5 Common Misconceptions About Hemp, Debunked

With consumer interest in marijuana, CBD and hemp on the rise, misconceptions about what hemp actually is and what it can do are widespread.

Many folks believe that hemp and marijuana are the same thing. Still others consider hemp to be a psychoactive product that leaves consumers feeling intoxicated. But the truth is, hemp is an incredibly versatile plant that can be made into a variety of different products.

Let’s debunk and explain some of the most common misconceptions about hemp. 

MISCONCEPTION 1: HEMP IS THE SAME AS MARIJUANA.

In fact, hemp isn’t even the same plant as a marijuana plant. While it is true that both hemp and marijuana are commonly referred to as varieties of cannabis sativa—one of the subtypes of the cannabis plant—they are not one in the same.

Unlike marijuana, hemp has an extremely low THC content—as in, it contains less than .3 percent THC by dry weight, whereas marijuana can contain up to a whopping 30 percent THC, which also explains why marijuana can get you intoxicated, while hemp can’t.

MISCONCEPTION 2: HEMP GETS YOU HIGH.

In general, hemp’s low THC level means that when people refer to hemp, they are referring to a product that does not get its user intoxicated like marijuana can.

MISCONCEPTION 3: HEMP HAS NO HEALTH BENEFITS.

Whether you believe in the term “superfood” or not, there’s no denying that hemp seeds can provide a bevy of different health benefits.

Not only are hemp seeds a complete source of protein (there are about 9.46 grams of protein in a tablespoon-sized serving of the seeds), but they’re also a source of vitamins and minerals, such as:

• vitamin E
• magnesium
• potassium
• vitamin B-6
• iron
• folate

MISCONCEPTION 4: HEMP IS JUST A FOOD INGREDIENT.

Far from it. In fact, you can use hemp in a variety of different manners. As one of the strongest naturally accruing fibers, hemp can be made into thousands of products. It can be transformed into textiles, such as clothing and diapers, or deployed for industrial textiles, like rope or carpeting.

Some building materials can be made with hemp, including printing inks and acrylics. Different shampoos, lotions and cosmetics on the market are also hemp-based.

MISCONCEPTION 5: HEMP CROPS ARE USED TO DISGUISE ILLEGAL MARIJUANA.

On the contrary, because hemp and marijuana both require different conditions in order to grow optimally, marijuana growers wouldn’t want to use hemp to conceal their marijuana. Growing them side-by-side would render their marijuana crops less potent. Plus, the two crops actually look different.