Cannabis and hemp: understanding the difference
There are thousands of searches on the Internet for CBD Hemp Oil, CBD Hemp Flowers, or Buds as well as buy CBD Hemp oil online etc. As we can see from ever-growing customer numbers in our online CBD Shop, the popularity of cannabidiol (CBD) products is on the rise. However, things can get confusing with so many different products in the market. What is the difference between Cannabis and Hemp? How does Marijuana fit into the mix? What are strains? And how are Hemp and Cannabis grown?
Some of the most common misconceptions surrounding Cannabis, Hemp, and Marijuana and what the differences and facts really are.
There are thousands of searches on the Internet for CBD Hemp Oil, CBD Hemp Flowers, or Buds as well as buy CBD Hemp oil online etc. As we can see from ever-growing customer numbers in our online CBD Shop, the popularity of cannabidiol (CBD) products is on the rise. However, things can get confusing with so many different products in the market. What is the difference between Cannabis and Hemp? How does Marijuana fit into the mix? What are strains? And how are Hemp and Cannabis grown?
Some of the most common misconceptions surrounding Cannabis, Hemp, and Marijuana and what the differences and facts really are.
What Are Cannabis And Hemp?
In short, Cannabis is also colloquially called weed, grass, pot, as well as Mary Jane. It comes from a group of plants called the Cannabis Sativa plant. It is mainly cultivated for recreational purposes. This is because of its characteristically high tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) content. This is the compound, that gives users the typical “high” associated with this plant. However, THC also has powerful therapeutic properties. Properties can help people suffering from various, serious medical conditions. To name a few examples; Chronic pain, inflammation, mental health issues, and neurological disorders. Furthermore, it is said to be effective against some cancers (e.g. breast, colon, and lung cancer), HIV, and Glaucoma.
Hemp is a single strain of the Cannabis Sativa group of plants. It is grown primarily for use in industrial applications. Hemp has specifically been cultivated to produce long fibrous stems. It was one of the first plants to be spun into usable fibre, some 50,000 years ago! It is also one of the fastest-growing plants. This is why Hemp has low concentrations of THC, but high concentrations of CBD.
Cannabis and Hemp Classification
We try to explain the difference between Hemp plants and Cannabis plants. To do so, it is important to first understand the system of classification for life on earth. This is otherwise known as taxonomy. All organisms are classified based on a ranking system. This starts with the kingdom and moves down from phylum to class. Then it is more detailed, to order, to family, to genus, and species. For plants, different species are then further divided into what are commonly called strains or cultivars.
Based on this system of classification, Cannabis is simply a genus of flowering plants in the family Cannabaceae. Within the genus, there are three varieties. In biological terms, three different species. There are Cannabis Sativa, and Indica, as well as Ruderalis. Then, within these three species, you find a wide range of different cultivars or strains. Each strain has very different characteristics in terms of stature, leaf shape (cannabis leaf), growing conditions, and most importantly, cannabinoid profiles.
Based on this scientific system of classification, they are the same plant. They share the same genus and come from the same species. In other words, Hemp is nothing more than a single cultivar or strain of the species Cannabis Sativa.
