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There is a lot of confusion surrounding the differences between cannabis and hemp. Both plants are similar in appearance and are used for different purposes. Here, we’ll clear up the confusion and explain the differences between these two plants.
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The History of Cannabis and Hemp
Cannabis and hemp are two plants that are often confused for one another. Both plants are part of the Cannabis sativa species, but they have different uses. Cannabis is grown for its flowers, which contain THC, the compound that gets users high. Hemp, on the other hand, is grown for its seeds, leaves, and stem, which are used for a variety of products like clothing and food. Despite their differences, both plants have a long and intertwined history.
The origins of Cannabis and Hemp
Cannabis is a plant that has been used for its medicinal and recreational properties for centuries. The plant is native to Central and South Asia, but it has been cultivated and used all over the world.
The first recorded use of cannabis dates back to 2700 BCE, when the Chinese Emperor Shen Nung prescribed it for a wide range of ailments including pain relief, malaria, and rheumatism. In Europe, the Greeks and Romans used it for digestive problems, while in India it was used to relieve anxiety and promote sleep.
Cannabis was introduced to the Americas by the Spanish in the 16th century, and it quickly became a popular medicinal plant among indigenous peoples. In the 18th century, European settlers began using cannabis for recreation, and by the early 19th century, it had become a common ingredient in many narcotics.
In the 20th century, cannabis was demonized in many countries as a dangerous drug with no medical value. It was largely banned in the mid-20th century, though some countries did allow its use for medicinal purposes. In recent years, there has been a movement to decriminalize or legalise cannabis in many jurisdictions, as its medical applications have become more widely recognized.
Hemp is a variety of Cannabis sativa that is grown for its industrial uses rather than its psychoactive properties. Hemp has very low levels of THC (the compound that gets people high), making it unsuitable for recreational use. However, hemp contains high levels of CBD (cannabidiol), which has been shown to have various medicinal properties.
Hemp has been cultivated for millennia for its fibres, which can be used to make rope, cloth, paper and other materials. Hemp seeds can be used to make oil, while the leaves can be used to make tea. Hemp is also being investigated as a potential biofuel source.
How Cannabis and Hemp were used throughout history
Cannabis and hemp have been used by humans for centuries. Cannabis was first mentioned in Chinese texts dating back to the third millennium BC. In these texts, it is clear that cannabis was used medicinally, but it is not known if it was also used recreationally.
Cannabis was also mentioned in the Hindu sacred text, the Atharva Veda, which dates back to 1400-1200 BC. In this text, cannabis is said to be a sacred plant that relieves anxiety and promotes joy. It is clear that by this time, cannabis was being used medicinally as well as religiously.
Fast forward to the first century AD, and the Roman naturalist Pliny the Elder wrote about the medical benefits of cannabis. He said that it could be used to treat a wide variety of ailments, including gout, joint pain, and malaria.
In medieval Europe, hemp was an important crop. It was used to make rope and sailcloth, and its seeds were eaten as a nutritious food. During this time, there is no mention of cannabis being used for medicinal or recreational purposes.
The first recorded use of cannabis for recreational purposes comes from 14th-century Arabia. In his book The Travels of Marco Polo, Italian explorer Marco Polo describes smoking hemp in China. He says that it gives people a “great sense of well-being.”
In 1545, Portuguese physician Garcia da Orta observed that people in India were using cannabis to treat a wide range of conditions, including indigestion, malaria, and leprosy. He wrote about his findings in his book Colloquies on the simples and drugs of India.
By the 19th century, countries all over the world had begun outlawing cannabis. The United States passed its first anti-cannabis law in 1906, and other countries soon followed suit. It wasn’t until the mid-20th century that attitudes began to change and some countries started to decriminalize or legalize cannabis again.
The Difference Between Cannabis and Hemp
Cannabis and hemp are two terms that are often used interchangeably, but they actually refer to two different things. Cannabis is a plant that contains many different chemical compounds, including THC, CBD, and CBN. Hemp, on the other hand, is a type of cannabis that contains very little THC.
The difference in appearance
Cannabis and hemp are often confused because they look and smell similar, but they are actually quite different. Cannabis is taller, with long leaves and stiff stems. Hemp is shorter, has fewer leaves, and is more flexible.
The difference in composition
Cannabis and hemp are two varieties of the Cannabis sativa plant. They have different compositions and uses.
Cannabis is higher in THC, the compound that causes a high, and lower in CBD, the compound that has medical benefits but does not cause a high. Hemp is higher in CBD and lower in THC.
The flowers, leaves, and stems of both plants can be used to make CBD oil, but cannabis flowers contain more THC than CBD, while hemp flowers contain more CBD than THC.
The difference in cultivation
Cannabis and hemp are often confused because they both come from the Cannabis sativa plant. However, there are significant differences between the two, especially when it comes to cultivation.
Hemp is grown as an industrial crop and is used in a variety of products, including paper, fabric, rope, and even biofuels. Hemp plants must have less than 0.3% THC to be considered legal under the 2018 Farm Bill.
Cannabis, on the other hand, is grown for its flowering tops, or buds. These buds contain high levels of THC — the cannabinoid that gets users high. Cannabis plants can have THC levels as high as 30%.
The Uses of Cannabis and Hemp
Cannabis and hemp are two plants that are often confused for one another. They both come from the same plant family, but they are different species. Cannabis is grown for its THC-containing flowers, while hemp is grown for its CBD-rich flowers. Both plants have a variety of uses, but they are most commonly used for their respective cannabinoids.
The uses of Cannabis
Cannabis has been used for centuries for its fiber, seed oil, and medicine. More recently, it has been used recreationally for its psychoactive effects. Cannabis is a member of the Cannabaceae family, which includes three primary species: Cannabis sativa, Cannabis indica, and Cannabis ruderalis.
Cannabis sativa is the most common type of cannabis. It is a tall plant with narrow leaves that is grown in warm climates. The THC content of sativa plants tends to be lower than that of indica plants.
Cannabis indica is shorter than sativa and has wider leaves. It is typically grown in colder climates and has a higher THC content than sativa.
Cannabis ruderalis is the least common type of cannabis. It is a short plant with little to no leaves that grows in Central and Eastern Europe. Ruderalis plants have very low levels of THC.
The active ingredient in cannabis is THC (delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol). THC binds to cannabinoid receptors in the brain, causing changes in perception, mood, and cognition. CBD (cannabidiol) is another active ingredient in cannabis that does not bind to cannabinoid receptors but does have other biological effects.
The uses of Hemp
Hemp is a variety of the Cannabis sativa plant species that is grown specifically for the industrial uses of its derived products. It is one of the fastest-growing plants and was one of the first plants to be spun into usable fiber 10,000 years ago.
It can be refined into a variety of commercial items, including paper, textiles, clothing, biodegradable plastics, paint, insulation, biofuel, food, and animal feed.
Though it is often confused with marijuana, hemp is a very different plant. It contains only trace amounts of THC (tetrahydrocannabinol), the psychoactive compound found in high concentrations in marijuana.
The Legal Status of Cannabis and Hemp
Cannabis and hemp are two popular terms that are often used interchangeably. However, there is a big difference between the two. Cannabis is a term that refers to the plant genus that includes both marijuana and hemp. Hemp is a type of cannabis that contains 0.3% or less of the psychoactive compound THC.
The legal status of Cannabis
In the United States, the legal status of cannabis is determined at the federal level. However, individual states have their own laws regarding the possession and use of cannabis.
The federal government classifies cannabis as a Schedule I drug, which means it has a high potential for abuse and no accepted medical use. This classification makes it illegal to possess or use cannabis under federal law. However, some states have passed laws that decriminalize or legalize the possession and use of cannabis for medical or recreational purposes.
Cannabis is still federally illegal, which means that there are some restrictions on its use even in states where it is legal. For example, it is illegal to transport cannabis across state lines, even if both states have legalized its use. This restriction can make it difficult for people who live in states where cannabis is legal to purchase the drug.
The legal status of hemp is different from that of cannabis. Hemp is a variety of the Cannabis sativa plant that contains less than 0.3% THC, the psychoactive compound that produces the “high” associated with marijuana use. Hemp can be used to produce a number of products, including paper, clothing, biodegradable plastics, food, and fuel.
Hemp was historically used in the United States for a variety of industrial purposes such as rope production and paper making. However, hemp production was largely discontinued after the passage of the Marihuana Tax Act of 1937, which placed strict taxes on cannabis cultivation and allowed only scientific or industrial uses of the plant with a special permit.
Hemp was again legalized for agricultural purposes in 2018 with the passage of the Farm Bill. This bill removed hemp from the Controlled Substances Act, making it federally legal to cultivate and sell hemp in the United States.
The legal status of Hemp
Hemp is a variety of the Cannabis sativa plant species that is grown specifically for the industrial uses of its derived products. It is one of the fastest-growing plants and was one of the first plants to be spun into usable fiber 10,000 years ago. It can be refined into a variety of commercial items, including paper, textiles, clothing, biodegradable plastics, paint, insulation, biofuel, food, and animal feed.
