Close up picture of lush green cannabis plants growing at Appalachian Standard Greenhouses

Hemp & Marijuana - Twins or Best Buds?

Aug 27, 2019Customer Service

I think it’s important to dedicate our first blog to the most frequently asked question about the hemp industry – Is it marijuana? The quick and dirty is that hemp is not marijuana, but they are both members of the cannabis family! Within this family, hemp and marijuana are less like twins and more like cousins as they are “different varieties of the Cannabis sativa species,” according to Annie Rouse.

Cannabinoids

Cannabinoids are the compounds in hemp that are known to have healing and therapeutic effects. The cannabinoid CBD in hemp is hugely popular as it is used to treat an array of conditions that Dr. Matthew Ruiz mentions in the Power Plant Podcast such as anxiety, chronic pain, cancer, PTSD, rheumatoid arthritis, Crohn’s diabetes, cardiovascular disease, antibiotic-resistant infections, schizophrenia, multiple sclerosis, and more.

The main components to consider when comparing the two is CBD and THC. Marijuana is the psychoactive cannabis plant that has high levels of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), which is responsible for the psychological effects users feel when they feel a “high” sensation. Hemp, on the other hand, is federally legal and must have less than 0.3% ∆9 THC, meaning that users reap all the health benefits of the cannabis plant without the psychoactive effects. Cannabidiol (CBD) in hemp is found in high concentrations and found in lower concentrations in marijuana.

The easiest way to differentiate between the two is…

Hemp = Higher CBD, Lower THC
Marijuana = Lower CBD, Higher THC

CBD is a hot topic right now for its plethora of benefits, but that is just the tip of the iceberg. The National Hemp Association states there could be over 100 cannabinoids that are solely found in this plant and “have the unique ability to interact with the human body’s natural cannabinoid receptors.” These other cannabinoids include cannabichromene (CBC), cannabinol (CBN), and cannabigerol (CBG).

Transparency

As previously mentioned, CBD is federally legal, so our hemp ladies are government tested to ensure we are below the legal limit of 0.3% ∆9 THC. We pride ourselves in setting the standard with transparency, so we also get tested by multiple independent, third party labs to ensure our hemp is the best across the board. Along with testing Cannabinoid Profiles, we also test for terpenes, pesticides, yeast, mold, and mildew to name a few (see a list of our COAs in product profiles).

I hope this simple introduction to hemp helped deepen your understanding of this magical plant. Knowledge is power, and we hope to continue to educate the community and not demonize a truly remarkable plant.

‘Til next time hemp hustlas!

Love,

Lauren