CBD industry

Hemp vs. Marijuana: What’s the difference?

You might have heard the terms “cannabis” or “cannabis industry” being tossed around in the media lately. But did you know that cannabis is actually a genus of plants that has three species: indica, sativa and ruderalis? Although hemp and marijuana both belong to the cannabis plant species and look and smell very similar, they are legally recognized as two different plants. Hemp plants are always classified as a sativa cannabis species, while marijuana plants can be either sativa or indica.

Let’s take a closer look at some of the other ways hemp and marijuana are different.

What is the legal difference between hemp and marijuana?

The key difference between hemp and marijuana is the amount of the cannabinoid tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) that each plant is legally allowed to contain. Hemp, also called industrial hemp, can only contain less than 0.3% THC, according to Federal law, while marijuana plants are generally bred to contain much higher levels of the intoxicating THC.

What is industrial hemp?

Industrial hemp, the type of cannabis plant that hemp-derived CBD is extracted from, is non-intoxicating and can legally only contain less than 0.3% THC. Now legal in all 50 states, thanks to the passing of the 2018 Farm Bill, hemp is used in the manufacturing of a wide variety of CBD products. These types of products include those made by Harbor Hemp Company such as CBD tinctures, CBD pain creams and topicals, CBD capsules and CBD pet products.

In addition to being used for the CBD industry, hemp is also widely used to produce a range of other products, including food, fiber, fuel and personal care products.

Will I get high from hemp?

No, hemp will not make you high. Unlike marijuana which can have very high levels of intoxicating THC, hemp plants can legally only have less than 0.3% THC and are considered non-intoxicating.

Does CBD come from hemp or marijuana?

Like THC, CBD is found in both hemp and marijuana plants, however hemp-derived CBD is the only CBD that is legal in all 50 states. If you live in a state where medicinal marijana is legalized you may be able to purchase marjunana-derived CBD at a medicinal majijuana dispensary. But it’s a good idea to check your local laws before shopping as you may need a prescription to buy from a dispensary.

Still have questions about the difference between hemp and marijuana?

Our team of CBD specialists is always here to answer your questions. Just drop us a line.

How to buy CBD: 5 things to consider

Buy CBD

You’ve decided that you’re ready to try CBD, but with so many CBD brands available in today’s market, shopping for CBD can be confusing and overwhelming. From dozens of national brands to thousands of local brands, such as Harbor Hemp Company’s New England-made, small batch CBD products, it seems there are endless options to choose from. 

Whether you’re looking to switch to a new CBD brand or are just beginning your CBD journey, here are 5 things to consider to help you find a CBD brand that you can trust. 

Research the company behind the CBD brand

When considering your CBD options, it’s a good idea to do your research on the company behind the brand before making a purchase. Here are few things to look for:

  • Company Website: Hopefully, the company has a website. If they do not, this might be your first red flag that the brand you’re considering is not legit. If they do have a site, does it look professionally designed and is it easy to use? Look for information about the company along with informative FAQs, easy-to-access lab reports, educational content, such as a blog, and easy ways to contact the team. 
  • Emails & Newsletters: A great way to get to know a brand is to sign up for their email list. This can be a quick way to connect with a company and gain access to special offers and educational content. 
  • Social Media: Check out the brand’s social media pages to see the types of content they share. If the pages appear to be professionally done with original content, this is usually a good sign that you’re dealing with a company that is excited to engage with its customers. Beware of brands that have social feeds filled with posts that look blurry or content that seems to be mostly made up of pirated memes. 
  • Google Reviews: CBD companies may publish customer reviews on their own site, but these reviews are not always legit. Google Reviews, on the other hand, are designed to be neutral and cannot be deleted or altered by a company, making them a great place to get real feedback. 

Understand the brand’s CBD manufacturing practices

When you’re researching the company behind the CBD brand that you’re thinking about trying, take a close look at the company’s manufacturing practices. Here are some things to look out for:

  • Manufacturing or Production History: The CBD industry is so new that there aren’t many CBD brands that have been around for more than a few years. However, it’s a good idea to look for companies or leadership that have experience in manufacturing or production. Ideally, you want to look for brands that have years of experience serving similar industries, such as food and beverage. For example, Harbor Hemp was founded in 2018, but our family-owned brand has been sourcing oils and plant extracts since 1936. And today, we’re leveraging generations of industry knowledge to create the highest quality CBD products on the market.
  • cGMP Certified: Some CBD brands may claim to follow GMP or “Good Manufacturing Practices,” a set of regulations issued by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration under the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act. But if they have not completed a third-party audit to become cGMP certified or “Current Good Manufacturing Practices Certified,” there is no documented proof that they are in fact following best manufacturing practices. Audits can be expensive and time consuming and require cGMP certified brands, like Harbor Hemp, to prove that they are using the strictest internal controls, procedures and documentation when manufacturing CBD products. 
  • Hemp Licensing: Some states, such as Connecticut, require hemp manufacturers to be licensed. Whether this is a requirement in your state or not, it’s a good idea to make sure that any brands you’re considering are manufacturing in a licensed facility with the documentation to back it up. 

Inspect the packaging

Don’t be fooled by pretty packaging. Attractive packaging may draw you to a particular brand, but with CBD products, safety can hide in the details. When comparing different brands, it’s important to look for key compliance and safety information on the packaging including: 

  • Professional Label: Does the label look professionally designed and printed? Is it printed on water-resistant paper? If the label looks “handmade” or like it was printed on an old inkjet printer, it’s probably a good idea to pass. 
  • Tamper-evident Seals & Child Proof Packaging: Since CBD is a product that is used for wellness, it’s important that the brand takes certain safety precautions. Look for packaging with safety features such as tamper-evident seals on caps and child proof tincture tops. 
  • Batch or Lot Number: High-quality CBD brands lab test each and every batch of products for quality and purity. Look for batch or lot numbers on a product’s label that corresponds to easy-to-access lab results on a brand’s website. If the brand you’re considering does not have lab results posted by batch, or worse, only has one “sample lab report,” this could be a red flag. 
  • QR Code: QR codes have become industry standard allowing consumers to easily access lab reports. When comparing bottles from different brands, look for the one that has a QR code. If you have a QR code scanner app on your smartphone, you can even test out the code to make sure that it successfully links to current lab tests.
  • Best Buy Date: CBD levels in a product may lose potency over time, like most consumable products. Look for “Best Buy” or “Use By” dates stamped onto the label or bottle. Note that CBD products generally have a shelf life of 6 to 12 months as long as the bottles are properly stored. 
  • Review the Ingredients: Truly transparent brand will publish the product’s ingredients on the label as well as the website. Watch out for anything that says “hemp seed oil” and look for brands that use CBD derived from US-grown hemp that is non-GMO and pesticide-free.

Contact the company

If in doubt, contact the company directly with any questions you may have. A trustworthy CBD brand should have no issues openly discussing any of your concerns. And if they can’t provide you with answers to all of your questions or you get a strange vibe, it may be a good idea to move onto a different brand. 

Still have questions about how to select the best CBD brand?

Our team of CBD specialists is always here to help. Just drop us a line

Where can I buy CBD oil? The 3 best options to buy quality CBD products

Curious about trying CBD? You’re not alone. With the passing of the 2018 Farm Bill, the hemp-derived CBD industry has become a booming industry. And experts at the Brightfield Group, a leading market research firm, are calling CBD “the next healthcare phenomenon” and predicting that the hemp-derived CBD market will reach $22 billion by 2020.

But what exactly is hemp-derived CBD and where are the safest places to buy it?

What is CBD?

CBD, or Cannabidiol, is one of over a hundred naturally-occurring cannabinoids found in industrial help plants. Unlike THC which can cause users to “get high,” CBD is non-intoxicating. And it is believed that CBD interacts with receptors in your body’s endocannabinoid system to help promote general health and wellness.

Is it legal to buy CBD?

Yes. CBD derived from industrial hemp is federally legal. However, it’s a good idea to check your local and state laws for specifics. The laws are different in the UK which is why you might want to learn more about CBD and drug tests in the UK by exploring some more articles online.

3 best places to buy high-quality CBD

With the boom of CBD, it seems you can find CBD being sold everywhere, from health food stores to spas and even gas stations. You can even shop for CBD online from the comfort of your own home. But where are the safest places to buy CBD?

Speciality Stores

If you want to shop local for your CBD, your best bet is to check out the “mom and pop” stores in your area. From natural grocers to yoga studios, golf pro shops and smoke shops (aka head shops), many speciality retailers are now carrying CBD. As an added bonus, particularly for first time CBD users, brick and mortar stores often have trained staff that can help you pick out the best CBD products for your personal needs and may even have some CBD samples for you to try before you buy.

Dispensaries

If you live in a state where medicinal marijuana is legalized, you may be able to purchase CBD at a dispensary. Dispensaries are regulated by the government and typically sell CBD derived from the marijuana strain of the cannabis plant rather than the federally-legal hemp-derived CBD. Keep in mind, this type of CBD often has higher levels of THC and you may need a prescription to purchase it.

Online

Shopping online is one of the most convenient ways to purchase many kinds of CBD products, including tinctures, topicals and edibles. Companies like Harbor Hemp, and other reputable CBD brands, generally sell their full line of products online and will ship directly to your house. In the UK? Check out CBD Queen for a more local option.

Be sure to look for brands that have their third-party lab results and product ingredients easily accessible on their site, along with an easy way to contact customer service with any questions. Also, be sure to watch out for brands that market their products as “hemp oil” or “hemp seed oil” with no mention of CBD or Cannabidiol on their labeling or ingredients list. These products often contain little to no CBD.

Shopping Online with Harbor Hemp Company

Whether you’re looking for Full Spectrum or Zero THC products, Harbor Hemp Company is a family-run wellness company that offers a variety of small batch, New England-made CBD products.

When you purchase your CBD directly from Harbor Hemp Company, or from one of our trusted retailers, you know that you’re buying tinctures, topicals and pet products that are made with US-grown, non-GMO and pesticide-free hemp-derived CBD in a cGMP certified, licensed hemp manufacturing facility.

And you can check the potency and purity of all Harbor Hemp products by viewing the batch test results in our Lab Results database, on every product page or even by scanning the QR code on our product labels.

Still have questions about where to buy CBD?

Our team of CBD specialists is always here to answer your questions about Harbor Hemp CBD products or CBD. Just drop us a line.

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