What is the difference between hemp and marijuana?

What is the difference between hemp and marijuana?
March 27, 2020 Serg Zhitar

Cannabis is a genus of flowering plants in the Cannabaceae family consisting of three primary species: Cannabis sativa, Cannabis indica, and Cannabis ruderalis. The terms “hemp” and “marijuana” are colloquial classifications of these plants that have been adopted into our culture and explained below – they are not scientifically legitimate nomenclature for any species of the cannabis plant. 

Hemp is a legal term used to classify varieties of cannabis that contain less than 0.3% THC by dry weight, with wide industrial and physiological application.

Marijuana on the other hand is a term used to classify varieties of cannabis that contain more than 0.3% THC by dry weight, and which can induce psychoactive effects on the user. 

While marijuana (cannabis varieties with >0.3% THC by dry weight) remains federally prohibited, hemp and hemp-derived cannabinoid products have been federally legalized under the 2018 Farm Bill. All hemp-derived cannabinoid products we sell comply with these federal guidelines. To learn more about the differences between cannabis classifications in the law and culture, click here.