As interest in cannabidiol (CBD) continues to grow, so does the availability of different products. A factor that often confuses people is whether the CBD in the products comes from hemp or cannabis. The short answer is that they derive from different varieties of the Cannabis Sativa plant.
The confusion surrounding hemp CBD vs. cannabis CBD relates to the plant’s classification, name, and makeup. Basically, hemp plants generally contain more CBD, and cannabis plants contain more tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), a compound that causes the ‘high’ that people associate with cannabis use.
Is CBD legal? The 2018 Farm Bill removed hemp from the legal definition of marijuana in the Controlled Substances Act. This made some hemp-derived CBD products with less than 0.3 percent THC federally legal. However, CBD products containing more than 0.3 percent THC still fall under the legal definition of marijuana, making them federally illegal but legal under some state laws. Be sure to check state laws, especially when traveling. Also, keep in mind that the FDA has not approved nonprescription CBD products, and some products may be inaccurately labeled.
Why CBD? Public interest in and the availability of CBD have grown due to its promising health benefits. People use CBD to help with a wide variety of physical and mental issues, including pain, nausea, addiction, and depression. Although scientific studies have not confirmed CBD’s usefulness for all these conditions, available evidence suggests that CBD works with the endocannabinoid system, which is a signaling network.
What is hemp? Hemp is a specific variety of C. Sativa. People have grown hemp for hundreds of years, using it to make rope, clothes, sails, food, and much more. Industrial hemp has an equally long history in the United States – Thomas Jefferson, the third president of the country, grew it himself. The 2018 Farm Bill considers C. Sativa plants with less than 0.3 percent THC as hemp or industrial hemp. Producers can grow it legally across most of the U.S., subject to strict regulations, and excluding three states.
In most cases, manufacturers use the leaves and flowers of the hemp plant to make CBD products. This is why it is important to understand the difference between hemp CBD and cannabis CBD and to know the legal status of CBD products in your area. Keep reading to learn more about the potential health benefits of CBD oil and the differences between hemp and cannabis.
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