If you thought hemp and marijuana were the same thing, you arent alone. A third of Americans believe they are the exact same and until I came to Open Leaf, I was one of them. So I did my usual digging around and here’s what I found:
Hemp & marijuana are both derived from the Cannabis Sativa family. While they do share some similarities, they also have very distinct differences. Hemp and industry hemp refer to the strain of the cannabis plant that is used for agricultural products. It can grow in any climate and requires very little care. It can get as tall as twenty (20) feet and it has no psychoactive properties. Marijuana is known for the flowering top of the plant and growth takes place in a controlled climate that is usually warm, humid and monitored. It is also tall in and resembles a bush. Oh. I left out what some say is the best part: It does have psychoactive properties. During the growth process, marijuana has a higher population of thick and sticky resin. Hemp, on the other hand doesn’t carry as much resin.
Why is hemp legal and marijuana is not? Well, it all comes down to the THC content. Hemp is legal provided that it carries LESS than 0.3% THC. Any higher than this and it is immediately labeled marijuana and it becomes illegal.
When it comes to hemp and marijuana benefits, there is no one size fits all. Experiment with both until you find which one works best for you. Hemp and marijuana are arguably the “purest” cannabis products you can get on the market.
If hemp-derived CBD products aren’t working as well as you hoped, and you live in a state where it is allowed, try a cannabis-derived product instead.
