The Two Sides Of Cannabis Sativa Plants
Technically hemp and marijuana are the same plant, Cannabis Sativa.
The main difference is the amounts of THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) found in the plant.
According to the FDA Hemp is any Cannabis Sativa strain that has less than 0.3% THC in it.
Why does the FDA want to regulate the amounts of THC in a Cannabis Sativa plant?
THC is the psychoactive compound that causes a high and classifies Cannabis Sativa as a drug. Because hemp or industrial hemp has only trace amounts of THC, it cannot give you a high feeling. It’s basically just a regular plant again.
See Also: Is Hemp Considered A Drug?
Strains Used For Marijuana vs Hemp
Even though they come from the same plant certain strains of Cannabis Sativa are better for hemp.
There is even a difference in the plants that are going to be used for oils like CBD and plants that are going to be used for materials.
One main difference in the strains used for Marijuana vs the strains used for hemp is that Marijuana plants grow much slower than the hemp ones.
Hemp grows quickly and straight up, it also starts to flower faster. With Marijuana they want the flowers to form slower and to get much larger.
If you tried to grow a Cannabis Sativa strain for Marijuana with a strain for Hemp, the Hemp strain would quickly overtake the Marijuana strain and kill it.
What Do The Different Number Of Leaf Blades Mean On Cannabis Plants?
The Cannabis Sativa leaf is an unmistakable icon for marijuana. Its long delicate blades making a hand like shape is unmistakable.
So why do some illustrations show it having around 7 blades and others show the leaf having more like 10?
While the number of blades each leaf will have is never exact, the main difference is whether it’s a Sativa or an Indica strain.
Sativa strains typically have between 6-12 blades per leaf. The more pure the stain is the more blades it will have. A “pure” Sativa strain will most likely have 12 blades that are long, thin, and delicate.
Indica strains usually have fewer blades, around 3-5 blades per leaf. A “pure” Indica strain will have 5 leaves that are fatter and shorter than its Sativa family member.
Industrial hemp strains are of the Sativa variety.
See Also: What Makes Hemp Paper Better & Why We Should Be Using It
Conclusion
To sum things up, Hemp and Marijuana both come from the same plant, but not the same strain.
Another common example of this is the poppy flowers grown for seeds that are eaten vs the kind grown for opium.
The plants may look alike in the beginning but the strain of Cannabis Sativa that is used for industrial hemp grows much faster and taller than the Marijuana variants.
In the end, the main thing that separates a Cannabis Sativa plant that is hemp from one that is Marijuana is the levels of THC in it.
Hemp has less than 0.3% THC while Marijuana is anything above that.
Have any more questions about Hemp and Marijuana plants? Leave a comment below.
