There has been much discussion within the industry recently regarding the use of the word hemp. Industrial hemp is considered very different to the medicinal/ drug form of cannabis, however there has been some confusion. This excellent piece written as a summary of our conversations is by Nick from NORML South Africa and is focussed mainly at Rick Simpson of "The Cure" (cancer cure) who seems to use the words differently from the rest of the industry.
Many of you have passed by a store window that displayed hemp purses, clothing, or other products for sale! Lots of people immediately think of cannabis when they see hemp products, and while the word "hemp" frequently pops up in medical cannabis-related debates, hemp and medical cannabis are not the same thing. One of the most important differences is that medical cannabis can get a person high and hemp cannot. Let's look at some of their other characteristics:
What do hemp and medical cannabis have in common?
Hemp and medical cannabis are varieties of the Cannabaceae plant family. It is illegal to grow both hemp and medical cannabis in the United States and South Africa (although it is not illegal to sell or purchase hemp products—hence the hemp bags and dresses you see in store windows). The two plants have similar aromas when in bloom—however, only medical cannabis will get a person high but hemp will not as it does not contain significant amounts of THC.
How are hemp and cannabis different?
Smoking medical cannabis will make the user high, and smoking hemp will not. Hemp contains less than 1 percent of the active ingredient THC, the active chemical in medical cannabis. Medical cannabis plants, on the other hand, can contain 10 to 20 percent THC.
Medical cannabis plants and hemp plants have different appearances and are harvested differently. Medical cannabis plants tend to be short and bushy, while hemp plants can have stalks that are 25 feet high! Unlike medical cannabis, hemp has many uses. Over 25,000 products can be manufactured from hemp, including hair conditioner, diapers, insulation, carpets, paper, and perfume. Things like rope made out of hemp never rot like traditional rope. Hemp as a food is one of the most easily absorbed by the body, and can help you live a healthier and happier life.
The hemp debate and the medical cannabis debate are often confused with each other. Proponents of legalizing hemp cultivation focus on the plant's many uses and the fact that it requires no pesticides in order to flourish. However, opponents express concern that permitting hemp cultivation would result in the legalization of medical cannabis cultivation because both hemp and medical cannabis come from the same plant. Opponents also say that other raw materials are more economical than industrial hemp, which has been disproved on more than one occasion. Cultivating hemp is currently illegal in the United States and South Africa, although hemp items are imported, including hemp foods.
Medical cannabis, on the other hand, is a purely medicinal plant - with many recent studies showing that there are huge benefits associated with using medical cannabis for numerous conditions.
During debates about the legal status of medical cannabis, the environmental and economic benefits of hemp may be used in arguments for the legalization of medical cannabis. But, remember that hemp and medical cannabis are not the same thing.
