What is the difference between hemp and cannabis?

Hemp and cannabis are two completely different plants, right? Yes and no. Technically, hemp and cannabis are actually two different species from the same genus Cannabis (family – Cannabaceae). They are not classified as two different plants in a biological sense. Although science doesn’t completely differentiate between hemp and cannabis, the law does.

Hemp vs Cannabis

Under US law, hemp is defined as cannabis containing 0.3% THC or less by dry weight.

Let’s back up for a second. THC, short for tetrahydrocannabinol, is a cannabinoid that can get you high — in other words, make you feel high. The other cannabinoids in hemp and cannabis plants do not appear to be intoxicating.

However, since hemp contains 0.3% THC or less, it cannot make you feel stoned. It’s really a small amount of THC.

However, cannabis contains more than 0.3% THC. You’ll find that most cannabis strains contain somewhere between 15% and 30% THC.

To sum it up, hemp cannot get you high while cannabis can.

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Why 0.3% THC?

As previously mentioned, biology does not differentiate between hemp and cannabis. So who invented the 0.3% rule?

The definition was originally proposed by Ernest Small in his 1979 book The Species Problem in Cannabis: Science & Semantics. Small pointed out that defining the difference between hemp and cannabis is difficult. He suggested setting the limit for THC levels at 0.3%—but he actually conceded that that was an arbitrary rule.

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However, the number continued to provide information on the legal definition of hemp in the United States. Various pieces of literature, including the Farm Bill of 2018 (the so-called Farm Bill), used Small’s definition of hemp.

The legal difference between hemp and cannabis

We mention the Farm Bill of 2018 because it was quite an important piece of legislation. This law, also known as the Farm Bill 2018, legalized hemp at the federal level.

Thanks to the Farm Bill of 2018, growing and processing hemp became legal throughout the United States. The law allowed companies to manufacture and sell hemp-based products, including hemp-based CBD products, hemp seed products, hemp milk, hemp textiles, hemp bioplastics, building materials, and more.

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Note: Cannabis containing over 0.3% THC is not legal at the federal level, although it is legal in some states.

So, although hemp and cannabis are two different species, there is an important legal difference between the two.

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What about other cannabinoids?

Hemp and cannabis can both contain CBD and other cannabinoids. You will find that certain strains have been bred to contain more of one compound or terpene profile than others. Some growers grow for full-spectrum plants, or cultivate them separately specifically for a target compound, such as: B. High-CBD, high-CBG, or high-CBN strains.

However, for a cannabinoid product to be legal in the United States, it must be derived from hemp. Our wellness products are hemp-based and therefore completely legal – which is why we can ship our products throughout the United States and even worldwide.