CBD vs Marijuana

There has been so much talk lately about Hemp, marijuana, THC, and CBD. The two questions most frequently asked are, “will it get me high?” and “what’s the difference between hemp and marijuana?”. Although they both come from the same plant family, they have profound differences.

What is CBD?

CBD stands for cannabidiol, a chemical compound found in the cannabis sativa plant. Therapeutic grade CBD is extracted from hemp plants. This compound works in our bodies through our Endocannabinoid System (ECS). It is believed CBD helps the body adapt to stress and to exert a normalizing effect upon bodily processes. CBD does not have intoxicating effects on the body. Research shows its ability to affect inflammation, seizures, migraine, fibromyalgia, irritable bowel syndrome, and other ailments.

What is Marijuana?

Marijuana is the name for the cannabis sativa plant that contains high percentages of the chemical compound THC or tetrahydrocannabinol. THC is the chemical compound that is responsible for the intoxication “high”. THC works in our bodies through the ECS just as CBD does. Marijuana is both recreational and medicinal. Marijuana can also include certain percentages of CBD depending on the strain. If the plant contains more than 0.3% THC it is considered marijuana and is regulated differently than CBD.

 Hemp vs. Marijuana

Is it hemp? Is it marijuana? The only real difference between Hemp and Marijuana comes down to the THC level in the plant. Hemp is purposely bred to be low in THC while marijuana is purposely bred to be high in THC. In the U.S., hemp is defined by Federal Law as a cannabis plant containing no greater than 0.3%THC and Marijuana is defined as has having more than 0.3% THC. Farmers who grow a hemp variety of cannabis must ensure that the plant they harvest has a THC percentage that is no greater than 0.3%. If the THC in the harvested plant material tests higher than 0.3%, it violates the Hemp Farming Act regulations found in the 2018 Agricultural Improvement Act and may have to be destroyed as dictated by state or federal authorities.

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18404144/