Does Hemp and CBD Work The Same?
There’s a buzz surrounding hemp and CBD products today amid their suggested health benefits. While people are looking at these products to solve several medical problems, some are also confused about their differences. Hence, this article will clear out the differences between hemp, cannabis, and CBD and how each of them works.
What’s the Difference?
It’s important to know what the different terms refer to.
Hemp is the name used for a variety of the Cannabis sativa L plant. Like marijuana, hemp is classified as a cannabis plant. Technically, hemp refers to cannabis with 0.3% Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) or less by dry weight. In reality, however, it’s not easy to distinguish between the two varieties simply because there are no biological differences between the two.
Even using the 0.3% THC content as a classification is just an arbitrary number proposed back in 1979. However, that definition has been used legally now.
So, why is THC so necessary? It is the compound that causes the high effect of marijuana.
Because the THC level in hemp is low, it’s unlikely that people will get the same effect from hemp as they would with marijuana.
What’s Marijuana?
With that definition of hemp, that would mean that marijuana is any variety of the cannabis plant that can cause a high effect. The THC content among the cannabis plants varies widely, so by sticking to the legal definition, anything that contains 0.3% THC is marijuana.
What’s CBD?
Now, the next question that people will ask is, “what is CBD?”
CBD stands for Cannabidiol, and like THC, it is a chemical compound that can find in the cannabis plant. It is a natural chemical compound that produces a sense of calm and relaxation. Unlike THC, however, CBD is not psychoactive, so it does not have that high effect.
That is the reason why CBD is used in all kinds of products now.
Does Hemp and CBD Work The Same?
When people ask this question, they usually refer to the various cannabis products currently available.
People get confused about the difference between hemp seed oil and CBD oil. It doesn’t help that others also refer to CBD oil as hemp oil. So, to avoid mixing things up, we will refer to hemp seed oil as hemp oil.
The leaves, stalk, and flowers of the hemp plant are used when manufacturing CBD oil. Those parts of the plant contain a higher concentration of CBD.
Now, hemp oil or hemp seed oil is produced from the seeds of the cannabis plant. The origins of the cannabis plant do not contain CBD, but they are still rich in nutrients and other compounds that are good for the body.
Uses of Hemp Seed Oil
Hemp oil or hemp seed oil is not used because it does not contain very low THC and CBD levels. It is used in manufacturing some products, although some people use it for its supposed therapeutic effects.
There are claims that hemp seed oil is good for cardiovascular health, but that has not been backed by research yet. What is definite is that it is rich in nutrients.
Uses of CBD Oil
CBD oil is also used for its alleged therapeutic benefits. People use it for treating pain, inflammation, anxiety, and depression. It’s important to remember that the only FDA-approved therapeutic use of a CBD product is for epilepsy. Moreover, there is no solid scientific proof yet for the other benefits of CBD that people claim.
So, does hemp oil and CBD oil work the same? The answer is no, but there is no solid scientific study conducted yet testing all the supposed effects of both.
It’s essential to understand what the different terms mean when you are dealing with cannabis-related products. Not all of these products will have the same effects, so you need to be sure you refer to the right thing.
