Hemp versus Marijuana
Both hemp and marijuana come from the Cannabis sativa L. specie. The term cannabis is oftentimes associated with the more recreational use of the plant, often smoked by people who are looking to get “high”.
The mislabeling of marijuana as a recreational yet dangerous drug has significant affected the marketing of industrial hemp, with many people thinking that these two things are the same. THEY ARE NOT.
It is unfortunate that they are mistakenly regarded as similar because of their tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) content.
However, the quantity of THC in hemp is only about .3 to 1.5% THC, much less when compared to the 20% THC content of marijuana. Hemp is not marijuana, and marijuana is not hemp. Read more here in details about the comparison of these two.
They are also genetically different. Each has its distinct uses and chemical components. Even their cultivation methods are not the same. The fruits and blooms of hemp produces strong fibers and seeds.
On the other hand, Marijuana flowers and buds are often used to produce psychoactive effects.
Hemp also contains a high-amount of concentrated cannabidiol or CBD which acts as a neutralizer of psychoactive effects that its THC bring.
It does not give the same psychoactive sensation that marijuana does simply because the small amount of THC in it is processed immediately by the body. The hemp plant is can be easily grown outdoors to produce maximum yields and size.
It does not require pesticides or a high-amount of water to thrive. As it grows, it can actually help with detoxifying the soil, removes any traces of carbon dioxide in the air and prevents soil erosion problem.
Marijuana on the other hand needs grow-room conditions with a sustained oxygen level, CO2, humidity, temperature and stable light in order to achieve the optimum level of THC content. It is far more delicate than hemp as well.
•Industrial hemp is categorized as agricultural crop. Marijuana and other
drug variety of Cannabis plant is horticultural crop.
•Drug varieties are planted without spacing and pruning while oilseed/fiber
varieties are planted like pulp wood trees.
•Drug varieties which are grown as drug crops give you drugs. Oilseed
varieties grown as fiber crops give oilseed. Fiber varieties grown as fiber crops give fibers.
•When different varieties are grown with dual purpose, this basically doubles
your harvest and you can maximize the benefit of the plant itself. If you grow oilseed and fiber varieties as dual-purpose crop, they yield fiber and oilseed. If you grow oilseed and fiber varieties as drug crop, they would not produce drugs.
•Hemp seeding rates are measurable by pounds per acre. Drug-varieties seeds
are measured by ounces per acre.
•Oilseed varieties seeding rates are about 20–30 pounds per acre. Fiber
varieties are rates are 40–90 pounds per acre. Cannabis drug varieties seeding rates are at 18–48 ounces per acre.
Marijuana and other drug-type varieties of Cannabis utilize the flowers of female plants.
Males are cut down or pulled out because they do not yield the same effects. Industrial hemp varieties grow up to about 16 feet high. They have strong, long stalks with very few branches.
They can be bred to produce the maximum amount of seed and fiber. They are grown in 100–300 plants per square yard high densities.
Some varieties are typically shorter, bred to produce maximum branching, and not allowed to seed. They are grown densely to yield more drug-producing leaves and flowers.
