Hemp vs Cannabis — What’s the Difference?

With lots of talk about “hemp products” and what forms of the cannabis plant are legal in certain areas of the country, a lot of people may be wondering, “What the heck is the difference?”

We’re here to clear the smokey air.

To start: both are a form of Cannabis Sativa L, the cannabis plant, so they look pretty much the same. But the important difference is their levels of THC.

Hemp produces cannabinoids just like other cannabis plants do, but not enough of the intoxicating cannabinoid tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) to produce a “high.”

Hemp = cannabis < 0.3% THC.

Legally, in the U.S, a plant has to contain less than 0.3% THC to be considered a hemp plant.

Hemp is an important fiber and nearly every part of the plant can be used to create products we all know and love, such as oils, paper, clothing, and building materials. CBD can even be found in hemp plants, which provides people in states that don’t allow THC producing plants with an opportunity to experience the cannabinoid’s therapeutic properties.

Other forms of cannabis with levels of THC higher than the 0.3% are used for intoxicating and therapeutic experiences.