Published on: 15/05/2020
Most people think that the difference between hemp and all types of cannabis is the gender of the plants, so that hemp would simply be the male of the marijuana plant. Others believe that marijuana seeds, cannabis seeds and hemp seeds are all the same thing and the name is interchangeable. It is not.
Hemp and cannabis plants are not the same thing. Even if they both come from the same genetic of cannabis sativa, it is possible to appreciate the differences at a subcategory level.
From a merely legal point of view, the European legislator distinguishes hemp and cannabis on the ground of the plant’s THC percentage: therefore, if the level is above 0,2% we speak about Marijuana), otherwise it is hemp.
This is only an approximate distinction, that does not consider plants characteristics. While hemp, with high CBD content, usually grows in plantations mainly for industrial means, cannabis strains are usually smaller and bushier to the eye, therefore discreet; they also need more care and attentions from the breeder. Obviously, moreover, the effects are different. Being the hemp rich in CBD, it does not have psychotropic effects. On the contrary, it is often used as medical plant, for the benefits anyone can derive from its use.
