Hemp & Marijuana: Same …but Different

Many seem to believe the common misconceptions that Hemp and Marijuana are not only the same plant but that the two are utilized for a variety of similar Cannabis products as well. Although Hemp and Marijuana are both species of Cannabis Sativa L., the two vary in both physical and chemical properties. As Hemp is typically grown to produce strong textiles and health-benefiting extracts, Marijuana is typically grown to produce Cannabis richer in THC content.

As mentioned before in “Growing Cannabis”, growing and producing large amounts of Cannabis has become somewhat of an art form. Due to the importance of the phytocannabinoid makeup in each Cannabis plant, growers tend to manipulate the growing process to ensure their ideal plant is continually cloned from the ideal “mother plant.” That being said, many tend to look at the two most well-known phytocannabinoids, delta9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD), when determining if a Cannabis plant should be considered as Hemp or Marijuana.

To put it simply, Marijuana has larger amounts of THC present in its trichomes compared to Hemp. While CBD is found in both plants, this specific phytocannabinoid doesn’t have the same altering effect as that of THC. That being said, the 2018 Farm Bill defines Hemp as having a concentration lower than 0.3% THC on a dry weight basis. In order to accurately depict the concentration levels of THC present, the government requires Post-Decarboxylation testing “or any other reliable method.” Since “any other reliable method” seems to create a vague loophole for Hemp and Cannabis companies, Asheville Botanical uses the Decarboxylation testing method in order to yield the most accurate results and strive for producing the most high-quality Hemp in the market.

As Hemp has lower levels of THC, yet can be grown with more substantial levels of CBD, the plant continues to be utilized for both textile use and health benefits. As more and more research is continually being done on the overall benefits of CBD, populations have also begun to see how incredibly powerful the Hemp plant can be for a variety of reasons.