Hemp vs. Marijuana

We have all heard both terms when referencing cannabis, but what exactly is the difference between the two? Both come from Cannabis Sativa L, but what separates them is partly genetics, and partly a matter of the law of the land. Let’s start with genetics.

According to the hash museum, “’Cannabis’ is the name given to the plant itself. ‘Sativa’ simply means ‘sown’ and is used to indicate the common or cultivated form of the plant. The ‘L’ refers to Carolus Linneaeus, the Swedish botanist who first gave this common yet celebrated herb its scientific classification in 1753. Since then, two more main types of cannabis have been identified: Cannabis Indica was classified in 1785 and Cannabis Ruderalis in 1924. Both are sub-species of the Cannabis Sativa family, and the three types are distinguished by the different characteristics and traits they display.”(1)

Think along the lines of the tomato plant. You can have Cherry, Roma, or Heirloom tomatoes. They are each different in size, acidity, and consistency, but at the end of the day they are all still tomatoes.

Hemp is generally bred for its industrial use in fiber, fuel, and food, while marijuana is grown for the medicinal value of its cannabinoids. Since the Farm Bill of 2018, the definition is that any cannabis plant that has more than 0.3% of THC is considered to be marijuana, and anything less is hemp. Imagine you are a hemp farmer that sells his harvest for fiber in the clothing industry, but for whatever reason the crop tests at 0.7% THC. This farmer now has acres of very illegal marijuana, and some very big problems.

It turns out that cannabis is a superhero before it even leaves the dirt.

Cannabis is a bioaccumulator by nature. In fact, it is a hyperaccumulator, along with sunflowers and mustard plants. Cannabis has the capacity to absorb metals and other toxins from soil by drinking them in through their roots, where it is then moved and stored in their stems and leaves.

One of my favorite examples of this was an Italian sheep farmer that discovered in 2008 that his land had been poisoned by dioxin, a toxic chemical that is extremely difficult to break down once it is in the environment. Dioxin can cause cancer, reproductive and developmental problems, damage to the immune system, and can interfere with hormones. (2) This toxin, known to be stored in the fatty tissue of animals, had been leaking from a large steel plant in the area, which prompted the Italian government to test this farmer’s livestock for the contaminant. With the tests coming back positive,

he was forced to slaughter his entire herd of 600 sheep.

Not willing to give up on his land, the farmer implemented the idea to plant hemp for its bioaccumulating skills in hopes that it would save his farm. Not only would the hemp rid his part of the planet of toxins in the dirt, but the garbage- grabbing crop could also be burned later as biofuel. Although time consuming, this method can provide a natural fuel source.(3)

But buyer beware, as this fact warrants caution. Yes, it’s very cool that this plant can clean the dirt but think about all of those toxins contained within a plant that may end up being harvested for human consumption (even CBD). If the processor isn’t careful, the heavy metals could (and sometimes do) make their way into that CBD tincture or gummy that you are so fond of. Always check the test results, better known as a COA (certificate of analysis), for any heavy metals.

On a positive note, I have heard of many farmers that plant hemp for the first couple of seasons to clean their own land, and then have the plants destroyed.

1. https://hashmuseum.com/en/cannabis-knowledge/cannabis-species/

2. https://www.epa.gov/dioxin/learn-about-dioxin

3. https://ecosciences.com/blog/health-and-lifestyle/hemp-can-cleancontaminatedsoil/