Hemp vs Marijuana. What is the difference?
Many times the words Hemp and Marijuana get used interchangeably but they shouldn’t. They are different things. So in this post, we look at the topic of Hemp vs Marijuana. What is the difference?
First of all, the word Marijuana is actually a slang word.
The basic and legal difference between Hemp and Marijuana is the amount of THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) which present within a Cannabis plant.
THC is one of the many phytocannabinoids (chemical elements) that exist within the Cannabis plant and it is the one responsible for its psychoactive properties.
Another cannabinoid you may have heard of is CBD (cannabinadiol) and we cover its properties in other posts.
- Hemp is a Cannabis plant that has lower THC levels. In 1930, the US Government officially designated that a Cannabis plant that had 0.3% or less THC content was labeled Hemp.
- Marijuana is a Cannabis plant that has higher levels of THC and can be smoked for recreational or medicinal purposes.
- Hemp plants are typically strains that grow very tall and slender because it is the stalk fibres and seeds that are sought after as opposed to the flowers.
- Marijuana plants are usually grown from strains that are shorter and bushier to be able to increase the flower harvest per square footage or acre.
- Hemp plants are harvested for both the seeds and stalk. The seeds are considered a Superfood because of their high nutritional content. See the post: Hemp Seed Nutrition. The stalk is used in numerous applications such as Paper, Hempcrete, Rope, Clothing, Cars and much, much more!
- Marijuana flowers and leaves, when harvested, are either simply dried out for smoking or processed into oil and pastes for various methods of consumption.
Other popular articles include:
CBD and THC. What is the difference?
Can you build a car using Hemp?
