Hemp + Cannabis 101

Cannabis vs. Hemp vs. Marijuana:

The first and most important thing to know about this plant is the main differences between Cannabis, Hemp, and Marijuana:

• Cannabis is the scientific term for the species of plant, and is often used as a blanket term that encompasses all forms of the plant - Hemp, Marijuana, Indica, Sativa - it's all Cannabis!

• Hemp refers to any Cannabis that contains less than 0.3% Delta-9 THC. Hemp has an incredibly wide array of uses, from the production of Hemp materials like plastics, clothing, and concrete (or "Hemp-crete") using the leaves and stalks, to the medicinal benefits of consuming the low-THC, high-CBD flowers!

• Marijuana refers to the high-level Delta-9 THC flowers produced by the Female Cannabis plants. Any Cannabis that contains more than 0.3% D-9 THC is considered Marijuana, and is still deemed federally illegal and a Schedule 1 Narcotic by the FDA, despite overwhelming evidence of the plants' endless medicinal properties.

Male vs. Female Plants:

A common Cannabis misconception is that Hemp is the Male Plant and Marijuana is the Female Plant. In the Cannabis Industry, we deal with almost exclusively Female Cannabis plants. The reason for this is that the Female Plants are responsible for producing the large, flowering buds that we all know and love!

Male plants are seldom used in the industry to produce anything other than materials from the plant fibers. However, that doesn't make them entirely useless! In fact, there are quite a few great reasons to use Male Cannabis plants that you may not think of.

The first example is fairly obvious - Breeding! Male plants can be planted very early on with Female plants to help induce flower production. However, it is crucial that the Male Plants be removed before the Female plants are fertilized, or you'll end up with a low-potency bud with lots of seeds!

A less common but very helpful use of the Male Cannabis Plant is garden enhancement! Beyond bud production, Male Cannabis Plants are the secret superheroes of any standard herb and vegetable garden. While these plants do not produce flowers or buds like the Female, the Male plants still produce aromatic Terpenes which are associated with pest and disease control. Cannabis plants are also deep-rooting plants with the ability to break down lower quality soil to allow for more moisture and nutrients to infiltrate, while still holding the soil in place to prevent erosion and run-off. In addition, Cannabis is a natural pollinator magnet, favored by bees!

Indica vs Sativa:

Cannabis can generally be categorized into 3 groups, or "Strains": Indicas, Sativas, and Hybrids. Most of the strains available today are actually some form of Hybrid, but will either be Indica-dominant or Sativa-dominant depending on the characteristics of the mother plants.

• Indica - Indica strains are identifiable by their short, stout leaves. Indicas typically give the consumer a heavy, full-body relaxation perfect for aiding issues with sleep and Insomnia, as well as severe pain. A fun way to remember this is "Indica will leave you in-da-couch!"

• Sativa - Sativa strains generally will produce longer, thinner leaves, and give the user a more euphoric, energized head change. Sativas are a great choice for aiding symptoms of Anxiety and Depression, and for Increasing focus and boosting Creativity!

• Hybrid - Hybrid strains are grown by crossbreeding Indica and Sativa strains to produce a plant that encompasses characteristics of both Indicas and Sativas. Because of Cannabis's long history of crossbreeding, most strains that we have today are some form of Hybrid, making true Indicas and true Sativas very rare.

*It is important to note that not everyone will experience the effects of Indicas and Sativas in the same way. Everyone’s body is different, and every strain is different!