Although they have similarities hemp and marijuana have very drastic differences. A lot of people think that hemp and marijuana are the same thing, the truth is quite the opposite. Both hemp and marijuana are part of the cannabis family, however, they are not of the same variety.
When it comes to THC levels, marijuana has much higher levels compared to hemp. This is the psychoactive compound marijuana is know for. Hemp has very little to barley measurable levels of THC.
Individuals from all over the world are planting and growing hemp to make hemp fiber. Which can be made into virtually anything.
Uses of Hemp:
- Shoes and Clothing
- Carpets
- Papers and cardboard
- Fabrics
- Plastics
- Soaps, shampoos, and cosmetics
- Rope
- Boat Sails
- Numerous foods (hemp seed, hemp protein, hemp oil)
Unlike hemp, marijuana is grown for its medicinal properties. It is grown to provide treatment to those people who are suffering from chronic pain and other medical conditions. Marijuana is also used to cure life-threatening diseases. There are what we call psychotropic properties found in marijuana flowers. Compared to hemp, marijuana is considered as a horticulture crop.
Uses of Marijuana:
- Cure anxiety
- Reduce stress
- Promotes weight gain
- Relaxes the muscles (prevents muscle spasms)
- Relive nausea and headaches
- It is also used to help cancer patients combat pain and stress
- helps with sleep
- one of the best, most effective medicines for seizures
- making edibles
- recreational uses
- topical products for both recreational and medicinal use
Marijuana and hemp are grown by countless of individuals all over the world. Because they have different uses, they require different growing conditions. Before you decide whether you are going to plant hemp or marijuana, it is vital that you do your research first. Depending on the marijuana strain, it can have very different requirements and skill to grow.
For hemp which is grown outside like a crop, all environmental factors need to be taken into account from soil conditions to weather, climate, elevation, etc.
Many online shoppers today are searching for products like hemp oil, hemp seeds and other numerous products. However, because many people think that hemp is illegal (because they don’t understand the difference between the 2 plants) are concerned about buying them. The more educated the general public is on the science behind the cannabis/hemp industries… the more irrelevant misinformation and propaganda surrounding this becomes, making the market a better place.
Appearance Difference in Hemp Compared to Marijuana
Hemp and marijuana plants have differences in height. Hemp can grow as high as 20 feet while marijuana is much shorter. If you search for images on the Internet, you will find out that hemp plants are excellent if they are grown close to each other. They are a very social plant as odd as that sounds.
Hemp can grow quicker compared to marijuana plants. Marijuana plants have to wait for a very particular period of growth to be able to produce the flower (bud) that they were grown to produce.
It is easier for you to identify the difference between hemp and marijuana if you know how they are grown. Hemp plants can grow almost anywhere and in almost any climate. Hemp also requires minimal care compared to marijuana. But marijuana is a bit challenging to plant since you need to be able to control environmental conditions. It is important that you understand the climate you have before you start choosing a certain marijuana strain. Compared to hemp, marijuana is more sensitive and requires your time and effort in order for it to grow into a proper plant.
When it comes to applications, hemp has a much wider application compared to marijuana. Hemp is used to making essential oils and even industrial products. As we mentioned earlier, marijuana is mainly used for medical treatment or recreational uses.
Both hemp and marijuana are indeed useful. They have their own purpose and they provide different kinds of benefits. If you are planning to plant hemp or marijuana, it is important that you consider your market and what you set out to do. Do you want to plant hemp in order to sell it to industrial companies? Or do you want to plant marijuana in order to sell it to medical institutions or dispensaries?
Both industries are very lucrative and help lots of people. Whether your growing hemp to change how products/food are made or marijuana for medicinal and recreational purposes both plants can help solve many of today’s issues.
