Are you having a hard time understanding the difference between cannabis and marijuana? We’ve got all of the info you need here. Read this story to learn more!

Are you gaining more interest in legal marijuana lately? You’re not the only one.

The legal marijuana market is projected to hit nearly $91 billion by the year 2027. As sales continue in a booming direction, more people are starting to become curious about the varieties of plants available, as well as the terminology used when talking about them.

If you’re one of these people, you’ve probably wondered about the difference between cannabis and marijuana. To the untrained eye, these two words have the same basic meaning. However, they’re actually quite a bit different.

Want to know more? We have you covered. Read on to learn the difference between cannabis and marijuana.

What is Cannabis?

“Cannabis” is a term for a genus of flowering plants within the Cannabaceae family. This includes around 170 different plant species, which are divided into the categories of Cannabis ruderalis, Cannabis Sativa, and Cannabis Indica. Both marijuana and hemp are considered cannabis plants.

What is Marijuana?

The Cannabis genus of plants contains varieties of both hemp and marijuana species. Although they belong to the same genus, these two plant species are incredibly different.

When it comes to hemp vs. marijuana, the two have very different applications. Marijuana is the only plant containing THC (tetrahydrocannabinol), which is the cannabinoid responsible for getting you “high.”

Marijuana also contains CBD (cannabidiol), another known cannabinoid that won’t get you high, but has many reported beneficial effects, such as pain relief and relaxation. Different strains of marijuana will feature different concentrations of CBD and THC, leading to different effects when consumed.

Hemp, on the other hand, contains CBD and not THC. It’s also one of the most useful building materials in the world, with the potential to make rope, clothing, paper, and much more.

The Difference Between CBD and THC

To put it simply, THC is marijuana’s intoxicating cannabinoid, whereas CBD offers a more relaxing, non-intoxicating effect. If you’re more interested in CBD rather than THC, you can try a CBD oil, tincture, or another type of supplement. 

If you’re wondering, “does CBD oil have THC?”, the answer is this: not always. There are CBD supplement varieties that are completely THC-free or have trace amounts of THC (O.3% or less). However, some “full-spectrum” blends will contain different concentrations of CBD and THC together.

The Difference Between Cannabis and Marijuana

Going back to the difference between cannabis and marijuana, cannabis is the genus while marijuana is the species. Both hemp and marijuana plants belong to the cannabis genus. In other words, all marijuana is cannabis, but not all cannabis is marijuana.

Getting to Know Marijuana Terminology

As marijuana and THC carts become more and more popular, some of the words in the industry can seem a little mystifying. There’s cannabis vs. marijuana, hemp vs. marijuana, THC vs. CBD, and so much more.

At least when it comes to cannabis vs. marijuana, there is no longer a need for confusion. Now that you know the difference between cannabis and marijuana, you’ll be a step closer to knowing everything you need to know.

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