The plant

The plant

What is Cannabis

Classification of cannabis

In the scientific classification, hemp and marijuana are part of the Cannabaceae family. As such, both are considered cannabis.

In the United States, the term "hemp" is used to describe a cannabis plant that produces no more than 0.3% THC, which is the molecule responsible for the euphoric effects associated with medical and adult cannabis. The classification does not take into account other cannabinoids. Therefore, if a plant produces 20% CBD and only 0.29% THC, it is still legally considered hemp.

Hemp has many uses; its fiber can be used for canvas, paper, ropes and other textiles, it is an incredibly efficient bioremediator (it removes toxic substances from the soil), and it is increasingly used as a building material and biofuel. Hemp seeds have long been used in many cultures for their nutritional benefits for animals and humans.

Many laws have been created based on this definition of hemp. It is the level of THC produced by the plant variety that differentiates it from the intoxicating variety of cannabis, "marijuana", and allows its legal classification as a basic crop.

SOURCES

“Larsen, Lucas. “The Cultivation of Weed.” Nature, vol. 525, no. 24, Sept. 2015.

United States Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service

Burke, Anthony. “Cannabinoid Biosynthesis Part 1 - CBG, THC, CBD and CBC.” www.marijuana.com, 23 June 2014.

Fellermeier, Monica, et al. “Biosynthesis of cannabinoids: Incorporation experiments with 13C-Labeled glucoses.” European Journal of Biochemistry, no. 268, 2001, pp. 1596–1604.

ElSohly, Mahmoud A., editor. Marijuana and the Cannabinoids. Humana Press, 2007.