Hemp vs. Cannabis: What’s the Difference?

Hemp, cannabis, and marijuana are terms that everyone is familiar with. However, many people use them interchangeably without understanding that they carry different meanings.

Essentially, hemp and marijuana are just two different ways of referring to the cannabis plant, a flowering plant in the Cannabaceae family. In legal terms, however, hemp and marijuana are distinct and categorized by their THC content. 

Hemp contains THC levels below the legal limit for controlled psychoactive substances and marijuana has THC levels above this set limit.

While both hemp and marijuana are technically cannabis, cannabis is the name used to refer to strains with high THC levels. 

What Makes Hemp and Cannabis Different?

There are several main differences between hemp and cannabis, including:

• THC Content

Hemp is classified as cannabis that contains less than 0.3% THC content. Cannabis sold in dispensaries, on the other hand, has much higher quantities of THC. For example, many of the strains sold at the BaM Body and Mind Dispensary contain more than 20% THC content. 

• Uses

Hemp has a wide variety of applications. It’s used to produce CBD supplements, hemp seeds, hemp milk, protein powder, hemp oil, and other nutritional supplements. And since it grows quickly, it’s an excellent material for textiles, paper, clothing, or biodiesel. 

Cannabis is almost exclusively used as a medical or recreational drug. Cannabis can be vaporized, ingested orally or applied topically as its most common ways of administration.

• Psychoactivity

Since hemp has such low quantities of THC, it has little to no intoxicative effects. Cannabis, on the other hand, can have low to high amounts of THC. Different strains have varying levels of THC and resulting psychoactive effects.

• Legality

Hemp is legal throughout the United States and most regions of the world. In contrast, cannabis is a controlled substance and is illegal for recreational use in most parts of the world. 

However, some states have legalized cannabis for recreational or medical use. Users in these states can purchase it legally through cannabis dispensaries such as the Body and Mind medical marijuana dispensary in West Memphis, Arkansas. 

What Makes Hemp and Cannabis Similar?

Since hemp and cannabis make up the same family of plants, they have many similarities. These include:

• Growth Patterns

Both hemp and cannabis grow quickly. Hemp is typically tall and stalky, while cannabis can be tall and stalky or short and bushy, depending on the species. 

• CBD Content

Hemp and cannabis can both contain high amounts of CBD. Usually, hemp plants have over 10% CBD content by dried weight. In comparison, cannabis can contain anywhere from less than 1% to over 20% CBD content by dried weight.

What’s the Difference Between Hemp vs. Cannabis-Derived Products?

The main difference between products derived from hemp and cannabis is their source. For example, if a CBD product comes from a plant that contains less than 0.3% THC content, it is considered hemp-derived. This makes it federally legal for sale and transport across state lines. CBD derived from cannabis isn’t given the same legal status.

Another difference is the other compounds that are extracted from the plant. CBD extracted from a cannabis plant is considered a “full-spectrum” extract and will contain higher levels of THC and other cannabinoids alongside the CBD, while CBD extracted from hemp is more likely to be considered “broad-spectrum”.

At the BaM Body and Mind West Memphis medical marijuana dispensary, you can find an extensive range of products derived from cannabis plants. If you want to learn more about the difference between hemp and cannabis – and how to safely consume their derived products – reach out to the experts at BaM Body and Mind, and they’ll be happy to assist you!