Hemp
Category: Cultivation · Level: Beginner
Hemp refers to Cannabis sativa L. varieties cultivated for industrial, nutritional, and CBD purposes, legally defined by low THC content (typically below 0.3%).
Hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) is the legally defined low-THC variety of cannabis, cultivated for millennia for its fiber, seed, and oil. In the United States, the 2018 Farm Bill defined hemp as cannabis containing no more than 0.3% delta-9 THC by dry weight, removing it from Schedule I classification. Hemp is a versatile industrial crop used to produce textiles, construction materials (hempcrete), paper, biofuel, food (hemp seed, hemp oil), and CBD extracts. Industrial hemp production is regulated at the state level in the US and through national licensing schemes in the EU and elsewhere.
Also known as
Industrial hemp, Cannabis sativa L., industrial hemp
Usage
- Industrial
- Medical
- Legal
Regulatory notes
Hemp is federally legal in the US under the 2018 Farm Bill at ≤0.3% THC. EU regulations set limits at 0.2%. Many countries have specific hemp cultivation licensing requirements.
Related terms
- THC — Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is the primary psychoactive cannabinoid in cannabis, responsible for the 'high' associated with its use.
- Cultivar — A cultivar is a plant variety that has been selectively bred and maintained to exhibit consistent, reproducible characteristics.
- GMP — Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) is a quality assurance framework mandated by regulatory agencies for the production of pharmaceutical, food, and cannabis products.
- CBD — Cannabidiol (CBD) is a non-psychoactive cannabinoid found in cannabis and hemp, widely used in medical research and consumer wellness products.
- COA — A Certificate of Analysis (COA) is a document from an accredited laboratory confirming the composition, potency, and safety of a cannabis product.