Cannabis

A genus of annual flowering plants that includes three distinct variations: Cannabis sativa L., Cannabis indica, and Cannabis ruderalis. Originating in Central Asia and dating back to ancient China, Egypt, and India, many believe that cannabis was the first crop ever cultivated by mankind. For over 10,000 years, cannabis has been used in a wide range of respected medicinal and spiritual applications. It is believed to have been named in the holy anointing oil recipe that both Moses and Jesus used for divination rituals. Cannabis crops were cultivated by all founding fathers of America and used as currency among the early settlers. Widely recognized for its serrated 7-fingered fan leaves, cannabis plants can range from tall and stalky to short and bushy. Plants are predominantly gender specific with male stamen and female pistils occurring on different plants, the females being those that produce resinous flowers. There are approximately 483 uniquely identifiable naturally components in the cannabis plant, over 100 of which are called cannabinoids that mimic compounds produced in the human body. The two most abundant cannabinoids are cannabidiol (CBD) and Δ⁹-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). Other natural components include terpenes which impact aroma and flavonoids which possess antioxidant properties.

Hemp

Certain varieties of Cannabis sativa known as hemp are bred for their industrial applications and low concentration of Δ⁹-THC. For t­hat reason, hemp is considered to be the ‘non-intoxicating’ form of cannabis though it is not free of intoxicating compounds. As of December 2018, it has become federally legal in the United States to cultivate hemp for a variety of commercial purposes, including cannabinoid supply. In the U.S., hemp is defined as a Cannabis sativa L. plant not containing more than 0.3% THC. Limitations on THC vary worldwide. For example, Switzerland has set the limit at 1%. The European Union has set the limit at 0.2%, while in Great Britain the limit is zero, unless growers have a cultivation license grow industrial hemp with no more than 0.2% THC. Hemp is cultivated and then refined into many products including wax, resin, cloth, pulp, paper, rope, fuel, and oil. Hemp seeds are considered a superfood by many due to their high protein, fiber, omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acid and antioxidant potency. It is important to note that hemp plants – not the seeds – are high in beneficial cannabinoids, including CBD. If you purchase straight hemp seed oil, it will not contain any CBD.

Marijuana

The word ‘marijuana’ sparks controversy today as a pejorative term due to its origination in US politics and racism against Mexican culture. Cannabis had enjoyed a long history of highly regarded medical use until the early 1900s. Cannabis-based treatments were being developed by many major pharmaceutical companies at the turn of the century. Shortly after that, a large wave of Mexican immigration into the United States sparked considerable resentment. The Mexican people brought with them their traditions and their culture which included smoking cannabis. The rancor hit a breaking point during the Great Depression as unemployment escalated and people feared job loss to immigrants. The Federal Bureau of Narcotics was created in 1930, with director Harry Anslinger stigmatizing ‘marijuana’ use as associated with ‘the violence, crime and dangerous tendencies of the Mexican and lower-class communities.’ By 1931, possession of cannabis became illegal in 29 states. The Marihuana Tax Act of 1937 soon followed placing a huge tax on cannabis, making it too expensive to produce. In the 1960s, Richard Nixon set out to further vilify marijuana by associating its use with anti-war hippie and black communities who he considered his antagonists. His ‘War on Drugs’ enabled him to raid their homes and sentence them to prison. Despite the fact that the Marihuana Tax Act was struck down as unconstitutional in 1969, Nixon continued his effort to criminalize possession of cannabis by ushering in the Controlled Substances Act in 1970. The ‘War on Drugs’ continued through the Reagan era of the 1980s with white conservatives rallying to uphold ‘traditional upper-class family values,’ positioning marijuana as ‘the devil’s weed’. Even now, racial overtones continue sparking controversy with statements made such as, “When Mexico sends its people, they’re not sending their best. They’re bringing drugs. They’re bringing crime.” Today, cannabis plant possession with more than 0.3% THC is still federally illegal and regulated. The name marijuana is still associated with high THC cannabis, as are more than 1200 terms such as weed, herb, ganga, pot, and Mary Jane.