You may have heard news about the legality of marijuana, and are wondering how companies are able to send products directly to consumers. That is because these companies are providing hemp derived products, not marijuana. In this article, we want to explain the difference between hemp and marijuana, as well as its active components that make both of them medicinal.
What is Marijuana?
Whether you have heard it on the news, seen it on television or online, or even consumed it yourself, Cannabis is one of the hottest topics to talk about, and is sweeping the nation by storm. Not only does this plant provide countless medical applications, but is also enjoyed recreationally by millions of people for thousands of years.
The first traces of cannabis plants in existence date back to over 12,000 years ago, but the first documentation of cannabis consumption dates early as 2800 BC. Since then, we have learned a tremendous amount about cannabis, with still more to discover. THC (tetrahydrocannabinol), the primary active compound in cannabis that makes people high, was not discovered until the 20th century. Shortly after, our understanding of the endocannabinoid system began to come together. Now, as cannabis becomes more potent and complex, we are still discovering more cannabinoids and other active compounds that make a person high.
Cannabis has several other names, but we want to discuss one particular name, hemp. Hemp is another name for cannabis, but it has a different meaning according to the government.
What is Hemp?
By law, hemp is defined as cannabis plants that contain less than 0.3% THC. THC being the psychoactive component of cannabis. That means that even though marijuana and hemp both are the same plant and look the same, hemp is called hemp because it contains less than 0.3% THC by weight. This legal definition creates a lot of leeway for hemp that may have been unforeseen. To learn more about the legal difference between hemp and marijuana, check out our blog!
With limitation brings innovation, and the hemp industry is here to disrupt. The law in the United States sets its primary target on THC, and other cannabinoids that have not been discovered or popularized have slipped through the cracks. Due to the restrictions on cannabis with Delta-9 THC, growers and hemp enthusiasts have found another cannabinoid to latch onto, and that is called CBD (cannabidiol).
Does Hemp get you High?
If we Keep in mind hemp’s legal definition, we can conclude that ingesting hemp in its raw plant form probably wouldn’t get you high due to the low concentrations of THC. However, we also know that there are high traces of CBD in hemp, which is extracted in even higher concentrations of CBD oil. With this high concentration of CBD, hemp companies can then convert this CBD into other cannabinoids like Delta-8 THC, of which are reported to have psychoactive effects.
CBD vs THC
CBD is non-psychoactive, and provides similar medical benefits to THC. This is big news for the hemp industry, as CBD acts as its champion for pushing its market to consumers. Not only is it federally legal, but it is also non-psychoactive, and can provide the medical benefits people need in a non-invasive manner.
Although CBD has proven to be a fantastic alternative to THC, it does not act as a substantial substitute. Therefore, the innovation in the hemp industry continues by creating a cannabinoid that is chemically different from what is legally defined as Delta-9 THC found in cannabis. Hemp companies are now creating products with what is called Delta-8 THC.
Delta 8 vs Delta 9
By law, cannabis is defined as containing 0.3% THC, but what we didn’t dive into was that the THC defined in the law is labeled as Delta-9. What wasn’t included was a derivative called Delta-8 THC. This is another big champion for the hemp industry. Not only is there a non-psychoactive CBD, but there is now an acceptable substitute for cannabis, and that is Delta-8 THC derived from hemp.
Delta-8 provides all of the same recreational and medicinal benefits as Delta-9 THC, with no legal headache, at least, for the time being. For now, as legislators bend over backwards attempting to regulate this popularized cannabinoid state by state, Delta-8 is the people’s solution to an ever changing world.
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