Hemp, marijuana, CBD – what’s the difference between all of these types of cannabis products, and which is best for you? The answer can be a little complicated.
There is a distinct difference between hemp flower and CBD flower; while both come from hemp plants, only the latter contains significant enough levels of CBD to produce therapeutic effects. CBD flower has been specifically bred to contain such levels of the cannabinoid.
Understanding whether hemp or CBD flower is better for your personal needs is important, especially because CBD can carry some additional side effects to consider. Once you’ve made a clear distinction between the two, you can choose a product that meets your goals without sacrificing quality or health benefits.
The main difference between hemp flower and CBD flower is the molecular composition of each product. Though all CBD flower comes from hemp, not all hemp contains CBD.
Only CBD flower (and marijuana) has high enough amounts of CBD to produce therapeutic effects; though cannabinoids like CBD may exist in hemp flower, they’re usually too insignificant to function as treatment options.
CBD flower isn’t its own distinct plant; CBD flower comes from hemp plants just like hemp flower does, but it’s specially grown and bred to differ from the latter.
You can smoke both hemp flower and CBD flower, but your experience with each will likely differ noticeably.
Hemp flower can provide some of the benefits CBD flower can, but without cannabinoids to do active work, it may not be the best option for those looking to manage physical or mental health concerns.
“Hemp flower” is a term that was created to describe non-intoxicating varieties of cannabis that contain 0.3% or less THC content (by dry weight).
Unlike its cousin marijuana, hemp doesn’t contain enough THC (a cannabinoid responsible for producing a psychoactive high) to create impairment. As a result, hemp has been reclassified as a non-controlled substance in the past decade and made commercially available for personal use.
The CBD flower you purchase on the market is, at its root, hemp flower, but not just hemp flower. Plain hemp flower that’s specifically bred to have high levels of CBD can be considered CBD flower, but otherwise, hemp flower is considered its own distinct classification.
Hemp flower can be bred to have high levels of different cannabinoids besides CBD. For example, CBG hemp flower has become extremely popular over the last few years.
CBD flower is a specific type of hemp flower that has been bred for high levels of CBD. CBD flower that’s sold commercially in the US must comply with industry THC limitations (0.3% or less by weight) even though it is different from traditional hemp.
CBD flower comes in all sorts of strains, each with their own terpene profile and unique therapeutic benefits. In general, though, CBD flower is known to promote feelings of relaxation, lower pain and inflammation, and tackle symptoms of anxiety or restlessness.
Different individual CBD flower options have different pros and cons. Those that are especially high in CBD, for instance, may be a great choice for patients dealing with intense, chronic pain.
A strain with a wide array of terpenes, on the other hand, may be advantageous for those looking to simply unwind.
There is no easy or singular answer to this question; the amount of CBD in hemp flower depends drastically on a variety of factors, including how the flower was grown, the strain in question, and more.
As discussed, CBD flower is not a separate plant type from hemp – CBD flower is hemp flower that’s been bred to contain higher levels of the cannabinoid. All hemp flower contains some level of CBD, just not enough to produce significant effects (in general).
Because the level of CBD found in CBD flower is the result of human effort, it’s possible for sellers to both increase or decrease this value based on their goals and growing methods.
The higher quality the flower and its growing conditions, the more potent it’s likely to be.
Hemp flower grown indoors, for example, can easily surpass 20% CBD. Hemp grown indoors is protected from damage and decay that result from the natural world, and ideal temperatures and nourishment ensure that the plants don’t just live, but thrive.
A great example of indoor-grown flower that packs a punch is Secret Nature Blood Diamond (24% CBD).
On the flip side, your average outdoor or greenhouse hemp flower, like Plain Jane Kush (14.48%), will likely have around 10-15% CBD.
It’s unlikely that you’ll find anything with more than 20-30% CBD, but it is possible. Flower can only contain so much CBD, so if you’re looking for products that are more potent, other options like oils or tinctures might be a better choice.
The best CBD flower supplier, at least in our opinion, is Secret Nature, a leading provider of top-shelf, indoor-grown CBD flower of all sorts.
Secret Nature doesn’t just grow indoors, they grow indoors with a purpose. The brand grows its products in small batches and performs bi-weekly harvests to ensure that what’s on the market is always fresh.
Secret Nature’s experience isn’t just limited to commercially producing CBD flower. The brand got its start producing cannabis products for California medical marijuana dispensaries, allowing for a build-up of industry knowledge and best practices to take charge.
Their products reflect this commitment to quality; Secret Nature’s flower is 100% organic and rich in both terpenes and CBD, meaning it’ll deliver an experience that’s truly worthwhile.
No matter what type of CBD flower you’re looking for, whether it be potent or not, Secret Nature is the place to turn to. The brand consistently demonstrates its ability to cultivate only the finest products on the market to create the best results for its consumers.
Pros:
Cons:
✖️Popular Strains Sell Out Quickly Due to High Demand
Our pick for the best hemp flower supplier is none other than Plain Jane. Plain Jane is a favorite seller for all sorts of CBD and hemp products, but their flower is a definite highlight.
The brand features a large menu of indoor, outdoor, and greenhouse-grown flower varieties at different price points to make it easy for any customer to find a product that fits their needs.
Unfortunately, being budget-friendly can come with a cost. Plain Jane’s flower is a step down in quality compared to Secret Nature, but not to the point that we’d consider it less than ideal.
A major selling point for Plain Jane is their sampler packs. These packs allow buyers to try 4 different strains (1 gram of each) at once, which is great for those who are new to hemp flower or those looking to experiment.
For more experienced users, wholesale flower discounts are available. Wholesale flower is flower that’s sold in bulk, and it’s a great choice for regular users who want to get the most flower they can for the lowest price.
Pros:
Cons:
✖️Quality Isn’t Dispensary Grade
Though CBD flower may be the result of hemp, the two are different things and should be recognized as such.
Hemp flower that’s been specifically bred to contain higher levels of CBD is generally what we’re referring to when we discuss “CBD flower,” but other types of flower have CBD, too.
In fact, all hemp flower has some level of CBD. Likewise, marijuana flower often contains notable levels of CBD, sometimes even as a result of deliberate strain-crossing or breeding.
Whether or not CBD flower is the right choice for you depends on your needs and goals. While hemp flower can still offer up some of the benefits of CBD flower (relaxation, terpenes, etc.), it lacks enough of the cannabinoid to act as a medicinal tool.
Regardless of whether you pursue hemp, CBD, both, it’s important to be sure you’re purchasing your products from sellers you know and trust, like those discussed in this article.
Without FDA regulation to double-check products and sellers alike, the CBD market can become quite condensed with options that are less-than-ideal in terms of quality.
If you’re looking to find flower that works for you, be sure to check out our directory, which is full of all the information, product reviews, links, and more that you’ll need.
No matter what option you end up choosing, medicate safely and wisely!
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