What is hemp?
Hemp is a type of cannabis that contains less than 0.3% THC by dry weight and was first proposed in 1979 from The Species Problem In Cannabis: Science & Semantics written by author Ernest Small who addresses there's no taxonomical difference between hemp vs marijuana because they're both considered species under one genus, "Cannabis."
In the book, author Ernest Small addresses that it's challenging to distinguish hemp and cannabis because there's no taxonomical difference between them. Small proposed the 0.3 percent rule as a possible solution, but he acknowledged that it's an arbitrary number in reality.
This number was used in the legal definition of hemp, as specified in the Agricultural Act of 2018 and other laws in the United States.
Because the THC level in hemp is so low, it's unlikely to get you high, or so they thought.
The word "marijuana" is controversial due to its racist roots and systemic heritage. In the early 20th century, many Mexicans immigrated to the United States due to the Mexican Revolution. This led to growing racist and anti-immigrant sentiment in the United States. At this time, cannabis was a legal cross-border import, but that soon changed.
The word "marijuana" hadn't been used a lot before then. Instead, "cannabis" was the scientific name and far more commonly used. However, in the 1910s and 1920s, the word "marijuana" became associated with Mexicans, who were stereotyped as people who frequently used cannabis.
The U.S Government Used The Term
Typically the U.S. government used the term "marijuana" in anti-cannabis propaganda to cement the association between cannabis and Mexican immigrants. This anti-cannabis propaganda spreads plenty of myths around cannabis while also perpetuating racist stereotypes.
Is The Term "Marijuana" Racist
There's much debate over what we should call "marijuana." Because it's tied to racist and anti-cannabis propaganda, "marijuana" is a word that many people in the industry are no longer using, preferring to simply use "cannabis" instead.
This can be confusing because the Cannabis species also includes hemp.
While cannabis seeds essentially contain no cannabinoids, cannabinoids are found in higher concentrations in cannabis flowers, leaves, and stalks.
Those looking to experience cannabis's beneficial effects often turn to cannabis flower, which can be smoked or extracted into tinctures and edibles, and more.
Cannabis strains high in THC may produce a high and may be used for medical purposes, like pain management. Strains low in THC but higher in other cannabinoids, like cannabidiol (CBD), may also produce beneficial effects but won't get you high.
Hemp, or cannabis with less than 0.3 percent THC, can also be grown to create other kinds of products, including:
Paper, oil, fuel, clothing, textiles, animal feed plastic, food products, such as hemp seed, hemp milk, hemp protein powder, hemp oil, hemp wash, and a variety of household uses.
Because hemp grows faster than trees and other crops, it's considered a more environmentally sustainable way of making products like paper and textiles. That makes sense, and Siesta G sees a new wave of incoming uses.
Even Hemp seed is making waves in new diet trends as it is pretty nutritious, as it's a complete protein high in fiber.
Aside from the THC content, there's another difference between hemp and marijuana: legality. The 2018 Farm Bill made it legal to grow hemp, or cannabis containing less than 0.3 percent THC, throughout the United States. It also made hemp-derived CBD products federally legal.
Marijuana, or cannabis containing more than 0.3 percent THC, isn't federally legal.
Of course, State laws vary, as in some states, it's allowed to be used medically and recreationally. In other states, it may only be used medically. And in some states, it's still completely illegal, even though it is federally legal.
