Cannabis and hemp merely different names?

In our language, we often do not differentiate between the terms cannabis and hemp, although biology makes a distinction here. In botany, the cannabis plant belongs to the Cannabaceae. This is the genus of hemp plants. The best known are these three species: Cannabis ruderalis, indica and sativa. The cannabis plant contains psychoactive substances, of which THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) has the strongest effect. Only the female plant has enough THC to produce intoxication. Among the at least 100 cannabinoids in the plant, there are others that provide a psychoactive effect like THC, but not as strong, and those that do not cause intoxication. CBD (cannabidiol) and THC are considered the two most crucial cannabinoids. CBD does not get you high. Thus, it is not psychoactive at all. The interaction of the cannabinoids and the amounts of individual components with the other more than 300 active ingredients are responsible for the special effect of cannabis. The proportions of individual components depend on the type of cannabis. These can be influenced due to the conditions of cannabis cultivation. The yield of THC is low in commercial hemp. In recent years, medical scientists have increasingly focused on the second naturally occurring and prominent cannabinoid, CBD. The medical importance of non-psychotropic cannabinoids for alleviating and preventing inflammation and protecting nerve cells have been described in US 6610737 B1, an American patent from 2002.

Meanwhile, one knows of several beneficial effects in diseases. New hemp varieties with a low THC content and an increased CBD content are the goal of future development.In such plants, the oil offers a potential to positively influence many diseases without intoxication.

Cannabis oil and CBD oil
For the production of CBD oil, the leaves and flowers of organic hemp plants are used. These are taken from cultivars that convince with a low THC content. During cultivation, strict regulations must be observed. These include organic cultivation without genetic modification, without pesticides and without chemical additives. A significant condition are GMO-free conditions, so no genetically modified organisms. There is a strict inspection of the entire production process so that the product is finally 100 percent organic, natural and pure. In medicines containing cannabis, plant extracts are used together with other synthesized chemical compounds and artificially produced cannabinoids, which are supposed to have a beneficial effect on the disease. The oils are offered as hemp products under various names. Commercial hemp, often called industrial hemp, is not only a drug or medicinal plant. It is cultivated to produce hemp oil and hemp fiber from the seeds. There is hemp oil that is used as an edible oil. This is to be distinguished from the product that is extracted from the resin extract as well as from the flowers and leaves, which is considered to be particularly rich in THC. In the colloquial language, the term hemp oil is mistakenly used for the other oil products made from cannabis, which then makes users confused and uncertain.

According to its name, THC oil primarily causes intoxication due to its number of psychoactive components. Cannabis and CBD oil are isolated from cannabis extracts, but from different species of the plant. Cannabis oil is also used as a generic term for oils from the cannabis plant that do not come from the seeds. The characteristics for the different oils can be derived from the respective content of the cannabinoids contained, the cannabis subspecies, the procedure for extraction, the plant parts used and the origin of the products. In this context, it should be noted that there are differences between the American and European nomenclature, thus also in the product names. In the United States, CBD oil is often synonymous with hemp oil. CBD oil from Europe can also be produced from hemp. Meanwhile, unlike the European, the American cannabis oil contains THC, although the amounts are small. The declaration visible on the label indicates the proportions of CBD and THC. Cannabis oil may have an intoxicating effect due to the residual amount of THC. In European CBD products, the proportion of CBD is often higher compared to other countries, such as the USA. In addition, it is legible on the packaging whether it is actually an oil. Despite the label saying otherwise, some products turn out to be alcoholic tincture. In some cases, CBD and THC have opposing effects. In some cases, they have a reinforcing effect and together have a positive effect on the metabolism, which can be beneficial for certain diseases.

For proper use, it is important to note the content of THC and CBD in cannabis oil. CBD oil has cannabinoids as its active ingredient. It does not contain illegal THC. In addition, it is possible to add hemp oil to it in order to achieve the ideal CBD content.