The Difference Between Cannabis & Hemp
There is a ton of misleading information in regards to the difference between hemp and marijuana. Hemp and marijuana are actually both cannabis. The difference being the amount of THC present. If the plant (cannabis sativa or cannabis indica) contains 0.3% THC or greater, it is defined by the Unites States government as the controlled substance marijuana. however on the flip side if it contains less than 0.3% THC, it is hemp. Most CBD isolates nowadays are derived solely from the hemp plant, specifically the leaves, stem and stalk. This is due to the many states regulations on the sale of CBD.
What exactly is CBD?
CBD is short for Cannabidiol, is has a ton of the same medical benefits as its brother marijuana without any of that high feeling. Although hemp extract contains many phytocannabinoids, research has shown CBD to be the molecule doing the “heavy lifting”. Cannabidiol is the phytocannabinoid in hemp and marijuana that is responsible for most of the health benefits associated with cannabis.
What is the Endocannabinoid System and how does it work?
Let’s look at the word “endocannabinoid.” “Cannabinoid” comes from “cannabis,” and “endo” is short for “endogenous,” which means that it is produced naturally inside of your body. So “endocannabinoid” simply means cannabis-like substances that naturally occur inside us.
The ECS (Endocannabinoid System) is made up of three
parts: Endocannabinoids, Receptors in the nervous system and around
your body that endocannabinoids and cannabinoids bond with, and
Enzymes that help break down endocannabinoids and cannabinoids. Not
only is the ECS a natural part of our bodies, it’s a crucial one.
You may have heard a lot of claims about the medicinal properties of
marijuana in general or of the cannabinoids THC and CBD. With so many
seemingly unrelated effects, you might wonder whether it’s just a
lot of hype from people who want the drug legalized; however, medical
science backs up many of these claims, and the reason for the
far-reaching effects have to do with the size and scope of the
endocannabinoid system itself.