Hemp and Cannabis products are found everywhere these days, but they aren’t the same at all. They have different legal standings as well as different medicinal benefits. We could go into A LOT of detail, but thought you might appreciate a simple overview. Enjoy!
Hemp and Cannabis are part of the same family of plant, but here is how they differ.
Hemp
- Hemp is possibly one of the earliest plants to be cultivated!
- Historically it has been grown to make materials out of as the plants fibers are very strong. It can make rope, textiles, clothing, shoes, food, paper, bioplastics, insulation, and biofuel among other things!
- Hemp is also a great source of nutrition, the seeds can be eaten raw, ground into hemp meal, sprouted or made into dried sprout powder.
- Hemp naturally has lower concentrations of CBD and THC.
- Hemp is a hardy plant and does not require much care. It can easily be grown outdoors and some farmers even use it as a cover crop!
Cannabis
- The cannabis plant naturally has much higher concentrations of CBD and THC.
- Due to its higher concentrations it can produce a high and is more commonly used medicinally and recreationally.
- Certain extraction methods allow manufacturers to create products with various ratios of CBD and THC–these ratios open up many options for customers to find the relief they might be looking for.
- Cultivators have to be extremely careful, cautiously monitoring temperature and humidity throughout every stage of growth. The plants are grown in separate pots of dirt or spread far apart, and nutrient intake is meticulously controlled. A lot of cultivators grow it indoors to better control the environment. It is a sensitive plant!
In the eyes of the law, the two plants are also similar and yet drastically different. Here is how:
Hemp Legalities
- The 2018 Farm bill removed hemp from the Controlled Substances Act, allowing people to access hemp easily for the first time in decades.
- Hemp derived CBD products must have a THC concentration lower than 0.3%.
- There is currently no limit to the concentration of CBD.
- Hemp products can be found in retail locations and online–it is everywhere these days! When buying a product you should consider these things.
- Due to hemps new federal classification companies can now more easily access safe and secure banking.
- States are allowed to ban the sale of hemp.
Cannabis Legalities
- According to the USA Federal Government cannabis and all products made from them are a schedule 1 controlled substance.
- Due to this classification it is federally illegal and also very hard to use in research studies.
- Cannabis is legal in some US States for medical and recreational use–the number of legal states continues to grow with each year.
- Each state has its own legal limits of the amounts of THC and CBD allowed in products. In CA for example, edibles can have no more than 100mg of THC.
- Due to its federal classification companies within legal industries find it hard to bank with federal institutions.
When to use Hemp vs Cannabis Products
Hemp Use in Horses
- If you are not in a state with legal cannabis products you can turn to hemp products!
- Hemp derived products are great for horses, especially those with 0.0% THC–like Mikko’s Choice.
- A lot of people say CBD helps with “everything” Mikko’s Choice does not support that statement because it is too broad and generally not true.
- Topical’s are great for humans, but are not very affective in animals due to their fur. It is much better for the horse to actually ingest CBD.
Cannabis Use in Horses
- Within the US you must be in a state that legalized cannabis for recreational or medical use.
- Within legal states you can only get products from licensed dispensaries or delivery services, some states don’t even allow delivery! If you’re in Southern CA and in need of a high quality delivery service check out Flower Market.
- Cannabis is ideal for pets if the milligram (mg) concentration is less than 5mg per dose, 2mg is optimal–otherwise they will get high and some even overheat.
- Mikko’s Choice does not recommend giving your horse a cannabis derived product, but cannabis derived products can be used in dogs and cats.
If you have any questions feel free to check out our product website or email us directly: info@mikkoschoice.com
