When you enter the world of medical marijuana, understanding the differences between what “hemp” and “marijuana” are can be confusing. While they’re similar in many ways, they’re not exactly the same thing. The main difference between hemp flower and marijuana flower is a legal distinction based on THC percentage and regulations that affect flower quality. Here’s what you need to know.
What is hemp flower?
Hemp flower is federally defined as marijuana plants with less than 0.3% THC. Hemp has higher levels of cannabidiol, CBD, but still contains many of the same compounds in the marijuana plant: terpenes, minor cannabinoids, cannaflavins, and the like.
It is nearly impossible to tell the difference between hemp and marijuana flower by appearance, smell, or taste. Hemp flower is just as aromatic and just as flavorful as marijuana flower. Its effects just feel different.
What is marijuana flower?
Marijuana flower is defined at the federal level as a marijuana plant with more than 0.3% THC. Typically, marijuana plants can contain anywhere from 10% to 30% or more THC, as well as other cannabinoids like CBD, CBG, or CBN in varying percentages.
Elevated amounts of THC can be effective for managing the symptoms and side effects of certain health conditions such as multiple sclerosis (MS), relieving chronic pain, and stimulating appetite. Smaller amounts of THC may be helpful for anxiety. THC also has an intoxicating effect.
Hemp flower vs. marijuana flower: the similarities
Both hemp and marijuana flower have many biological benefits. Each can be used for health and wellness, dealing with chronic pain, anxiety, and inflammation. That’s because both CBD and THC interact with your endocannabinoid system, the system in your body that processes cannabinoids. These compounds interact with different receptors, but overall help support your ECS toward its goal of homeostasis (balance in the body). Both hemp flower and marijuana flower can be inhaled via vaporization for rapid onset of effects.
Do hemp and marijuana plants look different?
No, hemp and marijuana plants do not look different. These plants are very similar in appearance, smell, and even flavor, and only differentiated by the amount of the cannabinoids like THC and CBD they contain.
Hemp flower vs. marijuana flower: the differences
Hemp and marijuana flower come from the same plant, biologically speaking. However, hemp flower is federally legal, which means it can be transported over state lines. Marijuana flower is recreationally legal in 24 states and medically legal in 38 states, including Pennsylvania, but is still federally illegal.
Marijuana flower has notable levels of THC, but it may not have high levels of CBD. Hemp, on the other hand, has much higher levels of CBD and cannot, legally, have more than 0.3% THC.
THC is the cannabinoid that is mainly responsible for the intoxicating effects that make marijuana so famous, but hemp is unlikely to have that effect. That’s not to say that CBD doesn’t have effects — it has many positive effects in the body, and many of them overlap with THC. But CBD is psychoactive, not intoxicating. This means CBD does have a measurable effect on your brain, just not an intoxicating one.
Hemp has the benefit of being federally legal, which means that it’s easier to find and shop for. However, this also comes with a downside, because hemp flower quality is not regulated like marijuana flower. While you can buy hemp online or in gas stations, there’s no way of knowing if the flower is old, stale, dried out, or doesn’t actually contain the levels of cannabinoids that the label says it does.
Marijuana flower requires a medical marijuana card to access, but that also comes with far more protections around the quality of the flower. Medical marijuana must also be tested by a third-party laboratory before you can buy it in Pennsylvania dispensaries. This adds a layer of assurance that the product you’re buying is good to consume and actually contains what it claims to contain.
Choosing between hemp flower and medical marijuana flower
So how do you know if hemp flower versus marijuana flower is better for you? That depends on what your aims are.
First, do your research. Medical marijuana companies have a long list of health and safety requirements that their products are required to comply with. All medical marijuana products are tested by independent laboratories, so you know exactly what’s in your products. Hemp flower, unfortunately, isn’t subject to the same level of scrutiny or testing, and even the labels may not be an accurate reflection of the product.
Additionally, Pennsylvania has strict regulations around the types of pesticides that medical marijuana cultivators are allowed to use. Hemp farmers do not have to comply with these and can use a multitude of pesticides on hemp flowers.
After that, the best place to start is by having a conversation with your local dispensary pharmacist. These trained professionals understand both marijuana and the human body, and can help narrow down your selection criteria for picking out products (which is helpful because dispensaries like Vytal Options have many options)!
You can also chat with your friendly budtender when you visit a dispensary. They have a deep knowledge of products in stock, and can help point you in the direction of medical marijuana flower with or without higher levels of CBD.
Choose medical marijuana for transparency and quality
For quality assurance, transparency, and help from medical professionals, medical marijuana flower stands out above hemp flower. Products at Vytal Options are safe, tested, and accurately labeled so you always know what’s in your products. If you’re ready to start benefiting from medical marijuana, learn how to become a patient at Vytal Options.
