Originally Posted On: https://www.cbdmd.com/blogs/posts/what-is-hemp-an-in-depth-guide

What is Hemp? An In-Depth Guide

Hemp is a variety of the Cannabis sativa plant species. Unlike marijuana, its more infamous cousin, hemp is cultivated primarily for industrial purposes and contains only trace amounts of the psychoactive compound tetrahydrocannabinol (THC).

Legal definitions typically classify hemp as cannabis with no more than 0.3% THC by dry weight. This negligible THC content means hemp cannot cause the “high” associated with marijuana use.

Hemp’s non-intoxicating nature has made it a staple crop across civilizations for thousands of years, prized for its strong fibers, nutritious seeds, and, more recently, the cannabinoid cannabidiol (CBD).

Hemp is one of the oldest plants that people have grown. It has been used for thousands of years. It grows quickly and usually is ready to harvest in three to four months and does well in a wide range of weather and soil conditions.

Hemp is hardy and grows quickly, so it can fight with weeds and doesn’t need many pesticides. This makes it a good crop for sustainable and regenerative farming.

How Hemp is Derived and Used

Every part of the hemp plant has value. Its tall stalks are harvested for fiber and building materials, seeds are processed for food and oil, and flowers and leaves are increasingly used for wellness extracts such as CBD.

Here’s a quick breakdown:

• Stalks yield strong fibers used in textiles, rope, paper, biodegradable plastics, and even construction materials like hempcrete.
• Seeds are nutrient-dense, rich in protein, healthy fats, and minerals, and can be consumed raw, pressed into oil, or made into hemp milk.
• Flowers and leaves are the primary sources of cannabinoids, especially CBD, extracted for use in supplements, tinctures, and topical formulations.

Hemp can be harvested using conventional agricultural processes, and after harvest, each component is separated and processed according to its intended use.

Hemp vs. Marijuana

The main difference between hemp and marijuana comes down to chemical composition, especially the concentration of THC. While both hemp and marijuana stem from Cannabis sativa, their cultivation focuses and effects are distinct.

• THC Content: Hemp contains 0.3% THC or less, whereas marijuana is cultivated for much higher concentrations—often 15% to 30%—to produce psychoactive effects.
• CBD Content: Hemp is naturally higher in CBD, the popular non-intoxicating cannabinoid.
• Uses: Hemp is geared towards industrial and wellness products; marijuana is used primarily for recreational or medical purposes.
• Legal Status: In many countries, hemp is legal when it meets the sub-0.3% THC threshold, whereas marijuana is still strictly regulated.

Hemp vs. CBD vs. THC

CBD (cannabidiol) and THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) are the most recognized cannabinoids found in cannabis plants.

Here’s how they relate to hemp:

• CBD is abundant in hemp and marijuana but is non-intoxicating. Hemp-derived CBD must come from plants containing less than 0.3% THC. It is widely sought after for its potential to support balance and wellness without creating a high.
• THC is the key psychoactive compound in marijuana. While hemp contains minimal THC, marijuana contains enough to induce intoxicating effects.
• Hemp provides the plant material for most legal, widely available CBD products because it is low in THC and easier to cultivate on a large scale for industrial and supplement use.

Hemp Extraction and Processing

The extraction of valuable compounds and materials from hemp depends on the end product:

• CBD and cannabinoids are typically extracted using solvents like CO2, ethanol, or oils from the plant’s flowers and leaves.
• Seed oil is cold-pressed from hemp seeds, preserving its nutritional integrity.
• Fibers are processed by retting (a form of decomposition), drying, and mechanical separation.

Processing methods have gotten better recently with the growth of the hemp wellness market, resulting in purer, more potent extracts and higher-quality raw materials for hemp products.

Hemp’s Legal Journey

The legal past of hemp is complicated. For most of the 20th century, all types of cannabis were illegal because people were afraid they could make people high. With the 2018 Farm Bill, which made legal hemp (Cannabis sativa with less than 0.3% THC) different from marijuana, this changed a lot in the US. Different countries have made similar changes to their laws, which has led to a rise in hemp farming and new ideas.

Environmental Benefits

One of hemp’s most compelling attributes is its environmental profile. Here are some of the benefits:

• Low input requirements: It needs relatively little water and fewer pesticides than other common crops.
• Soil health: Hemp’s roots can aerate the soil and reduce erosion, and its rapid growth shades out weeds naturally.
• Carbon capture: As a fast-growing plant, hemp is efficient at capturing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, contributing to climate change mitigation efforts.
• Biodegradability: Products made from hemp fibers and biomass break down more easily compared to petroleum-based plastics.

What is Hemp?

CBD comes from hemp, but hemp is much more than that. In terms of agriculture, health, nutrition, and sustainability, this plant is a bridge between the worlds. If you know how hemp is different from marijuana and what compounds it makes, especially CBD and THC, you can make smart choices, whether you are a customer, a farmer, or a policymaker.

Hemp will play a bigger role in the world as more study is done and rules are changed. It’s possible that this ancient plant can help make the future healthier and more sustainable.