception is further debunked by hemp-derived products, such as CBD oil, which offer various health benefits without any hallucinogenic effects.<\/span><\/p>\n

There\u2019s also the idea that hemp has no medicinal value because it doesn’t contain high levels of THC. As explained later in this content, there are hemp-derived CBD products with the ability to treat conditions such as anxiety, pain, seizures, and inflammation.<\/span><\/p>\n

Differences in the Uses of Hemp Vs. Marijuana<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Over the decades, conversations associated with cannabis refer to the variant with hallucinogenic effects. One can get high by smoking or extracting the cannabinoids from the flower, stalk, and leaves into tinctures and edibles.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Marijuana can also be used for more besides getting high. It often has medicinal properties like treating obstructive sleep apnea, fibromyalgia, chronic pain, or multiple sclerosis.<\/span><\/p>\n

Hemp, the type of cannabis that can\u2019t get you high, is grown for other benefits. It\u2019s often used for manufacturing useful items like:<\/span><\/p>\n