The main difference between a hemp plant and a cannabis plant is the amount of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) they contain. Hemp plants contain less than 0.3% THC, while marijuana can have more than 30% THC. This is why CBD flower does not produce the same intoxicating effect as marijuana, and CBD is not intoxicating, while THC has psychoactive effects. Some cannabinoids, mainly THC, are intoxicating, meaning they can make a person feel “high”.
Hemp plants are low in THC, but they can be abundant in other cannabinoids, such as cannabidiol (CBD), which is not intoxicating. It can be difficult to identify a hemp plant from a cannabis plant just by looking at it. However, if you see the plant and it looks like a normal marijuana plant with a cluster of eight or nine thinner leaves than normal, the plant may be hemp. Additionally, hemp plants grow faster than other cannabis plants, making them excellent for sequestering or “trapping” carbon, or for absorbing carbon from the air and transforming it into plant material throughout the hemp plant. The seeds of the hemp plant are also pressed into one of the most balanced and nutrient-rich oils known to man, and its flowers are an abundant source of CBD, which has become a very popular supplement in the health and wellness market in recent years. The easiest way to differentiate between male and female hemp plants is by studying growths near the nodes. In fact, over the past few millennia we have found many uses of the hemp plant—spiritual, medicinal and recreational—and we have cultivated it specifically for its fibers to make textiles, ropes and paper, among other things.
Both plants are types of cannabis, but their cannabinoid profiles have a fairly large difference. Without a doubt, the most important fact about the hemp plant is that it doesn't get you high. The hemp plant has a minimum amount of THC, while marijuana has a large amount, more than 0.3%, which exceeds the legal limit. In fact, even the term cannabis itself is most often used to describe plant varieties that contain remarkable levels of THC. Many people confuse hemp and marijuana, but although they come from the same Cannabis sativa plant, there is a notable difference between them. By understanding these differences and knowing how to identify a hemp plant from a cannabis plant, you can make sure you are getting what you need.
