What’s the Difference Between Hemp and Marijuana?

Short answer: they’re the same plant species—Cannabis sativa L.—but they’re grown, measured, and regulated for different goals. “Hemp” and “marijuana” aren’t botany twins; they’re legal categories that hinge mostly on THC, the primary intoxicating compound.

Think of cannabis like one giant toolbox. Hemp is the “hardware aisle” (fiber, seed, wellness). Marijuana is the “resin aisle” (high-THC flower and extracts). Same store, different sections.

Snapshot: Hemp vs. Marijuana (U.S. focus)

Feature	Hemp	Marijuana
Legal definition	Cannabis with ≤ 0.3% Δ9-THC by dry weight	Cannabis with > 0.3% Δ9-THC by dry weight
Goal of cultivation	Fiber, hurd (woody core), seed/oil, compliant extracts (CBD, etc.)	Resin-rich flower and extracts for intoxication or state-legal medical/adult use
Typical cannabinoids	Low THC, variable CBD/CBG; terpenes depend on cultivar	Higher THC (and often THCa before heating), plus CBD and other cannabinoids
Psychoactive effect	Non-intoxicating by design (but full-spectrum hemp can have trace THC)	Intoxicating at common doses
U.S. legality	Federally legal to grow/sell within rules; state laws vary (especially for ingestibles and “intoxicating hemp derivatives”)	State-dependent medical/adult-use programs; federal rules are evolving; always check current law
Common uses	Food (hearts, protein), body care, textiles, paper, animal bedding, hemp-lime, CBD topicals/tinctures (where allowed)	Flower, vapes, edibles, concentrates in regulated dispensaries

Laws change. Always confirm your state’s most recent rules for cultivation, processing, and sales—especially for ingestibles, pet/livestock feed, and any product with cannabinoids.

Same species, different targets

Breeders select hemp for stalks and seed (or low-THC floral material), keeping Δ9-THC under the legal ceiling. Breeders select marijuana for resinous flowers packed with cannabinoids and aromatic terpenes. That selection pressure drives wildly different plant architectures and resin output—even though the Latin name on the seed packet is the same.

A quick chemistry note

• Δ9-THC (delta-9) is the main intoxicating cannabinoid.

• THCa is the acid form that converts to delta-9 when heated (smoking, vaping, baking). Many “marijuana” flowers are legally measured as low delta-9 but high THCa, which becomes delta-9 when used.

• CBD/CBG are non-intoxicating and abundant in many hemp cultivars.

Some states test “total THC” (delta-9 + potential from THCa). Others follow the federal 0.3% delta-9 rule. This is why a crop can pass in one jurisdiction and fail (“go hot”) in another.

What you can—and can’t—tell by looking

Tall and skinny = hemp; short and bushy = marijuana… sometimes. Morphology hints at use, but it’s not reliable. Only a lab test (Certificate of Analysis, or COA) can confirm THC, CBD, contaminants, and terpene profile.

Uses in the real world

Hemp

• Fiber & hurd: textiles, rope, paper, molded composites, insulation, hemp-lime blocks and wall infill.

• Seed: hearts, protein powder, culinary oil; cosmetic emollient oils.

• Extracts: CBD/CBG tinctures and topicals where permitted.

• Animals & ag: absorbent bedding, erosion control, mulches (always check local rules).

Marijuana

• Flower and resin products (edibles, vapes, concentrates) within state-regulated medical/adult-use markets.

• Pharmaceutical pathways in tightly controlled contexts.

CBD from hemp vs. CBD from marijuana

CBD is the same molecule regardless of source. The difference is legal status and allowed THC content:

• Hemp-derived CBD must meet the hemp definition and state rules. Full-spectrum hemp products can legally contain trace THC (up to 0.3% delta-9 by dry weight), which may accumulate with frequent use and trigger drug tests.

• Marijuana-derived CBD can appear at dispensaries with higher THC alongside CBD, depending on state law.

Always check a product’s COA for cannabinoid levels, contaminants (pesticides, heavy metals, residual solvents), and batch lot numbers.

About that popular infographic…

Infographics often get three things slightly off:

1. Species name: It’s Cannabis sativa L., not “satvia.”

2. “Hemp is regulated by the FDA.” The FDA regulates food, drugs, and cosmetics, not “hemp” as a crop. USDA/State ag departments regulate cultivation; DEA/USDA set testing rules; FDA weighs in when you ingest or apply products to the body.

3. Federal status for marijuana: The federal landscape is in flux; state programs govern practical access. Treat any static claim (“Schedule X forever”) as a snapshot, not eternal truth.

Accuracy matters—precision builds trust.

Safety & shopping checklist

• Look for a COA: third-party, batch-matched, showing cannabinoids, terpenes, heavy metals, pesticides, microbes, and residual solvents.

• Know your state: rules for hemp ingestibles and delta-8/“intoxicating hemp” products vary widely.

• Start low, go slow: with any cannabinoid product, especially full-spectrum formulas.

• Mind drug testing: even trace THC can add up.

Glossary (fast, friendly)

• Cannabinoids: active compounds (THC, CBD, CBG, etc.) in cannabis resin.

• Terpenes: aromatic molecules (limonene, myrcene) that shape flavor and effects.

• THCa → THC: heat converts THCa into intoxicating delta-9 THC.

• COA: Certificate of Analysis—your lab-verified receipts.

The bottom line

“Hemp” and “marijuana” aren’t different species; they’re different legal and commercial lanes of the same plant, divided by THC thresholds and intended use. Once you understand that, the rest—farming, products, compliance—clicks into place.