The Stone(d) Cold Truth: Marijuana vs. Hemp in Texas
Marijuana and hemp are two different varieties of the species of plant called Cannabis sativa. They are cultivated for different reasons. Marijuana is considered a drug and is cultivated for recreational use and medicinal preparations; while hemp is cultivated for fiber, seeds, and floral extracts and is referred to as an industrial product. Marijuana and hemp are often identified as the same variety because they look and smell almost identical to one another; but they have differences that establish one as illegal while the other is not. Read on to learn why it is important to learn about each of these varieties as Texas laws surrounding the possession and use of Cannabis continue to evolve. Marijuana contains a psychoactive plant chemical known as delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol (THC); THC is one of several compounds, called cannabinoids, that is unique to the Cannabis plant. Marijuana is considered to be a highly addictive drug with serious potential for abuse because it has a high concentration of the THC; it has 1-5% by weight on average (though the concentration range goes up to about 20% depending on the variety of Cannabis). Because of these elevated levels of THC, marijuana is designated by the federal government as a Schedule 1 drug, an illegal controlled substance. It is designated by Texas state law the same way, making it a felony crime to possess or cultivate marijuana. (Note: Texas law includes limited medical use exceptions for products containing low levels of cannabinoids.)