The cannabis industry has grown bigger than ever, thanks to the growing public sentiment and support from major political figures. Even though federal legalization seems likely to happen soon in the US, it’s obvious that the general public still lacks the proper knowledge about the industry itself and the products that fall under it.
People tend to simply cluster cannabis products under the general term of “marijuana.” Understanding how the top cannabis products differ could be key to full public acceptance. Here’s a rundown on the various types of cannabis products that are popular and are currently sweeping many regions.
Recreational Cannabis
Simply put, recreational cannabis is used solely for the purpose of getting “high”, or relaxed. Unlike its medical counterpart, there are more restrictions for growing and using recreational cannabis, and there are only a handful of states that even allow it.
Under the microscope, recreational cannabis is seen to have more tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). This particular compound gives recreational cannabis the euphoric properties that it has.
Medical Cannabis
Medical cannabis is used as a medicine with various beneficial health effects. Normally, it is made from the Cannabis sativa. It has small amounts of THC but contains the miracle compound called cannabidiol (CBD). Because of CBD, medical cannabis has a ton of health advantages, which include pain and inflammation relief, stress and anxiety relief, lower risk of developing heart diseases and cancer, and many more. All that without any psychotic effects.
CBD
CBD has created an industry of its own because of its popularity among the general public. How are CBD products created? Using various techniques, producers extract the compound from cannabis plants.
As a result, we get concentrated oil made of CBD. This is then used to create various products including topical creams, gummies, vape liquids, flavored oils, pills, drinks, and more. With regard to laws and regulations, the government’s stand on CBD remains confusing. Some states are not comfortable with the product and are still looking into it carefully.
Hemp
As medical cannabis, hemp cannot get people high because it contains trace amounts of THC (up to 0.3%). While it can be consumed as food (hemp oil is usually mentioned as a superfood), the plant itself is used to create an assortment of industrial goods including fabrics, paper, and more.
Hemp legalization was included in the 2018 Farm Bill. However, farmers should take note that there are regulatory standards which are keeping production and consumption in check. In terms of composition, hemp has a compound composition that’s similar to medical cannabis. In other words, it contains more CBD than THC, and it can’t get people high.
Bottom Line
The cannabis industry is growing, but that doesn’t mean it’s progressing without hurdles. People often mistake Congress as the largest hurdle for federal legalization, but the truth is that misinformation about the plant is the main obstacle to large-scale adoption.
By fully understanding cannabis, hemp, and CBD, the general public will have more reasons to understand which products should be legalized, and why.
0 Comments