A lot of times we get asked, hemp and marijuana, whats the difference? First off, lets discuss the different types of Cannabis, to help clarify the differences between Hemp and Marijuana. There are 3 main types of cannabis; Cannabis Sativa, Cannabis Indica, and Cannabis Ruderalis. All cannabis plants, are a breed of Cannabis Sativa plants. However, there is a difference in how these plants are gown, cultivated, harvested, and how they are used.
Cannabis Sativa plants grow tall in structure, have lighter green narrow leaves, and grow better in warmer climates. Female Cannabis sativa plants are grown and harvested at the end of a growing season for their “flowers” or “buds” that consumers will typically use for recreational use. These plants mainly affect the mind, giving a euphoric “high” feeling. Cannabis Sativa plans are good for giving an uplifting and energetic feeling. These plants are best used during the day time because they don’t provide a relaxing feeling that can make one sleepy.
Cannabis Indica plants typically grow short and dense with broad dark green leaves and this type of cannabis will grow better in colder climates. Just like Cannabis Sativa Plans, Cannabis Indica plants will be grown and harvested at the end of a growing season for their “flowers” or “buds.” Cannabis Indica plants have relaxing and calming effects, which makes them good for night time use, because they mainly affect the body, creating a relaxing “body high” effect. Both Cannabis Sativa and Cannabis Indica are more commonly referred to as marijuana, as they produce the “high” feeling when consumed and contain more than 0.3% of THC. Because of this they are not considered legal plants in all 50 states; although some states have passed laws allowing for recreational use of marijuana.
Although both plants are more commonly used for recreational use, they can be used to produce medical marijuana CBD oil. Medical marijuana CBD oil will need to be purchased with a medical marijuana card, because these plants are going to contain more than 0.3% of THC. According to the Farm Bill of 2013, which was passed by president Obama, any Cannabis Sativa plants that contain more than 0.3% of THC are NOT considered legal plants in all 50 states, and will require a medical card to purchase. What is the point in having higher amounts of THC? We’ll get into that in a little bit.
The third cannabis plant we have, is Cannabis Ruderalis. Cannabis Ruderalis plants grow very tall in structure, have thick fibrous stalks, and very narrow leaves. These plants are typically male, and unlike female Cannabis Sativa, and Cannabis Indica plants, produce many seeds instead of “flowers” or “buds”. Cannabis Ruderalis plants are grown for their industrial, non-intoxicating, no “high” producing properties. Cannabis Ruderalis plants are more commonly referred to as Hemp, and are harvested primarily for their fiber, seeds, and more importantly, CBD. Cannabis Ruderalis plants contain less than 0.3% of THC, and have no psychoactive properties, which makes them a legal plant in all 50 states according to the Farm Bill of 2013.
When purchasing CBD products, there are two things to know.
1. Pure CBD products or “isolate” products DO NOT contain any THC. The hemp plants go through a distillation process that removes all of the unwanted terpenes and cannabinoids, leaving a white powdery substance that contains more than 99%+ of Pure CBD.
2. All hemp derived Full Spectrum CBD products have to contain less than 0.3% of THC. Because of this, they can be purchased without the need of a medical marijuana card.
There are benefits of purchasing Full Spectrum Products. Full Spectrum products will contain more plant compounds, such as cannabinoids and terpenes to allow for “The Entourage Effect” to take place. “The Entourage Effect” helps to send signals that activate receptors in your body, allowing them to produce a stronger influence than any one of those components alone. So, the more cannabinoids you have in a product, the more those cannabinoids are going to be able to react with the cannabinoids already found in the human body, allowing for a greater and more broad pain relief.
So why would someone want to purchase Medical Marijuana CBD oil that contains more than 0.3% of THC? Well, as stated before, the more plant compounds you have, such as cannabinoids, the more those cannabinoids are going to be able to interact with the cannabinoids found within the endocannabinoid system within our bodies. The more receptors you are able to activate, the more avenues these cannabinoids are going to be able to interact with.
All of Natural Stress Solutions’ products contain CBD cultivated from hemp (Cannabis Ruderalis), not marijuana (Cannabis Sativa, and Cannabis Indica); for the purpose of it not having any psychoactive properties. Even our Full Spectrum CBD products will contain 0.3% or less of THC (sometimes THC doesn’t even show up on our lab results because the amount is so minuscule.) None of our products will give you a “high” feeling, even when taken in large doses. We do advise taking Full Spectrum CBD products with caution, because when taken in large doses, or for an extended period of time, THC may show up on a drug screen.
Read our previous blog: Can CBD Help With Opioid Abuse? by clicking here.
