The Difference Between Hemp and Cannabis: A Clear Explanation
With the continuous rise in demand for CBD, the CBD industry has evolved into a unique free market. Nevertheless, it remains closely linked to the cannabis industry, bringing along debates about credibility and legal changes.
Given the confusion and complexity surrounding the use of CBD, it becomes increasingly important to understand the difference between hemp and cannabis. How are they related?
What is the Difference Between Hemp and Cannabis?
Cannabis is a genus of flowering plants in the Cannabaceae family, comprising three species: Cannabis sativa, Cannabis indica, Cannabis ruderalis.
While hemp and cannabis are often considered to refer to a single “species” or “strain” of the Cannabis plant, this is not technically accurate.
Hemp and cannabis are simply a way of classification recognized by the community, but they do not represent a classification according to the criteria of taxonomy for cannabis.
To distinguish between hemp and cannabis and clear up the misinformation, let’s explore the precise meanings of these terms.
Distinguishing hemp and cannabis leaves.
What is Hemp?
“Hemp” is a term used to classify cannabis strains that contain less than or equal to 0.3% THC (by dry weight).
While this legal definition was legitimized in the 2018 U.S. Farm Bill, “hemp” is commonly used to describe cannabis strains that do not produce psychoactive effects and are harvested for the hemp industry.
With documented evidence of its use throughout history, including discoveries of hemp materials over the past 10,000 years, many believe hemp was the first crop cultivated by humankind.
With the ability to produce necessities such as food, rope, clothing, paper, building materials, and much more, hemp has been a catalyst for the earliest developments of humanity.
What is Cannabis?
“Marijuana” (a common term for cannabis) refers to cannabis strains that contain more than 0.3% THC (by dry weight) and induce psychoactive effects for users.
While the usage of this term is prevalent in American culture, it symbolizes a poor understanding of cannabis. Notable individuals and organizations within the cannabis industry refuse to use this term, with some even claiming it is “racist.”
In the early history of America, the term “marijuana” did not exist; “cannabis” was primarily used to classify this plant.
Around the late 1910s to early 1920s, nearly 1 million Mexican immigrants came to the U.S., seeking refuge from the Mexican Revolution.
During this time, anti-Mexican sentiment began to rise, and the concept of “marijuana” emerged to associate Mexican cannabis use negatively.
Shortly thereafter, unfounded rumors proliferated, warning Americans of dangers and violent crimes attributed to the use of “Mexican cannabis” or “pot,” exacerbating the anti-Mexican movement.
With increasing prejudice against cannabis, the U.S. government began to impose stricter laws on the cannabis plant.
By 1927, 11 states in the U.S. had passed laws prohibiting cannabis, and by the 1930s, anti-cannabis propaganda and the fear of “reefer madness” were fully implemented.
After the passage of the federal “Marihuana Tax Act of 1937,” which imposed heavy and unreasonable taxes on the storage, sale, or transport of this plant, the federal government officially banned cannabis, laying the groundwork for an 80-year prohibition on the cannabis plant.
A poster depicting the dangers of cannabis in America during the 1970s.
The Confusion Between Hemp and Cannabis
Based on the information used to describe hemp and cannabis, the distinguishing characteristic lies in one factor – the THC content of the plant, specifically what makes users high.
While the psychoactive properties of each type of plant are an important factor to consider, classifying cannabis as either hemp or cannabis based solely on one characteristic is a misrepresentation of cannabis that prevents users from understanding its diversity.
Let’s compare the classification hierarchy of citrus fruits to cannabis:
As described in the chart above:
Classifying cannabis as hemp or marijuana is akin to classifying all citrus fruits into two types: sweet or sour, without acknowledging the diverse characteristics of each fruit.
Moreover, hemp and cannabis may often be indistinguishable from one another.
This has created numerous issues for law enforcement when seizing hemp, even though it is 100% legal, as it looks identical to cannabis.
The classification of hemp or cannabis lacks a true understanding of cannabis, indicating a clear problem with the classification of effects.
A practical solution would be to eliminate the existence of these terms; however, now that these concepts have become entrenched in our society, this issue will be difficult to change.
The only practical solution at present is to re-educate the community over time.
In that case, perhaps it is best to promote definitions of hemp and cannabis, how they are used in society, and their legal systems to avoid any confusion when using hemp or CBD products.
Key Differences Between Hemp and Cannabis
As varieties of the same plant species, hemp and cannabis share many similarities and may even look exactly alike.
The identifying characteristic between hemp and cannabis is the chemical composition found in each plant.
Both hemp and cannabis can produce significant amounts of CBD, a non-psychoactive compound, however, THC is produced at different levels.
While hemp contains no more than 0.3% THC by dry weight, cannabis can contain up to 30% THC.
Generally, hemp and cannabis differ in terms of identifying characteristics. Although they contain similar chemicals, the ratio differs by 300 times.
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