What Is the Difference Between Cannabis, Hemp, and Marijuana?

The words “cannabis,” “hemp,” and “marijuana” may sound the same to some of us. They can each be used to describe a single species of plant, Cannabis Sativa L. It might feel like they are used interchangeably. Where are the lines drawn? How do I know if my plant-based tincture is marijuana oil, hemp oil, or cannabis oil?

Maybe It’s Marijuana Oil?

Until recently, in the eyes of the law, “marijuana” and “hemp” were both viewed in the same light. Until 2018, the Controlled Substance Act didn’t differentiate between hemp, marijuana, or any forms of cannabis (with the minor exceptions of sterilized seeds, or mature stalks of the plant).¹ They were all Schedule I substances when it came to the DEA. The 2018 Farm Bill created a legal separation between what is classified as “marijuana,” “hemp,” and “cannabis.” If your tincture contains high amounts of THC, it can be classified as marijuana oil.

How About Hemp Oil?

The 2018 Farm Bill reclassified “hemp,” separating it from the legal definition of “marijuana.” It clarified that “hemp” is legally defined as cannabis (Cannabis Sativa L) which contains less than 0.3 percent THC on a dry weight basis.¹ By this definition, the amount of cannabidiol (CBD) present in plants, supplements, or tinctures is legally irrelevant. No amount of CBD is the basis alone for a product to be classified as a Schedule I substance. Since the passing of the 2018 Farm Bill, CBD products, such as CBD hemp oils and CBD tinctures, have proliferated the market, being federally legal. Other hemp products have become more popular as well. If your cannabis tincture contains less than 0.3% THC, it can be classified as hemp oil. This does not imply that all hemp oils contain zero THC. It simply means that they contain less than 0.3 percent THC. Some full-spectrum CBD oils contain the full spectrum of cannabinoids, flavonoids, and terpenes in cannabis, including THC at a level less than 0.3 percent THC. These would still fall into the category of hemp oil and not marijuana oil, even though THC is present.

Let’s Call It Cannabis Oil

So “marijuana” is defined as containing more than 0.3 percent THC, and “hemp” is defined as containing less than 0.3 percent. Where does that leave “cannabis?” If you are unsure about which term to use, use “cannabis.” It is an umbrella term for anything related to Cannabis Sativa L. All marijuana oils and all hemp oils are cannabis oils.

Complete Hemp’s Cannabis Oils

All of Complete Hemp’s tinctures contain less than 0.3 percent THC, and some even contain 0 percent THC, classifying them as both cannabis oils and hemp oils. These include:

• Full-spectrum CBD oil, containing the full spectrum of cannabinoids, flavonoids, and terpenes.
• Broad-spectrum CBD oil, containing a broad spectrum of cannabinoids, flavonoids, and terpenes, available in a 2:1 ratio of CBD:CBG, or a 1:1 ratio of CBD:CBG.
• CBD isolate oil, a pure CBD oil.
• CBD oil for dogs, cats, and horses. If you have found success or relief with CBD, you can now share it with your furry loved-one.

Now that you are able to differentiate between “marijuana,” “hemp,” and “cannabis,” try all of our oils and see if you are able to differentiate the effects they have on you. You’re sure to find one that best suits your needs!

References

¹https://www.fda.gov/news-events/congressional-testimony/hemp-production-and-2018-farm-bill-07252019