Hemp is derived from #0excludeGlossary cannabis Sativa L. Hemp is genetically distinct from cannabis and has a variety of uses including fiber from the stems, protein from the seeds, and oils from the leaves and flowers. Hemp has very low levels of Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), typically less than 0.3%, but it can produce very high quantities of Cannabidiol (CBD) and is regulated very differently from cannabis.
Hemp, or industrial hemp, is a plant in the botanical class of Cannabis sativa cultivars grown specifically for industrial and consumable use. It can be used to make a wide range of products. Along with bamboo, hemp is among the fastest growing plants on Earth. It was also one of the first plants to be spun into usable fiber 50,000 years ago. It can be refined into a variety of commercial items, including paper, rope, textiles, clothing, biodegradable plastics, paint, insulation, biofuel, food, and animal feed.
Although chemotype I cannabis and hemp (types II, III, IV, V) are both Cannabis sativa and contain the psychoactive component tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), they represent distinct cultivar groups, typically with unique phytochemical compositions and uses. Hemp typically has lower concentrations of total THC and may have higher concentrations of cannabidiol (CBD), which potentially mitigates the psychoactive effects of THC. The legality of hemp varies widely among countries. Some governments regulate the concentration of THC and permit only hemp that is bred with an especially low THC content into commercial production.
English
Etymology
From Middle English hemp, from Old English henep, from Proto-West Germanic *hanapi, from Proto-Germanic *hanapiz. Doublet of cannabis and canvas.
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /hɛmp/
- Rhymes: -ɛmp
Noun
hemp (countable and uncountable, plural hemps)
- A tall annual herb, Cannabis sativa, native to Asia.
- Various products of this plant, including fibres and the drug cannabis.
- (slang, historical)
