HEMP

You might have heard the words cannabis, hemp and marijuana thrown around in the same sentence and you are probably one of many people who think that they’re all the same things. It is totally understandable as cannabis, marijuana and hemp are all terms for plants in the Cannabaceae family, but there are differences between them. Here we will do a brief breakdown of cannabis, hemp and marijuana. 

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What is cannabis?​

The word Cannabis is a taxonomic term referring to a genus of flowering plants that are members of the family Cannabaceae. There are three species of cannabis - Cannabis sativa, Cannabis indica, and Cannabis ruderalis. Despite the taxonomic details, cannabis is actually a broader classification that contains both hemp plants and marijuana plants.

What is Hemp?

Hemp and marijuana are both a part of the same family, but they both have different chemistry and characteristics. Hemp has under .3% Delta 9 THC, which is the phytocannabinoid that marijuana is well known for and is the psychoactive component.  Hemp does have high levels of CBD, which is the non-intoxicating phytocannabinoid, people believe to have healing and anti-inflammatory properties. Hemp is a very versatile plant. The stalk can be used to manufacture clothing and biofuels, the hemp seed can be used to make oil and as a superfood.  The flower can be used to extract CBD.

What is marijuana?

While marijuana and hemp share the same species, marijuana can be considered the intoxicating family cousin of hemp. As stated earlier, they are chemically distinct from one another. Marijuana is known for its high levels of THC and the "high" feeling.  While many smoke the dried flowers or buds of marijuana.  Just like hemp, concentrated extracts can come from marijuana to produce topicals, edible and other products.

If you would like to learn more or to check out a great selection of flower, check out Four Winds Hemp.