How is Industrial Hemp Different From Marijuana?
Did you know the FDA recently approved Epidolox by GW Pharmaceuticals, a marijuana-based drug?
This drug is intended to treat two severe forms of epilepsy. The announcement marks a historic moment as Epidolox is the first drug derived from marijuana to be approved by the FDA. However, it will not be hitting the shelves anytime soon. Epidolox is seeking further approvals for the active ingredient, Cannabidiol (CBD) before the product can be distributed. It is likely that this decision will be made within the next 90 days.
With so much up in the air, this has created a lot of confusion. We want to provide some clarity!
If you’re interested in learning more about industrial hemp, marijuana, and CBD keep reading.
What is Industrial Hemp?
Before we go further here, we need to make an important distinction. Hemp and marijuana come from the same species (cannabis sativa) but there are some major differences between the two. Primarily, hemp does not get you high.
Why not? Hemp, unlike marijuana, is bred to contain minimal concentrations of Tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC, the compound responsible for the plant’s psychoactive effects. By law, industrial hemp must contain less than 0.3% THC content. So no matter how much you consume, you will never feel any psychoactive effects.
While hemp has minimal THC content it is rich in CBD.
CBD, or Cannabidiol, is a non-psychoactive compound present in hemp and cannabis. Cannabidiol derived from hemp only contains trace amounts of THC. Research suggests that CBD helps supports our body’s natural Endocannabinoid System (ECS) and may be helpful for alleviating conditions such as:
(follow to links to read published research)
But that’s not all…
In addition to being an abundant source of CBD, hemp also happens to be one of the most versatile plants on this planet!
What Can Hemp Do?
Did you know hemp is capable of producing over 25,000 products?
The first recorded use of hemp dates back over 10,000 years ago! Needless to say, hemp has long played an important role in human history. Over the years, hemp has been bred for industrial uses. The strong, dense fibers from the stalk were used for clothing, ropes, paper, and even building materials.
Hemp can also be used to replace plastic, paper, and even fossil fuels. While these might sound like lofty claims, hemp was once a staple crop throughout the world. It wasn’t until the start of prohibition in the United States did it become associated with marijuana.
That is Just the Beginning!
Seed to shelf, hemp is an extraordinarily sustainable crop. Hemp can be cultivated in almost any environment without the use of pesticides or harsh chemicals. It is a hearty plant that will easily grow in most conditions. This is in stark contrast to hemp’s more popular relative marijuana, which requires very tightly controlled conditions to thrive.
Today, we are rediscovering the profound possibilities of hemp. Although we have more to learn, the message is clear: the potential of this plant is enormous! With the DEA now looking to schedule CBD, big changes are on the horizon.