Hemp FAQ’s

Published Jan 24, 2019 02:54 p.m. ET

Though hemp is slowly gaining traction and popularity, the plant itself is still very misunderstood. Many people still have no idea where hemp originates from, what it is used for, or how to tell the difference between hemp and weed. The chemical makeup of hemp vs cannabis is similar and yet also dramatically different. To assist in making this information easy to navigate we have compiled a list of some of the most frequently asked questions about hemp plants and hemp products.

1. Is Hemp Marijuana?

One of the most common questions about hemp plants is, “Is hemp made out of marijuana?” or, “Is hemp made out of weed?” While both hemp and cannabis are part of the same species of plant, they are defined and separated based on some very specific qualities.

2. Does Hemp Have THC?

One of the deciding factors in whether or not a plant is either hemp or marijuana rests with the overall THC content. A hemp plant will produce .3%-4.5% or less THC.

3. Do Hemp Seeds Come from Weed?

Yes. The majority of hemp strains at one point were considered Sativa cannabis strains. They are mainly categorizedas hemp because of their low THC content. So yes, all hemp seeds originally came from a cannabis strain and still hold the genetic makeup of their ancestors.

4. Are Hemp Oil and Cannabis Oil the Same Thing?

Hemp Oil will contain minimal trace amounts of THC and tend to be more focused on the overall CBD content for medicinal qualities. Cannabis oil can be either hemp or marijuana oil. So yes, technically they are both the same thing unless the cannabis oil is over 4.5% THC, then it is marijuana oil which is not the same as hemp oil. Marijuana oil will have higher amounts of THC and will produce a high.

5. Can You Get High Off Hemp?

Not Really. THC is the psychoactive component that produces a high. Though theoretically if you wanted to take the time to grow a hemp plant and attempt to extract its THC content by condensing it into a liquid form, then you could potentially get high off of hemp products. However, the amount of THC content found in hemp is so low that it will not get you high to ingest it the same ways that you would marijuana.

6. The Difference Between Hemp vs Cannabis vs Marijuana

- Hemp is a variety of cannabisspecies.

- Cannabis is an entire family of plants that includes hemp as well as marijuana.

- Marijuana is one variety of cannabis plant that produces high amounts of THC.

7. Does Hemp Have Nutritional Value?

When eaten, hemp provides a variety of healthy additions to any diet, hemp made foods are high in protein and contain ten essential amino acids including Omega-3, Gamma Linolenic Acid, Omega-6, and stearidonic acid. Hemp food is also high in fiber, magnesium, phosphorus, zinc, and iron making it a heart-healthy addition to any diet.

8. Is Hemp Organic?

The kinds of hemp strains that are grown for food is completely organic. Since hemp will naturally maintain its surroundings by holding in water, and killing off any predator weeds, it can be produced using no pesticides or chemicals.

9. Is Hemp Legal?

Yes, hemp is legal to possess and with recent changes to laws across the world that govern marijuana a great deal of attention was brought to the sustainability and potential of using hemp instead of various other crops that can be destructive to the environment. In 2019 the USA will have fully legalized the growing of hemp, making it legal to possess and grow in most places right across the world.

10. What Is Hemp Used For?

Food - Hemp is used in the making of protein powders, flour, cereals, and more that can be purchased just about anywhere including your local grocer.

Production of Materials- Since hemp is so fibrous it is an amazingly effective alternative to plastics and other toxic materials in the making of insulation, textile, furniture, drywall, fuel, soap, cream, makeup, and more.

Medicinal Use - Hemp plants contain high CBD content and are selectively bred to produce pure CBD strains. CBD is mostly known for its anti-inflammatory properties that can help to treat symptoms of a variety of medical conditions such as fibromyalgia, joint pain, chronic pain, migraines, and more. Though not all hemp will have very high doses of CBD, there are many varieties of hemp that are perfect for those seeking CBD tinctures or products.

Hemp plants are all derived from the cannabis species of plant and for the most part, are ancestors of Sativa cannabis strains of marijuana. Though the confusion seems to be clearing as peoples’ overall understanding of hemp evolves the majority of people use the terms hemp, cannabis, and marijuana interchangeably while not realizing that they all have unique qualities that make them different. The most significant attributes are that a hemp plant will possess strictly health or medicinal and are not ever used for recreational purposes.


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