Cannabis and hemp are not the same, although they come from the same plant species, Cannabis sativa. The primary difference between the two is the amount of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) they contain. THC is the psychoactive compound in cannabis that produces the “high” associated with recreational use.
Hemp is a variety of the Cannabis sativa plant explicitly grown for industrial purposes, such as making textiles, paper, and building materials. Hemp plants contain very low levels of THC, typically less than 0.3%, which means they do not produce the psychoactive effects associated with cannabis.
Cannabis, on the other hand, refers to a variety of the Cannabis sativa plant grown for medicinal or recreational use. Cannabis plants typically contain higher THC levels than hemp, ranging from 5% to 30% or more, depending on the strain.
In summary, while both hemp and cannabis come from the same plant species, they differ in their chemical composition and uses. Hemp is primarily grown for industrial purposes and contains very low levels of THC, while cannabis is grown for medicinal or recreational use and contains higher levels of THC.