What is Hemp? Understanding the Differences Between Hemp and Marijuana

Written By: Renee Huffert

Hemp, a strand of cannabis sativa, commonly refers to the use of the cannabis seed and stalk for the creation of commercial and industrial products. The term “cannabis” is frequently utilized when describing the plant that can be bred for its potent glands called trichomes, which contain high amounts of tetrahydrocannabinol, also known as THC, shown to contain psychoactive properties. While the cultivation of cannabis flowers is employed for medical, recreational or spiritual smoking use, referred to as marijuana, hemp has lower concentrations of THC, which decrease its hallucinogenic effects. The hemp variety of cannabis is grown for its fiber and seeds, which offer numerous economic benefits.

Although traditionally the hemp fiber was comprised of a coarse texture, the breeding of the cannabis plants has resulted in a fine, soft fiber that is ideal for weaving into rope and fabric. The bast fibers can be blended with other organic fibers such as silk, cotton or flax, to produce woven fabrics for furnishings and clothing. In addition to apparel uses, when oxidized, hemp oil from the seeds becomes solid and can be applied in the production of oil-based paints, creams, plastics and cooking based products. Raw hemp seeds contain beneficial proteins, that when consumed, have been proven to help lower blood pressure, accelerate weight loss, as well as improve other health functions. These extremely nutritious seeds offer numerous health benefits, which has made them a rapidly increasing commodity in the natural food industry.

In the process of growing cannabis, farmers realized that there were two types of cannabis plants: one that grew long, thin and tall that produced superior fiber and seeds, while the bushier variety created flower-like buds. These distinct characteristics led to the meticulous breeding of the cannabis sativa plant, where hemp and marijuana are cultivated for contrasting uses, and therefore, require different growing conditions. Marijuana growers aim to sustain stable temperature, light, humidity and other production factors, since developing plants with maximum THC levels requires close attention to its growth conditions. In contrast, hemp is primarily grown outdoors to maximize its size, where less attention is paid to the individual plants. In addition to variances in the plant’s physical characteristics, the two also vary in the areas that they can be efficiently produced. While marijuana must be grown in warmer and more humid environments for the purpose of creating the desired quality of the THC-containing buds, industrial hemp can be developed in a wide selection of areas that provide high yields for crops, including most of the Southeast, Southwest and Northeast United States.  

Despite hemp containing minimal levels of THC, cannabis was classified as a scheduled drug and penalties were established for the cultivation and ownership of this plant. However, the U.S. Farm Bill signed into law by President Obama in 2014 created a legislative agreement of the differences between hemp and marijuana, thereby classifying hemp as legal. As a result of the Farm Bill, the cultivation of hemp is permissible, and due to this legal allowance, the manufacturing of hemp-based products has exponentially grown into the expanding market we know today.

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