Hemp vs Marijuana
- highstherbs
- Oct 10, 2023
- 2 min read
TLDR; Cannabis can be broken down into two categories: hemp and marijuana. Hemp has less than 0.3% THC and marijuana has more than 0.3% THC. The plants can only be distinguished through a test in a lab.
As legislation has progressed, the rise of this distinction has caused some confusion over the past couple years. The legal definition of hemp is a cannabis plant with below 0.3% THC. Marijuana on the other hand is a cannabis plant with over 0.3% THC.
History of Hemp in America
Cannabis arrived in North America in 1545 via Spanish colonization. By the mid 1800s, the New England colonies considered hemp as an important fiber crop. Kentucky, though, was one of the top hemp producers for over 150 years starting in 1775. The cannabis plants grown in Kentucky were perfect for fiber since they were tall, skinny, and lacked flowers.
When the Maijana Tax Act of 1937 was passed, it put a half a century halt on American hemp production because this Act and later the scheduling of marijuana made no initial distinction between marijuana and hemp. It wasn’t until the 2018 Farm Bill that further defined hemp as an agricultural commodity and removed it from the controlled substances list.
Distinguishing Between Marijuana and Hemp
The only difference between marijuana and hemp is the THC percentage. The plants with below 0.3% THC are hemp and those over 0.3% are marijuana. The look and smell of both types of cannabis are indistinguishable. The only way to determine which is which is to have a lab test to analyze the cannabinoid content of the plant.
Hemp today contains about 150 known cannabinoids, including CBD and THC. The diversity of cannabinoids in a product is typically labeled as “full spectrum” and is considered to have the best effects due to utilizing the Entourage Effect (link to article).
Legality
The 2018 Farm Bill allowed for states to cultivate and sell hemp, but regulations on a state by state basis needed to be established. For the past several years, hemp products remained unregulated by Tennessee which allowed for anyone to sell products to pretty much anyone. With the recent passing of the bill SB0378 Pub Ch. 423. This bill restricts hemp products to only being sold to people 21 and up and requires thorough testing by both the originating state and Tennessee. This bill will help to ensure that safe products are purchased by adults.
Recreational vs Wellness
Although hemp does not have a high content of delta-9 THC in it, there is still a wide variety of products that can enhance your life in a variety of ways. From using CBD for stress, CBG for socializing or THCv for energy, the cannabis plant has a lot to offer in terms of beneficial effects. Check out what products we have for you in store or online today!
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