The Differences Between Types of Cannabis Products

Debra Murray

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• acne Alzheimer's anxiety Arthritis broad-spectrum cannabidiol cannabis CBD depression Diabetes fibromyalgia full-spectrum hemp IBS inflammation insomnia isolate migraines seizures tetrahydrocannabinol THC

Even a cannabis expert may sometimes struggle to understand the differences between types of cannabis plants and products. We understand that it can be confusing, from those who are simply curious to cannabis connoisseurs. This article will define several types of cannabis plants, cannabinoid compounds, and the various products that contain them with an aim to help develop a better understanding about what these different cannabis compounds and products are, and what they are used for.

Hemp
Hemp is a type of cannabis plant different from the marijuana plant. It doesn’t produce the chemical compound tetrahydrocannabinol (THC - the chemical that provides the feeling of being “high”) in significant levels. The oil that comes from hemp is a carrier oil that has been sold as a superfood in health food stores for decades because it is high in antioxidants and essential fatty acids. The U.S. government lifted its ban on this plant in 2018; it is now federally legal to grow in all 50 states.

Quick Facts about Hemp:

• The Agricultural Improvement Act of 2018 legally defines a hemp plant is as having 0.3% THC or less.
• Hemp has zero cannabinoids. It doesn’t provide pain relief or mind-altering effects.
• May appear on a product label as: CBD oil; Hemp oil; Cannabis oil.
• Companies sometimes label their products that contain other commonly illegal compounds as containing only federally legal hemp in order to avoid legal difficulties.

Cannabidiol (aka CBD)
CBD is one of the 100+ different cannabinoid compounds that have been identified in cannabis plants. It has no psychoactive effects. This compound can be taken orally or applied topically. There are various types of cannabidiol that have different effects, including:

• Full-spectrum CBD, which may contain higher levels of THC than other forms,
• Broad-spectrum CBD, which has THC intentionally removed from it, though other natural cannabinoids are left intact, and
• CBD isolate, which is 99% pure CBD in a very concentrated form with little other material left.

Products that contain CBD are sold by dispensaries and general retailers such as grocery stores, pharmacies, coffee shops, or other stores. The product is federally legal to be sold and possessed anywhere in the U.S. if it is made from the hemp plant, but some states do not have laws that reflect the same status. CBD has anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties that have shown promise related to pain relief. Scientific research has also demonstrated its ability to help prevent and provide relief from the following conditions:

• Acne
• Alzheimer’s
• Anxiety
• Arthritic Pain
• Depression
• Fibromyalgia
• Inflammatory Pain
• Insomnia
• Irritable Bowel Syndrome
• Neuropathic Pain
• Migraine headaches
• Seizures
• Type-1 Diabetes
• and more ...

Tetrahydrocannabinol (aka THC)
THC is another type of cannabinoid that is found in cannabis plants, most commonly marijuana plants. Marijuana plants typically contain 15% to 30% tetrahydrocannabinol. THC is not legal federally in the U.S.; however, the number of states that have legalized marijuana and THC for either medical or recreational uses has grown significantly over recent years. Some states maintain an illegal status for marijuana and the THC compound.

Quick Facts about THC:

• THC has psychoactive effects that result in its use being carefully monitored and regulated, even in states where it is legal for medical or recreational use.
• CBD that is extracted from marijuana plants is illegal in many states because it contains higher concentrations of THC than CBD from hemp plants.
• May appear on a product label as: THC oil; Marijuana oil; Cannabis oil (from marijuana).

References

https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/115/hr2/text
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3371734/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4851925/
https://lindseyelmore.com/exposing-4-myths-about-cbd-oil/
https://www.liebertpub.com/doi/pdf/10.1089/can.2016.0009
https://www.growwire.com/cbd-business?elqTrackId=0d2bd122431041d49e2b4532cbf74ff0&elq=a4b484fee4ed4a17906801445241405a&elqaid=6963&elqat=1&elqCampaignId=2578
https://www.wellandgood.com/good-looks/hemp-oil-vs-cbd-oil/amp/?epik=dj0yJnU9X0pMTk9MYzdaRm85RzFJZzhVQ01ZbnVSTTJwNElEcXImbj1HV09YSjNVR2pNclhrdHpNXzFELV9RJm09MyZ0PUFBQUFBRjBtWEhj