The Differences Between Marijuana, Cannabis, and Hemp

Stirling support teams gets a lot of questions from our amazing customers asking what the Differences Between Marijuana, Cannabis, and Hemp are.

Good question! There is a lot of misunderstanding with these terms, and Stirling CBD will try to sort it out for you. The first definition is easy – Cannabis. Cannabis is the Master Plant that everything else comes from – simply put:

CBD, THC, Hemp, and Marijuana Are All Products or Derivatives of the Cannabis Plant

That’s right…Hemp and marijuana are, taxonomically speaking, the same plant. They are different breeds for the same genus (Cannabis) and species (cannabis).

You can breed a marijuana plant with a hemp plant and visa-versa. This is easy to understand, but with all the misinformation out there, it is often confusing.

Think of Dogs – they provide a great example of what humans can do. Labrador Retrievers and Chihuahuas are the same species (canines) but, of course, also very different.

People have bred Labradors to be large, protective, and loyal. People have bred chihuahuas to be small and attached to their owners. As they are both canines, they can mate and produce offspring and are the same species – but different.

This example works with Marijuana and Hemp – both are Cannabis Plants and bred to do very different things.

Below is a Chart that illustrates the Differences Between Marijuana, Cannabis, and Hemp

Hemp & Marijuana Are Both Cannabis Plants with Very Different Purposes

Marijuana refers to the dried leaves, flowers, stems, and seeds from the Cannabis sativa or Cannabis indica plant. The Marijuana plant contains the mind-altering chemical THC and other similar compounds.

THC Extract can also be made from the cannabis plant, and the sole purpose of marijuana is to get people “high.” Hemp, on the other hand, is not used for Psychoactive purposes. THC is non-existent (or a very low %) in hemp.

Hemp can produce hundreds of products, such as paper, clothing, building materials, biofuel, food products, oils, and more.

With the fast-growing popularity of CBD across the globe, hemp production focuses on creating a wide variety of THC-free CBD products.

Hemp is much more useful; marijuana is much more famous.

CBD vs. THC

The family name “Cannabis” contains the two most popular cannabinoids, Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and Cannabidiol (CBD).

THC is a well-known substance found in marijuana, which is psychoactive and causes a “high” feeling in people who partake in marijuana. Millions use CBD non-psychoactive compounds to treat illness and physically feel better.

Scientifically, the molecular compounds look almost identical. Organically, they are very different to the user. CBD hemp oil contains little to no THC, which does not cause a “high” in the user.

Legally any CBD needs to contain 0.3% or less THC, and Stirling CBD Oil offers products with 0.0% THC up to the legal limit of 0.3% THC.

Differences Between Marijuana Cannabis and Hemp – Conclusion

In short, Hemp and Marijuana are different breeds of Cannabis Plants.

While Marijuana growers focus on maximizing THC content, and Hemp growers focus on CBD content, fiber content, and maximizing biomass for industrial purposes.

This article does not review the difference between CBD and Delta 9 THC, not Delta 8.

The CBD/Hemp oil movement is consistently growing and becoming more popular.

As the growth of this plant becomes more prevalent in the lives of wellness-minded individuals, more knowledge is needed to ensure you are consuming the best quality derived hemp oil on the market.

We’ve talked about the clear differences between these two plants. We’ve shared our knowledge on physical differences, chemical makeup, etc.

However, CBD oil is an experience you need to try to understand why so many people love it fully. We know you will too!