Hemp CBD, what is it, and why is it different from Marijuana CBD and will it get you high? Let's take a look at what we know...

CBD vs. THC

CBD stands for Cannabidiol. THC stands for Tetrahydrocannabinol.

CBD is one of at least 113 active cannabinoids identified in cannabis. It is a major phytocannabinoid, accounting for up to 40% of the plant's extract. CBD is considered to have a wide scope of potential medical applications - due to clinical reports showing the lack of side effects, particularly a lack of psychoactivity (as is typically associated with THC; the stuff that gets you high) and non-interference with several psychomotor learning and psychological functions. Basically, it won't get you high and it won't change how you think or function.

THC is the chemical responsible for most of marijuana's psychological effects. It acts much like the cannabinoid chemicals made naturally by the body. Cannabinoid receptors are concentrated in certain areas of the brain associated with thinking, memory, pleasure, coordination and time perception. THE attaches to these receptors and activates them and affects a person's memory, pleasure, movements, thinking, concentration, coordination, and sensory and time perception. It's what the high you feel when you use marijuana is.

Cannabis vs. Hemp

First, let’s look at the differences between the plants that make CBD oil. To start with, the two plants look physically different. This is due to the different reasons that both of them are grown. Cannabis, grown for its flowering buds for reasons of smoking or THC extraction, are generally short and wide. Hemp, on the other hand, is tall and narrow as it is grown for its seeds. Hemp is low in THC and is often grown for a variety of purposes including the manufacture of materials.

As mentioned above, cannabis and hemp differ in the levels of naturally occurring THC that they contain. THC is a cannabinoid like CBD. However, its properties are very different and often antagonistic to the effects of CBD. Hemp is naturally high in CBD and low in THC; the reverse is true of cannabis. In fact, hemp contains only about 0.3% – 1.5% THC, while cannabis contains about 5% – 10% or more THC.

Hemp CBD

CBD hemp oil is extracted from the cannabis varieties that are naturally abundant in CBD, and low in THC. A specialized extraction process is used to yield highly concentrated CBD oil that also contains other nutritious material such as omega-3 fatty acids, terpenes, vitamins, chlorophyll, amino acids, and other phytocannabinoids like cannabichromene (CBD), cannabigerol (CBG), cannabinol (CBN) and cannabidivarian (CBCV).

Pure hemp cannabidiol oil can be consumed directly as a nutritional supplement. Over the years, great advances in CBD hemp oil product development have led to what are now dozens of different types of CBD hemp oil products, including capsules, drops, and edibles. Concentrated CBD hemp oil can also be infused into skin and body care products and used topically.

In Hemp, which is grown to have high CBD and low THC it makes hemp CBD a safe and legal option for all age groups and demographics. Further to this, Hemp CBD is legal whereas Cannabis THC is only legal with a card or in the few lucky states where Marijuana is legal!

Here are a few facts about CBD derived from industrial hemp:

-Agricultural hemp and medical marijuana both come from the Cannabis Sativa L. plant.

-Agricultural hemp, which is often referred to as “hemp stalk,” grows differently than THC-containing cannabis, and looks similar to bamboo.

-THC-producing marijuana plants are grown to an average of five feet in height, spaced six to eight feet apart. Agricultural hemp is grown to a height of 10 to 15 feet or more before harvest, placed three to six inches apart.

-Hemp has little potential to produce high-content THC when pollinated.

-As long as agricultural hemp plants are pollinated by members of their own crop, the genetics will remain similar with low levels of THC.

    Drug Tests & Hemp CBD

    Whether you agree with it in principle or not, testing for illicit drug use is a reality for many workers in the United States. Since THC is the main component in marijuana drug tests are designed to detect THC levels. Fortunately, the urine drug screen for THC is known to have very little to no cross-reactivity to other cannabinoids that are not psychoactive, such as CBD. That said, individuals using unusually large doses of a cannabinoid-rich hemp oil product (above 1000-2000 mg of hemp oil daily) could theoretically test positive during the initial urinary screen. Although very rare, the urine screen in these cases would likely represent a “false positive” due to other non-THC metabolites or compounds, which may cross-react with the immunoassay. When this is the case, the confirmatory GC/MS test would be negative, since CBD and other cannabinoids will not be detected by the more accurate (and specific) GC/MS screen. Keep in mind that most of the high-quality, reliable CBD-rich hemp oil products contain much less THC than marijuana. For example, hemp contains anywhere from 1/10th to 1/300th of the THC concentration found in marijuana. An individual consuming 1000-2000 mg per day of hemp oil would thus consume approximately 3-6 mg of THC. This exceedingly high dose may result in detection of positive urine screen in up to 11% to 23% of assays. What does all this mean? Put simply, a consumer who uses a high-quality hemp-based product at the standard serving size is highly unlikely to test positive for THC. However, it’s important to be aware that extremely high doses may result in a positive urine screen (that would be subsequently shown to be false via GC/MS). Ultimately, consumers need to be fully informed of the specific regulations posed by their employers and adjust their consumption of cannabinoid products accordingly.

    Final Thoughts

    To put it simply. CBD and THC both come from marijuana or hemp. The main difference between the two plants is how they are grown (one for the buds and one for the seeds). THC gets you high where CBD does not. You can use CBD from both plants but if you are looking for no high feeling you will get a low level of THC and high level of CBD from Hemp CBD since hemp naturally has low THC levels. CBD from Hemp is legal in all states and most countries where as Marijuana is still working on becoming legal across the country. CBD does not typically show up on a drug test unless you are taking large amounts of it. Both CBD and THC have their uses and benefits and both marijuana and hemp have theirs.

    By spreading knowledge and information about cannabis, hemp, CBD, and other cannabinoids, we’re supporting safe growth of the cannabis industry while at the same time educating the masses about a misunderstood plant. I hope this helps understand the differences and the uses for these plants!