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The Key differences between Cannabis and Hemp.

  • Karel Ancona - Best Cali Hemp
  • Sep 22, 2020
  • 3 min read

Updated: Nov 6, 2020

To break marijuana and hemp into binary categories is to ignore all the variations in the middle, but that said, it is the fact that one contains psychoactive properties and the other does not that constitutes the most definitive difference.


Both industrial hemp and marijuana are derived from the cannabis sativa plant, but have been bred for widely different purposes. The primary difference is that marijuana contains increased levels of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the psychoactive property that creates the “high”, whereas hemp does not.


Prior to understanding the cannabinoid profiles that comprise hemp, it was primarily grown for its fibers which have been used to produce everything from rope and paper to fabric. We now understand that there may be some 50,000 applications for use from hempcrete for construction to hemp milk and seeds as food for human consumption. It can be used to feed livestock or manufactured into 3-D filament and bioplastics and since it has naturally occurring UV protection, it’s the perfect material as a base for sunscreen. It can also be used to make fuel, ink and carpet.


Basically, there are items on the market that can cloth you from head to toe, nourish you from inside out and provide items for use in daily life and we haven’t even touched on its medical properties.


To the uninitiated, industrial hemp and marijuana present similarly. This is why crops are shipped with paperwork designating that it is indeed hemp. Law enforcement often has a difficult time telling the two plants apart, so growers keep their provenance paperwork handy just in case there is any confusion.


As a practical matter, both are pest resistant, allowing them to be grown with relative ease either organically or using organic growing principles. Pest control is rarely an issue. Both also provide benefits to the soil by being nature’s cleaners both eliminating unwanted soil properties and enriching soil and whose root structure grows deep aiding in erosion control.


Indeed, the primary difference lies in the allowable THC levels, which under the law in hemp can not exceed .03 percent THC. Testing is done by a county’s agricultural commissioner prior to harvest to ensure the crop falls below that percentage. Anything over means the crop is classified as marijuana and will be destroyed, which would be financially devastating for most growers.


When it comes to comparing the structural differences of industrial hemp and marijuana, the former tends to be taller as its been bred historically for its fibers. Hemp generally requires a four month grow period, and it’s common for plants to grow six-plus feet tall. The nodes are usually further spaced, growing more straight with fewer side branches.


Also, depending on why the hemp is being grown determines how many plants will need to be cultivated to yield a crop to meet those goals. Marijuana on the other hand, is bred solely for its flower and usually with high levels of THC. This means structurally marijuana tends to grow shorter and more bushy keeping its energy focused on producing quality flower. Therefore smaller grows can produce greater income, and when grown for distribution to dispensaries, marijuana is typically grown indoors allowing greater quality control.


Marijuana biomass can also be repurposed, but is of secondary consideration. When we take the long view of all these plants offer both medically and environmentally, one thing is certain: both offer the opportunity to shift away from industries and practices that are known to have negative impacts toward one that provides what is needed in a sustainable and almost unlimited manner. If we can conceive it, odds are materials produced through hemp or marijuana cultivation can play a role.

 
 
 

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FEDERALLY LEGAL

These products are under the legal limit of 0.3% Delta 9 THC and grown and managed within the rules of the California Department of Food and Agriculture. Hemp is defined by 2018 Farm bill as HEMP.—The term ‘hemp’ means the plant Cannabis sativa L. and any part of that plant, including the seeds thereof and all derivatives, extracts, cannabinoids, isomers, acids, salts, and salts of isomers, whether growing or not, with a delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol concentration of not more than 0.3 percent on a dry weight basis.

CERTIFICATE OF ANALYSIS (COA)

Quality is extremely important to Best Cali Hemp, so each and every lot is tested multiple times by a 3rd party prior to distribution. All products are accompanied by a certificate of analysis clearly showing the full cannabinoid profile as well as delta-9 THC and CBD levels.

CONSUMER NOTICE

Please act responsibly and treat this like any cannabis product, as it looks and smells like marijuana. Best Cali Hemp is not responsible for anyone confiscating this product, getting arrested or fined for having this legal product in your possession because of any misinterpretation between marijuana and industrial hemp. As long as one is consuming in moderation one should not fail a drug test, but Best Cali Hemp cannot guarantee any results.

 

WE DO NOT SELL OR SHIP TO THE FOLLOWING STATES: Hawaii, Idaho, Iowa, Mississippi, New Hampshire and South Dakota.

 

LAW ENFORCEMENT NOTICE

While the product may look and smell like marijuana, it’s actually legal industrial hemp flower. Legal per the Farm Bill of 2018 signed into law by the president in November 2018.

 

FDA STATEMENT

*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. 

 

The efficacy of these products has not been confirmed by FDA-approved research. All information presented here is not meant as a substitute for or alternative to information from health care practitioners. Please consult your health care professional about potential interactions or other possible complications before using any product. The Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act requires this notice. These products are not for use by or sale to persons under the age of 21. These products should be used only as directed on the label. It should not be used if you are pregnant or nursing. All trademarks and copyrights are property of their respective owners and are not affiliated with nor do they endorse this product. By using this site, you agree to follow the Privacy Policy and all Terms & Conditions printed on this site. Void Where Prohibited by Law.

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