Cannabis can be broadly divided into two categories: ‘marijuana’ and ‘hemp.’ The primary differences between ‘marijuana’ and ‘hemp’ in how the plant is grown and processed, as well as the cannabinoid content.
In the United States, hemp is legally defined as cannabis that contains no more than 0.3% delta-9 THC by dry weight; this includes hemp-derived extracts, cannabinoids and other derivatives. Hemp products come in a variety of forms, including consumables that can be either non-intoxicating, or even psychoactive.
‘Marijuana,’ by contrast, is cannabis that is grown to have a high percentage of natural delta-9 THC content. It is used for both medical and recreational purposes, where permitted by law. In the United States, ‘marijuana’ is federally illegal, although a number of states have decriminalized it within their jurisdictions or created legal frameworks for the sale and consumption of ‘marijuana’ by adult consumers.