What Is THC?

Hemp, Cannabis, & Marijuana:
These are terms that we hear these days more than ever before. Learn what makes them unique.
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The term “marijuana” is not a plant species, but rather a term which has dark roots used to reference what is known as cannabis. Cannabis is the scientific name for the genus of flowering plants within the Cannabaceae family. Cannabaceae includes three different species: Cannabis sativa, Cannabis indica, and Cannabis ruderalis.
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Hemp and cannabis are general classifications for a broad spectrum of varying strains/chemovars and varieties of cannabis.
See differences below.
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Hemp:
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Hemp Legalization
The Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 (2018 Farm Bill) marks a watershed in the regulation of cannabis in the United States. While the crop remains highly regulated, the law makes hemp production and distribution legal under federal law and establishes a framework of shared oversight by federal, state, and Indian tribe authorities. The 2018 Farm Bill permits the interstate transfer of hemp products for commercial or other purposes, and it requires compliance with a state, tribal, or U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) plan for hemp production.
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What is Hemp?
Hemp is a term used to describe varieties of cannabis containing low concentrations of THC and high concentrations of CBD, two of the most abundant and well-known cannabinoids in cannabis. Countries around the world have set their own limits on what THC concentration in a variety is considered hemp. In most cases, it is any cannabis cultivar that contains less than 1% THC; however, specifics vary in each country. CBD derived from hemp is legal in many countries which have restrictions on medical or adult-use recreational markets, whereas CBD products derived from high THC varieties are sometimes not.
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Hemp is widely utilized to produce a plethora of CBD products found in the global consumer markets today. In Australia, any Hemp or CBD product containing THC in amounts over 0.3% of THC in dry weight is illegal to produce, sell or import for any use unless regulated by the Therapeutic Goods Administration and the Office of Drug Control. CBD products must be obtained through a legal medical pathway.
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Medical Cannabis/Marijuana:
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On the other side of the spectrum is where you find medical cannabis. This classification is used to reference varieties of cannabis that have both high CBD concentrations and also high THC concentrations that contain varying amounts of other cannabinoids, terpenes, and flavonoids. Unlike industrial hemp varieties, cannabis strains and cultivars which contain higher levels of THC are illegal in many countries that do not have adult-use recreational markets.
However, Australia and many other countries, have approved and implemented medical cannabis programs allowing certain qualifying patients access through a physician, to utilize specific cannabinoid-based therapies and products with laws and approval processes varying from state to state. In Australia, the only legal access pathways for any medicine containing CBD or THC, are obtained through a Clinical Trial, the Special Access Scheme or the Authorized Prescriber Scheme.
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Recreational Cannabis/Marijuana:
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Recreational cannabis/marijuana, like medical cannabis, is made from the buds and leaves of the Cannabis sativa plant, which are cultivated legally in many states and countries. The leaves and buds are dried and either packaged and sold in dispensaries. Recreational marijuana usually contains a high concentration of THC and a low concentration of CBD and the reverse is true for medical marijuana — both cannabinoids, or chemicals contained in the marijuana plant.
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Please note:
When all of these are put through an extraction process the below products are produced:
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Kief
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Oils
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Tinctures
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Budder
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Wax
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Hash
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Shatter
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Crumble
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Sap
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Pull and snap
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