The CBD industry is very unique and controversial, especially due to the connotations around marijuana. There is in fact a difference between hemp and marijuana, and it is important to understand this, especially in relation to CBD. Hemp and marijuana are broad classifications of Cannabis, a genus of the flowering plants in the Cannabaceae family, and there are four key differences between them.

#1 Composition“Hemp” is used to classify the parts of Cannabis that contain 0.3% THC or less by dry weight. “Marijuana” on the other hand is used to classify the parts of Cannabis that contain more than 0.3% THC by dry weight. Marijuana can actually contain up to 30% of THC. Both can produce high amounts of CBD.

#2 Legality While hemp was previously illegal, the Agricultural Improvement Act of 2018 (or the “Farm Bill”) federally legalized hemp and hemp-derived products. On the other hand, marijuana is still treated as a controlled substance and at this point in time, is federally illegal.

#3 Cultivation Marijuana is selectively bred in very controlled environments, as the goal is to optimize the breed’s characteristics and produce female plants that bud flowers. The grower must pay close attention to the plant to maintain exact conditions to its environment, like temperature, lighting, and humidity. Hemp however is grown to maximize size and yield, so it is grown outdoors and does not require careful attention as does marijuana.

#4 Usage Everyone is aware of THC being known as the powerful psychoactive agent and marijuana being used for recreational uses. Hemp is actually harvested to create industrial materials such as rope, clothing, and paper, food products such as cooking oil and hemp-seed based products, and medicinal products such as cannabidiol/CBD.

CBD can be derived from both hemp and marijuana AND it is the exact same on the molecular level whether it is from hemp or marijuana. So this is where knowing the difference between hemp and marijuana comes into play. Under the 2018 “Farm Bill”, hemp and hemp-derived products are legal. It did NOT legalize CBD, as CBD is still considered a Schedule I controlled substance. Yet if it is derived specifically from hemp, then it is not labeled as a controlled substance and therefore is legal. That also means that if CBD is derived from marijuana, it is not legalized under the Farm Bill, even if it has 0.0% THC.

It is clear that these terms have become commonplace in our society and while they may be used incorrectly in certain contexts, it is important to understand what they mean if you are planning to consumer CBD products. Feel free to continue learning more at this link.