Thanks to the 2018 farm bill, CBD products have been federally legalized in the United States. Since then, many people have discovered the benefits CBD can provide, which you can learn more about from the CBD blog. Before using CBD, many people want to know what the difference is between hemp and marijuana because they worry about the association between CBD and the drug that can get you high. Learn about the similarities and differences below.
Hemp
Hemp is simply a term that is used to describe cannabis plants that contain a very small amount of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), which is the compound that can get a person high. By law, hemp grown in the United States must contain less than 0.3 percent THC by dry weight.
Hemp plants are used to create CBD oil that contains tiny amounts of THC if any. CBD products will not give you a euphoric or high feeling in the same way that marijuana with higher levels of THC will.
Hemp plants are actually quite incredible because they can also be used to create animal feed, plastic, food products, clothing, textiles, paper, and much more. Hemp seeds are also highly nutritious, as they are full of protein and fiber. Hemp is also one of the best plants at absorbing CO2 from the atmosphere, so hemp may play a role in curbing the effects of climate change in the future.
Marijuana
Marijuana is a term used to denote cannabis plants that contain higher levels of THC. Cannabis plants that are grown as “weed” in order to produce a high feeling tend to come in three distinct strains: Cannabis sativa, Cannabis indica, and hybrid.
Cannabis sativa is said to have lower concentrations of CBD and higher concentrations of THC. Many say that Sativa has a stimulating effect, and it can make people feel more creative or productive rather than tired or slow.
Cannabis indica, on the other hand, tends to have higher amounts of CBD, though similar levels of THC to Sativa. Indica is said to have a relaxing effect that can help reduce a person’s pain or nausea, and it may also increase appetite.
One way to remember the difference between these two is to think of Indica as “in da couch”, meaning it makes you want to relax.
Finally, some cannabis plants are grown as hybrids to bring out the best of both strains. Farmers try to grow hybrids that have increased THC percentages, and some cannabis plants are classified as Indica-dominant, Sativa-dominant, or balanced.
Marijuana is currently legal in several states within the U.S., and it appears as though more and more states will hop on board to legalize medical and recreational marijuana in the near future.
Will CBD Show up on a Drug Test?
Some employers require a drug test prior to offering employment, and many people worry that using CBD products will cause them to fail a drug test.
By law, CBD products cannot contain more than 0.3% THC, which is unlikely to be enough to show up on a drug test. If you take CBD every day over a series of weeks or months, however, it may be enough to alter the results of your drug test.
If you are worried about using CBD products because you don’t want to fail a drug test, you will need to purchase CBD products that removed all of the THC. These can be a bit more expensive, as they must undergo an additional series of steps or require more expensive extraction methods, but there are pure CBD oils and products that contain 0% THC.
These products would be even less likely to change the result of a drug test. Some studies show that THC can stay in one’s system for up to 100 days after consumption, so keep that in mind if you plan to use marijuana products. Make sure to check your local state laws such as Illinois drug testing laws to make sure you aren’t getting tested for more than you should be.
In Conclusion
Although some people initially think that hemp is the same as marijuana, the two plants have vastly different uses and properties. People often mistakenly think that CBD is also the same thing as marijuana, but again, both have different uses and properties. Keeping all of this straight can feel overwhelming at first, but it doesn’t take too long to get the hang of it all.