{"id":1986,"date":"2022-10-31T15:57:20","date_gmt":"2022-10-31T15:57:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bloomnews.wpenginepowered.com\/?p=1986"},"modified":"2025-11-12T18:29:44","modified_gmt":"2025-11-12T18:29:44","slug":"what-is-cannabis-is-it-different-from-hemp-marijuana","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.bloommarijuana.com\/education\/what-is-cannabis-is-it-different-from-hemp-marijuana\/","title":{"rendered":"What Is Cannabis? Is It Different from Hemp & Marijuana?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Weed, cannabis, marijuana, and hemp, these are just a few ways people refer to it. But what exactly do these terms mean? Are they talking about the same thing?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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A Brief Look Through Cannabis History<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The domestication of cannabis can be traced back at least 7,500 years to East Asia. Some researchers believe it can even be traced back to about 12,000 years ago.1<\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The healing potential of hemp was documented in Egyptian medical papyrus texts that date back to 1,500 BC.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fast forward to 1600 AD when hemp was used to make canvas, paper, cloth, rope, and sails in Colonial America. Hemp played such a key role in our young nation\u2019s economy that in 1619, Jamestown announced an order requiring all farmers to grow hemp.2<\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n

George Washington grew hemp at his Mount Vernon estate. Benjamin Franklin owned one of the first paper mills that processed hemp into parchment. It\u2019s also believed the first draft of the Declaration of Independence was written on hemp paper.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Learn more about the History of Cannabis and Hemp in the U.S.A. <\/a><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

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It\u2019s important to note that back then there was no differentiation between the terms hemp and cannabis. This didn\u2019t happen until 1753.3<\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Throughout the 1600s, 1700s, and 1800s hemp was valued as food, medicine, and as an important cash crop.

But just as our country was beginning to understand its true potential, sentiment for hemp and cannabis began to change in the early 1900s. That\u2019s when the word, marijuana was introduced into our language. Then, the passage of the Marihuana Tax Act of 1937 essentially made hemp illegal in the U.S.

Today, many states have legalized medicinal and recreational cannabis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So, when someone new to cannabis hears the terms hemp, marijuana, and weed – it can be natural to wonder if these terms are referring to different things or the same plant. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If this applies to you, don\u2019t worry. Today, we are going to take a moment to clarify a few myths and explain what all these different terms mean. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is Cannabis?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Cannabis is the scientific name for a genus of flowering plants that belong to the Cannabaceae family. It is the flowers, or buds, of the female cannabis plant that are rich in Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC)  – which is the psychoactive compound that gives people a high sensation.

So, if cannabis is the scientific name for the plant that appeared in medical journals, where did the term marijuana come from?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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It wasn\u2019t until the 1900s that the word marijuana was introduced into our language. That\u2019s when Hemp became heavily taxed and essentially outlawed with the passage of the Marihuana Tax Act of 1937.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Some believe the term Marijuana was introduced by those who opposed cannabis. They say it was given an exotic sounding name so it could be associated it with Mexican immigrants and play off of anti-immigrant sentiments.4<\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Whether this is the case or not, the fact remains that for the majority of its history the plant millions have come to love was called hemp or cannabis. The term marijuana has only been in use for less than 100 years out of cannabis\u2019 history which goes back thousands of years.

That is why many people prefer to use the term cannabis when referring to the plant and its buds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Is Cannabis Legal?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The answer to this question is not so straightforward. That\u2019s because Cannabis remains illegal on the federal level in the U.S, since it is still classified as a Schedule 1 substance. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, many states have legalized cannabis for medical or recreational use. As of February 2022, 37 states have legalized the medical use of cannabis and 19 states have legalized the recreational use of cannabis for adults.

It is important to keep in mind that cannabis remains illegal on the Federal level and in many countries around the world. That\u2019s why it is important to always check the laws of each state or country you are traveling to, ahead of your trip.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Curious about trying medical cannabis? Make sure to read up on the laws in your State first:<\/p>\n\n\n\n