Written by Sebastian Little

When reading about our legal cannabis at Mood, you might find yourself wondering what distinguishes our hemp derived products from weed as you know it.

The easiest way to explain the difference between hemp and marijuana is to look at the definition laid out in the 2018 Agriculture Improvement Act (the Farm Bill).

From there, we can break down how our products are similar and different from weed you may find elsewhere.

In the meantime, you can find weed for every need at Mood’s online dispensary. Subscribe for recurring shipments and save 15%.

Hemp vs. Marijuana: Table of Contents

• Intro To Cannabis Plants

• The Farm Bill and Cannabis Plants

• 5 Key Differences Between Hemp and Marijuana

• How Hemp-Derived Products Compare To Marijuana

• Hemp-Derived Flower, Gummies, and Concentrates

Intro To Cannabis Sativa and the Hemp Plant

It’s easy to mix up hemp plants and marijuana plants because they are both the same species — the Cannabis sativa L.

While known for producing potent buds and extracts that humans can consume to get high, this plant and its abundance of compounds are also famously used for textiles, food, and a variety of medicines and wellness products.

A Brief History of The Cannabis Plant

Originally native to Southeast Asia, this plant species has spread across the world over the course of the last several thousand years.

Throughout most of the world, using cannabis for manufacturing and non-psychoactive wellness needs is mostly legal.

However, cannabis that’s cultivated to smoke, eat, or vape has been overwhelmingly prohibited across the world for some time.

Distinguishing between cannabis that’s legal and illegal is an ongoing conversation between governments and their citizens around the world.

Here in the United States, a relatively recent development has brought clarity and opened new doors.

Grab a 1g Top Gun Pre-Roll from the Mood online dispensary today. Subscribe and save 15%.

The Farm Bill and Federally Legal Hemp

At the top of this article, we mentioned the 2018 Agriculture Improvement Act, which is also known as The Farm Bill.

This historic piece of legislation removed “hemp” from the government’s list of controlled substances, which enforced strict regulations on the plant.

Now, what’s the difference between “hemp” and “marijuana?” And where do other terms like “weed,” “pot,” or “grass” fall into the mix?

Learn more: How is Mood Legal?

Hemp

The Farm Bill defines hemp as cannabis with no more than 0.3 percent THC by dry weight.

Products with higher concentrations of Delta-9 THC are still considered “marijuana”

This relatively new definition is actually awesome for cannabis enthusiasts.

While cannabis products with less than 0.3 percent THC are Farm Bill-compliant, they also can deliver comparable and equally powerful psychoactive effects as products considered to be “marijuana.”

How?

Delta-9 THC is one of over a hundred known cannabinoids that can be derived from hemp plants. Both CBD and Delta-8 are cannabinoids as well.

Many of those cannabinoids bring their own effects into the mix when you’re smoking, vaping, or eating some edibles.

Like every cannabinoid outside of Delta-9 THC, for example, THCa can be present at any concentration in harvested cannabis flower or concentrates without compromising its status as a “hemp” product.

THCa actually converts to Delta-9 THC when you vape or smoke it via a process called decarboxylation.

So, you can legally buy THCa flower from the Mood Shop, and enjoy the weed that’s been known and used for centuries.

Find your favorite strain by browsing our extensive selection of THCa Flower at Mood’s online dispensary today.

Marijuana

According to the National Institute of Health, “marijuana’ refers to other dried leaves, flowers, stems, and seeds from the Cannabis sativa or Cannabis indica plant.

According to the Farm Bill, dried leaves and flower from cannabis can’t be deemed “marijuana” unless there’s a concentration of Delta-9 THC higher than 0.3% by dry weight.

Historically, marijuana was used to describe cannabis that is smoked or consumed to feel better. Now it’s evolved to describe hemp that has too much Delta-9 THC to be Farm Bill compliant.

So, what do the other terms for cannabis mean?

With “marijuana” representing the contingent of cannabis products that are not Farm Bill compliant, all other cannabis terminology can refer to “hemp.” Even the kind you smoke, vape, or enjoy in edible form.

Order a Mood Brown Sugar Cola for some delicious THC-infused refreshment. Get a 10mg can for just $25 from the Mood Shop. Subscribe and save 15%.

Other Popular Terms for Cannabis

Time Magazine reports that there are over 1,200 different names for cannabis and hemp.

This is the product of centuries of cultural significance among those of us who are passionate about this plant and its diverse range of benefits.

Because language is fun and these terms have been around for a while, here are a few more popular terms for cannabis that can describe Farm Bill-compliant products like ours:

• Weed

• Pot

• Herb

• Grass

• Hippie Lettuce

• Bud

• Reefer

• Ganja

5 Key Differences Between Hemp and Marijuana

For those who like a quick scroll and to sum up the above breakdown, let’s look at the key differences between “hemp” and “marijuana.”

1. Legality

Hemp is Farm Bill compliant and considered any cannabis product with no more than 0.3% Delta-9 THC by dry weight.

Marijuana, which is illegal under federal law, is not Farm Bill-compliant and is considered any cannabis product with more than 0.3% Delta-9 THC by dry weight.

All other slang and nicknames for cannabis can be applied to either and are, therefore, fair game for hemp-derived smokeables, vapes, concentrates, and edibles.

2. THC Content

At the risk of being repetitive, marijuana has more Delta-9 THC content than hemp by definition.

Because of Delta-9 THC’s place in this legislation, you can find hemp products that feature higher concentrations of other forms of THC compared with Delta-9 THC.

Some examples of these other forms of THC include THCa, Delta-8 THC, Delta-10 THC, and THCp.

3. Cannabinoid Diversity

The higher diversity of cannabinoids you’re likely to find in products defined as hemp is a notable difference.

While marijuana products do feature all of the cannabinoids you might find in hemp products, their higher concentrations of Delta-9 THC leaves less room in the mix for other compounds to play a role.

The cumulative influence of cannabis’s many cannabinoids is known as the entourage effect, and it’s a wholesome thing that’s valued by all types of cannabis lovers.

4. Usage

Hemp-derived products, by definition, have a far wider range of uses than those strictly categorized as “marijuana.”

From being used to create clothing, as a healthy addition to a wide range of recipes, and as a basis for a vast array of wellness products — hemp seed, hemp oil, and hemp fibers reach far beyond those of us who enjoy smoking and vaping dried flower or concentrates.

From hemp-derived shirts to CBD products to natural THCa flower that is similar to the weed you’ve always loved  — the range of uses of “hemp” is vast.

It’s also the subject of tons of academic research and scientific studies for potential health benefits, recreational uses, and to improve general understanding.

Learn more: Weed Delivery: How To Order Cannabis Online From Mood

5. Regulations and Oversight

Because flower, vapes, and edibles that are legally categorized as “hemp” are Farm Bill-compliant, they’re easier to buy and enjoy than marijuana, which is illegal under federal law and the laws of many states.

While convenient elements of shopping like ordering online or paying with a card are impossible or difficult at the vast majority of dispensaries, Mood’s products’ Farm Bill compliance enables us to offer these luxuries.

Federal law can make finding the cannabis products that you prefer tricky.

You no longer have to drive to your local dispensary (if that’s even available in your state), checking in with a security guard, pulling out cash, and then take a chance on a product in a display case with no reviews or information on its background. 

You can simply order well-reviewed, transparently cultivated flower, vapes, and edibles from the Mood Shop.

Learn more: How are THC Gummies Made?

And they can make you feel as good as the “marijuana” products that may have introduced you to the world of cannabis in the first place.

For new users, there’s no more convenient, safe, and reliable place to start experimenting with smoking, vaping, or eating edibles than our Farm Bill-compliant online dispensary.

When shopping with us, you can learn the lineage of a given product’s plant, background information on growers and third-party lab testers, the percent of THC in all its different forms present, and much more.

Pick up some Gummies from the Mood Shop today. Subscribe and save 15%.

How Hemp-Derived Products Compare To Marijuana

Because we have things like flower, pre-rolls, and concentrates that you can enjoy just like “marijuana,” it seems limited to only focus on the differences between these two categories of cannabis products.

So here are a few examples of how products categorized as “hemp” compare to those that fall on the “marijuana” side of things.

Common Uses

Our THCa flower is intended to be used just like marijuana buds.

Seemingly indistinguishable, these specially designed hemp flower buds really only differ from their marijuana counterparts in the area of Delta-9 THC by dry weight. 

In fact, many famous marijuana strains in dispensaries actually have no more than 0.3% Delta-9 THC and meet the definition of “hemp.” 

They still give off delightful flavors and aromas via terpenes and deliver strong effects by decarboxylation upon smoking or vaping.

The difference is merely a variance in production that people can’t identify on their own. At the very least, the writer of this article can state that they can’t tell the difference between one versus the other just by using them without looking at a laboratory analysis.

Learn more: What Is a Dab? Cannabis Concentrates 101

Psychoactive Effects

Because marijuana has higher concentrations of Delta-9 THC, it might be associated with stronger side effects. This, of course, depends not only on cannabinoid content but also on a user’s tolerance, as well as their physical, mental, and emotional state when using.

For seasoned pot smokers and cannabis users, the difference in effects might be that marijuana products fall more on the energetic head-high end of the spectrum. These are the vibes associated with sativa-dominant strains, which naturally feature higher levels of THC.

Indica-dominant strains feature higher concentrations of other cannabinoids like cannabidiol (CBD), which can relax the body and complement THC as a part of its entourage.

Some users prefer the more dynamic psychoactive properties of indica strains.

With this all said, we’ve found an enormous range of possibilities within Farm Bill-compliant weed, including more energetic sativa-leaning THCa flower and Delta-9 THC-centric gummies.

Discover Mood cannabis designed for an energized time at our online dispensary today. Subscribe and save 15%.

The Culture

Regardless of the amounts of THC in one product versus the other, the culture is consistent across “hemp” and “marijuana” enthusiasts.

As we mentioned, when it comes to flower, concentrates, vapes, and edibles, it’s difficult (and probably impossible)for seasoned vets to even tell the difference.

That means with Farm Bill-compliant weed you can find the same ways to connect with fellow partakers over culture, music, movies, sitting on the porch, eating great food, and whatever else comes to mind over a nice session.

Learn more: Stoner Movies: The Best “High-Concept” Films To Watch Tonight

Common Uses

You can enjoy a joint with THCa flower and feel the same as you would with a marijuana joint.

The same goes for vapes, edibles, and concentrates. Want proof? Try for yourself and get 20% off on your first purchase by joining our newsletter at the footer of this page.

Discover how to enjoy your favorite types of weed more easily at our online dispensary. Check out some of Mood’s Bestsellers today.

Hemp-Derived Flower, Gummies, and Concentrates

Farm Bill-compliant hemp can serve a wide range of needs for pot users and enthusiasts. 

From rich THCa flower that makes for tasty rips you know and love to surprisingly potent gummies and concentrates, here are some products that can really take the edge off.

Farm Bill-Compliant THCa Weed For a Happy High

Rated 4.5/5 stars on the Mood Shop for its delightful flavors and enjoyable effects, this indica-dominant hybrid is worth checking out. Rich with notes of sweet citrus and tropical berries, this flower comes from California and is a cross-breed of Gelato #41 and Triangle Kush.

Pick up an eighth of Gushers THCa Flower for $54 from the Mood Shop. Subscribe and save 15%.

Hemp-Derived Gummies That Hit The Spot

It’s incredible how effective gummies can be, even with less than 0.3% Delta-9 THC by dry weight. For example, these potent gummies each feature 15mg of Delta-9 THC and 15mg of Delta-8 THC with a fast-start design that lets you start feeling the effects in as little as 5-15 minutes.

Grab a 30-count of Hero Dose Rapid Onset THC Gummies from our online dispensary for just $79. Subscribe and save 15%.

THCa Moonrocks

The world of concentrates can elevate Farm Bill-compliant hemp to areas where seasoned weed smokers and edible eaters can still feel the effects. These Moonrocks achieve this by coating THCa flower in gooey distillate and then adding a layer of CBD kief on top. These moonrocks are great for your vape or to top off a bowl.

Get an eighth of THCa Moonrocks from our online dispensary for only $49. Subscribe and save 15%.

Ultimate Rapid Relief CBD Tincture

For some hemp-derived relief that will steer clear of all psychoactive properties, consider this simple and expertly produced CBD oil. Described as restorative with tropical fruit flavors, it stands as another example of the brilliant range of applications there are across the world of industrial hemp.

To find more flower and concentrates, shop for hemp-derived weed products by category at Mood’s online dispensary.

Prices subject to change.