When trying to buy pure hemp oil online, you may have come across hundreds of results about CBD oil instead. This might frustrate you if you know the difference between them. While people all over the states have shown great interest in both products, they often confuse the two for each other and tend to exaggerate their benefits. People also confuse marijuana and hemp because they are essentially the same plant, which is legally differentiated based on their THC content. With the passing of the 2018 Farm Bill and legalization of Marihuana in some states, knowing these differences is important for your health and legal record.
Difference Between Hemp & Marijuana
Even though hemp and marijuana are biologically subspecies of the same plant called Cannabis sativa. They are pretty much the same but with minor differences in their contents, particularly how much tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) they contain.
THC is a substance found in the cannabis plant which has psychoactive properties. This is the substance that gets weed smokers high. It activates the cannabinoid type 1 (CB1) receptors in the brain causing intoxication and other effects. Marinol and Syndros are drugs made with THC used for treating anorexia.
Marijuana is the strain people think of when they hear the word cannabis, so much so that they are synonymous. This plant has more than 30 percent THC and is used for making weed. It also has some medicinal applications and is legal in many states for this. At least 11 states have legalized it for recreation as well but as far as federal laws are concerned, it’s illegal and listed under Schedule 1 drugs.
Hemp refers to a strain with THC content lower than 0.3 percent. It is called industrial hemp because its fibers are used to produce ropes, clothes, shoes, biodegradable plastic, etc. It contains 20 percent cannabidiol (CBD). This is the plant whose growth, transport and sales were made federally legal by the Agriculture Improvement Act in 2018. It’s important to note that licenses are needed to grow, transport and sell hemp.
Difference Between Hemp Oil & CBD Oil
The confusion between the two products stems from the fact that they are both extracted from hemp plants. But despite coming from the same source, they refer to different oils with different properties. Knowing the difference can be crucial when dealing with sellers.
Hemp oil refers to oil extracted from hemp seed.
This seed usually has no THC and no CBD when attached to the hemp plant. When harvested, it may come in contact with the plant’s parts due to which trace amounts of THC and CBD may be noticed. According to the FDA, hemp seed products are safe for consumption and use. They can be sold as food products without approval as long as no claims are made regarding their medical properties.
CBD oil refers to an oil that contains cannabidiol, a substance commonly found in cannabis plants. This is the oil that supposedly has many health benefits like pain relief, anti-inflammation and stress relief. It is extracted from hemp’s parts like stem and flower. CBD is non-psychoactive and may actually reverse the effects of THC by blocking CB1 receptors. People think that the legalization of hemp also means the legalization of CBD products at the federal level.
CBD still comes under the scrutiny of the FDA. It needs to be approved by the agency before being sold as dietary supplements, with food products or for medicinal usage. They can be sold as cosmetics though. At the state level, many states allow the sale and use of CBD ANother point of difference is that this oil can also be extracted from MJ.
Despite the difference, the two are often confused mainly due to the mislabeling done by many brands. Some sellers label pure hemp seed oil as CBD oil because the latter sells for more in the market. Another source of confusion is that CBD oil is also called hemp extract oil.
Now that you understand the differences make sure you get the right product when you buy pure hemp oil.
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