Hemp Vs Marijuana – Educating Yourself and Others

Some people have made the marijuana plant unlawful. And for many, even after it is decriminalized, will still be unaccepting to the fact that is beneficial for so many ailments. It is hard for a lot for some to understand that although Hemp and Marijuana are very similar, they are very different. And the biggest difference is obviously the fact that Hemp does not produce an intoxicating ‘high’.

People also commonly falsify that they don’t need to take CBD because they smoke marijuana. Tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC, the main mind-altering chemical found in the Cannabis plant-and is more vastly more abundant in Marijuana and considerably lower in Hemp. The medicinal chemicals are Cannabinoids, not THC (however, THC can be useful for other conditions). Hemp on the other hand is very high in Cannabinoids, and very low in THC. There is not enough CBD in marijuana to be beneficial for many illnesses.

In the case of close-minded, more traditional individuals, marijuana is a drug used by lazy people to get ‘stoned’ or ‘high’, and nothing else. This while they see alcohol as an acceptable substance to use regularly. Sadly, you aren’t always able to change the minds of some folks. On the other hand, there are those who have open ears to listen, you can easily explain to them how these two plants are different and why everyone needs to take it. The way we tend to blindly take medicines today without truly considering ALL side effects is enough for me to take a look at alternative, more naturally occurring options as we awake from the ‘mental coma’ a lot of the world has put us in.

 CBD is absorbed into your bloodstream, via the sublingual gland (under the tongue), through the digestive tract after consuming an edible, drink, or capsule or through the lungs while using the inhalation route. From there, all cannabinoids attach to CBD receptors throughout the whole body. The human body does produce some certain cannabinoids on its own, naturally, as well!
The receptors most commonly used by cannabinoids are called CB1 and CB2. CBD receptors are found all throughout the body and some are in the brain. They deal with movement and pain, mood and emotions, thinking and processing, memories, and other functions. THC also attach to these receptors. CB2 receptors are found in the immune system and they also affect pain and inflammation.

There are studies where scientists have discovered that cannabinoids do not actually attach themselves to the receptions, but encourages the human body to create its own!

Hemp was originally used for its broad horizon of purpose. It was used for textile and clothing, building materials such as insulation, paper, shoes, food, and so forth. In the 1960’s scientists discovered the endocannabinoid system. Unfortunately, it took until the 1990’s for scientists to start studies on the health benefits of cannabinoids. Their studies were limited due to the schedule I control status of cannabis.

Now, scientists are legally in the clear to conduct studies on Marijuana, Hemp, Cannabinoids and the benefits of them all. They have discovered thousands of contributions from CBD as well as THC. It also is a great help to have so many individuals expressing their personal improvements from taking cannabinoids. 

So here we are now, years after the discovery of CBD and the Endocannabinoid System (ECS), and we are still learning everyday more benefits from the plants. It’s amazing to know that the hemp plant actually helped build our nation, and helped people thousands of years ago, and the opinion of a few beings took that away from us completely. 

The public is becoming more accepting, the generations are becoming more conscious. All it takes is for someone to help open their eyes. You can contribute to the masses just by explaining the differences between the two plants, and how CBD occurs naturally in the body. I would hope that someone would do the same for me if I were unable to do the research myself, or just new to the whole concept. 

Hemp is not just a bandwagon, or a phase that will air out over time. Yes, Hemp and CBD have gained an extreme amount of attention throughout the last few years, but that is only because we have access to a whole new broad spectrum of information. Scientists are doing more studies and proving more effects of CBD every day. Even doctors are starting to tell their personal opinions of CBD and how it helps. Some are going as far as sending CBD users to reputable CBD distributors.

Let us work together and make life easier for everyone. Life without pain and life without anxiety IS possible without harsh medications from pharmaceutical companies, and just a few years ago, that did not seem possible.