How to identify cbd plant?

Foraging is more popular than ever. Have you ever been out on a walk and spotted a plant that looks very much like the hemp illustrations you’ve seen on merchandise from posters to socks?

If you’re already familiar with CBD and its myriad potential benefits, it’s natural to be curious about the hemp plant, from which CBD is sourced, and its anatomy. But without the proper knowledge, it’s easy to mistake anything from Japanese maple to okra for hemp!

If you’ve ever wondered, “what does a hemp plant look like?”Or “what’s the difference between hemp gummies vs. CBD gummies?” This is your guide.

The hemp plant is best known for its distinctive leaves. They’re usually depicted as bright green, with seven serrated fingers. But the hemp plant’s leaves can vary in color and number of leaflets.

There are numerous varieties of cannabis, so understanding all parts of the hemp plant can maximize your chances of properly identifying it.

Next, we’ll go over the major parts of the hemp plant and their uses.

The Hemp Seed

All hemp plants start as seeds measuring 2-3 mm across. The creamy green-color seeds are contained in  paper-like black hulls. Hemp seeds are impressive in their own right. Hemp seed oil is commonly used in cosmetic and culinary applications, while hemp hearts (hulled hemp seeds) can be turned into milk, sprinkled on salads or eaten raw.

While they don’t contain any CBD, hemp seeds do contain the following nutrients:

Hemp Stalk

Hemp plants grow from their seeds into fibrous, woody stalks.

To identify the hemp plant, look for tall stalks (up to 10 ft) with branches emerging from distinct joints. Branches will not extend very far from the plant itself, which tends to grow vertically rather than spreading out horizontally.

Like other aerial parts of the plant (leaves and flowers), hemp stalks contain some CBD. However, they’ve long been prized for their other attributes:

Past scheduled substance laws discouraged hemp farming within the U.S. However, now that industrial hemp is legal, hemp fibers are once again being used for everything from textiles to plant-based plastics to biofuel.

Hemp Leaves

What does hemp look like? As we’ve noted, its leaves are its most distinctive characteristic. Each leaf is made up of slender, serrated fingers. There are usually 5-7 fingers or “leaflets” on a single leaf. They join together at the rachis, which connects the leaf to the branch.

In some cases, there could be as few as three or as many as nine leaflets on a leaf. Lower leaves have fewer leaflets, while those higher on the plant have more, but  there is always an odd number of leaflets.

Each leaf on a hemp plant is between 5 and 10 inches long, depending on the size of the plant. They tend to grow in opposite pairs along branches that protrude from the hemp stalk.

Depending on the specific genetic makeup of the plant, hemp leaves can vary in color from green to purple. Cannabis comes in two main varieties: sativa and indica. Depending on its provenance, a hemp plants’ leaf density can appear quite different:

Hemp Flower

The hemp plant’s flowering buds have the highest concentration of cannabinoids, including CBD, THC and CBG. These compounds work together with other naturally occurring compounds like flavonoids and terpenes to produce a variety of beneficial effects. But before we get into use, we’ll focus on anatomy and identification.

Sometimes, hemp flowers can be identified by their fuzzy appearance, sticky resin and distinctive hemp scent. But these characteristics actually only occur only in female hemp flowers. To understand why, we’ll dive a little deeper into the difference between the sexes of the hemp plant.

While there are both male and female hemp plants, most commercial hemp farms grow only female plants, which are rich in CBD. However, the hemp plant can be a male (pollen-producing) , female (seed-producing) or hermaphroditic (self-pollinating) plant.

Female plants produce flowers to attract pollinators. Once they’ve been pollinated, they concentrate their energy on producing new seeds. However, as long as they remain unfertilized, female plants continue to produce cannabinoid-rich resin without diverting any energy to forming a seed. Therefore, industrial hemp farmers need to keep an eye out for male plants that could disrupt their crops.

Characteristics of Male Hemp Plants

Male hemp plants mature more quickly than female plants. They produce tight clusters of flowers toward the top of the plant.

Before they flower, male plants produce raised, green sacs (a.k.a. calyx) on the internodes of hemp plants (where branches and stalks join). Some compare the appearance of male flowers to tiny clusters of green bananas. When buds open, you’ll see five pollen-producing stamens. These buds will die off once pollen is released.

Characteristics of Female Hemp Plants

Female hemp plants are slower to mature than their male counterparts. Before they flower, female plants do not produce a raised calyx (bud). Female hemp flowers first appear as small, tight clusters of green petals. Thanks to their pistils, they have a hairy appearance. These tiny hairs are designed to catch pollen. They will eventually open to produce white or creamy yellow petals.Some say that these flowers resemble feathers.

Characteristics of Hermaphroditic Hemp

Some hemp plants develop both male and female flowers. These plants are capable of self-pollination.

When growing hemp, hermaphrodite flowers present the same problem as their male counterparts. Potentially valuable CBD-laden flowers are fertilized and begin to dedicate their energy to forming seeds.

When you’ve identified a cannabis plant, how do you know if it’s a hemp plant or a marijuana plant? The short answer is that there’s no way to know based on plant morphology alone due to the different chemical composition of hemp and marijuana plants. Both plants are varieties of Cannabis sativa and Cannabis indica plants; however, they’ve been bred to have different characteristics.

Did you know that kale, collard greens, Brussels sprouts and broccoli all come from the same plant? Thanks to centuries of agricultural experimentation, humans have become incredibly adept at using one plant for more than one purpose.

Just like veggies, cannabis plants can be bred to favor various traits. For example, cannabis plants bred to produce hemp seeds will be fertilized. Those bred to produce fiber for textiles will have long, dense stalks.

Federal guidelines mandate that legal, industrial hemp contain less than 0.3% THC (tetrahydrocannabinol). The difference between a hemp plant and a marijuana plant comes down to this one factor: the amount of THC present in the plant’s aerial parts. Laboratory testing is the only way to identify the THC concentration of a given plant.

Are you interested in experiencing the potential benefits of hemp extract?

Thanks to its interaction with the endocannabinoid system (ECS), hemp-derived CBD and its partner compounds can support your body’s homeostasis in various ways.

Many people use CBD to deal with daily stress. Others take it before bed to support healthy sleep cycles. And still others apply CBD topically to soothe post-exercise inflammation. But to enjoy these benefits, it’s important to understand what’s actually in your CBD products.

It may be tempting to take a DIY approach with a foraged hemp plant or even a CBD flower from the local bodega. But not all CBD is created equal.

It goes without saying that plants in the wild don’t come with labels. Depending on the soil that it was grown in and the plant’s genetics, a given hemp plant will contain unpredictable levels of CBD, THC, heavy metals and pesticides.

Likewise, not all hemp purveyors provide clear, accurate labeling. What’s the difference between a hemp gummy and a CBD gummy? A CBD gummy should contain CBD, but the hemp gummy’s manufacturers have left you with a mystery product!

Look for CBD labels that clearly state the amount of CBD per bottle and per dose. Keep in mind that not all labels are accurate. In fact, the FDA found that more than half of CBD brands contain at least 20% more or less CBD than advertised. The most reliable CBD brands third-party test their products to make sure they meet their label claims.

The best way to experience the benefits of CBD is to buy your hemp-derived products from a reliable source.

At Zebra CBD, we’re industry experts in organically grown American. hemp. Our source farms meticulously cultivate hemp plants containing  high levels of CBD and low levels of THC that fall within the legal limit of less than 0.3%. We subject our final products to third-party testing to ensure they meet their label claims for potency and purity. And we’re the only CBD brand to offer a Label Accuracy Guarantee™.

From popping a CBD gummy to giving yourself a soothing massage with CBD rub, cream or balm, there are countless ways to enjoy hemp-derived CBD. Whatever product you choose, you can rest assured it was derived from high-quality, CBD-rich hemp.

Source:

Medical News Today. FDA report evaluates CBD product labeling accuracy. https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/fda-report-evaluates-cbd-product-labeling-accuracy

Business Insider. These 6 common vegetables are actually the same plant. https://www.businessinsider.com/broccoli-kale-brussels-sprouts-vegetables-all-the-same-plant-2015-11

Frontiers in Plant Science. Hermaphroditism in Marijuana (Cannabis sativa L.) Inflorescences. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7329997/

CBD buds and cannabis buds are similar in appearance. The main difference between CBD flower and marijuana flower is one you cannot see: The chemical composition of CBD and THC within the plant determines its intoxicating and therapeutic effects.

CBD flower is the flower of the hemp plant, Cannabis sativa. It is called CBD flower about the high amount of cannabidiol (CBD) it contains.

C. sativa has two main strains, hemp, and marijuana. The hemp plant contains less than 0.3% tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), whereas the marijuana plant can contain upwards of 30%. Both hemp and marijuana contain CBD in varying amounts.

CBD and THC are both cannabinoids, active compounds found in C. sativa that interact with an essential system in the brain and body called the endocannabinoid system (ECS). THC is a psychoactive compound associated with the intoxicating effects of marijuana, and CBD is not as psychoactive as THC, so it does not cause the “high” associated with marijuana.

CBD flower can be smoked, vaped, or used to make edibles. As CBD does lift mood and causes a physiological reaction, it is technically psychoactive, even if it is not intoxicating like THC is.

There is emerging research into the potential benefits of CBD, causing it to gain more and more attention. Due to the impact it has on the ECS in the body, CBD may be able to help with:

Smoking or vaping the CBD flower will maximize absorption and utilization of the CBD within the body. The lungs readily absorb it straight into the bloodstream, and its effects can be felt fast and strong.

Orally taking CBD reduces its availability to the body because it must be metabolized before reaching the bloodstream. CBD products taken orally will have a weaker effect and take longer to be effective.

Flower is also considered safer than other CBD products, such as CBD oils, because they require less processing and have no added ingredients.

While smoking and vaping may be the best methods for immediate effects, there are risks associated with these methods, so they are not recommended in healthcare settings.

Smoking CBD also means no way around the distinctive smell and taste of hemp and weed. This issue could be avoided by using other CBD products (like capsules or gummies) or cooking with CBD oil in foods.

While taking CBD is considered relatively safe, some possible mild-to-moderate side effects include nausea, dry mouth, and lethargy.

It’s crucial to know how to tell the difference between CBD flower and weed because there can be serious repercussions if you accidentally buy or smoke the wrong one.

You do not want to fail a drug test at work, get caught driving while intoxicated, or, depending on which state you live in, get caught with a prohibited drug in your possession.

CBD flower and marijuana are very similar in appearance because they are two variations of the same plant, C. sativa. They also smell similar because they both contain compounds called terpenes which are responsible for the distinct cannabis aroma.

It can also be confusing that CBD flower and marijuana contain CBD and THC in varying amounts.

The differences between CBD flower and marijuana are significant but hard to spot. The main difference is the THC content, and CBD flower contains less than 0.3% THC, whereas marijuana can have more than 30% THC. Because of this, CBD flower will not produce the same intoxicating effect as marijuana, and CBD is non-intoxicating, while THC has psychoactive effects.

Another difference between CBD flower and marijuana is that CBD or hemp is legal in all 50 United States due to the 2018 Farm Bill. However, it is still common for marijuana to be illegal or prohibited. As mentioned above, this means there are different amounts of risk associated with buying CBD flower or marijuana depending on where you live.

Telling the difference between CBD flower and weed is difficult if you have an untrained eye. With experience, people can notice differences in the smell and appearance of the flower to help determine whether it is CBD or weed.

However being able to identify the difference is essential no matter how experienced you are, so here are some tips.

Hemp plants grow tall and thin compared to marijuana plants, which are shorter and bushier in appearance. Marijuana plants also produce more flowers in dense bunches, whereas hemp flowers are more sparse.

However, there have already been several cases in which users end up buying something different from what they wanted due to the similarity between these two types of flowers. Even worse, many CBD users have had their flower confiscated just because it resembles weed, which is still illegal on a federal level. How can we differentiate CBD flower from weed? Read on to avoid confusion in the future.

CBD flower, also known as hemp flower, is a soothing variety of the cannabis sativa plant that contains high levels of Cannabidiol and low THC concentrations (less than 0.3%).

For centuries, the cannabis plant has given us the opportunity to transform all of its parts into different resources. We can use its fiber to create textiles and rope; its leave make a perfect tea, and its seeds are nutritious and rich in protein, making for a great granola breakfast to stay healthy.

Thanks to the 2018 Farm Bill, hemp is now legally grown, processed, sold, and consumed in all 50 states in the U.S. This step forward has opened the door to a whole new world of possibilities, where people can access the benefits of CBD easier than ever before.

Because CBD and hemp are interchangeable terms, many believe that these two are completely different plants. However, the truth is that both hemp, the main source of CBD, and marijuana are the same cannabis sativa L. species. The only difference between them is the dominant cannabinoid they have: hemp plants contain more CBD, while marijuana plants develop higher levels of THC.

To avoid any confusion, the best way to tell CBD flower from weed is to refer to the high-CBD one as hemp and the THC-rich strains as marijuana or weed. This way, we’re not referring to a difference in terms of plant species but a difference in cannabinoid concentration. Next time someone asks you if you want to smoke marijuana, you’ll instantly know they are talking about THC-rich buds.

While the easiest way to tell these two types of cannabis flower apart is by smoking and waiting for their effects to appear, it’s better to avoid any unwanted situations. CBD flower won’t give you a high, making it safe for those who have a low THC tolerance. Still, a few more indicators can help you recognize hemp flower next time you visit your nearest dispensary or try to buy it online.

Nobody can resist a beautiful, sparkly trichome coat, right? These tiny particles make your nugs shinier, resinous, and deliver a great amount of kief.

Curiously enough, THC flower contains more trichome formations than CBD. The reason behind this slightly unfortunate news is that THC has been around for quite some time, giving breeders and growers a headstart to grow precious cannabis nugs with a high resin content. On the contrary, hemp has only started to impact the market, making its buds a bit less developed and shiny.

Most quality CBD flowers have a glowing green color with some darker hues going on here and there. While color isn’t an easy indicator that can help you tell CBD flower from weed, it can certainly help you choose your buds wisely. Avoid buying nugs that look brown, red, or yellow.

The beautiful hairs that run all over your tantalizing bud are pistils. These tiny hairs have amazing orange, purple, or white colors that indicate the quality of your bud. Again, this isn’t a great difference between CBD flower and weed, as both types develop these pistils. Still, it’s a nice indicator that your hemp is top-quality.

When you’re unsure about the product you have in your hands, it’s better to contact directly with the manufacturer. More often than not, vendors sell cannabis products that don’t align with the stated on the label, putting your life at risk.

At a dispensary, the budtender should give you all the information about the manufacturer of your CBD flower and the details of the product itself. If you can’t obtain that information, it’s better to stay away from it.

The best way to tell CBD flower from weed is to check the label and read the cannabinoid concentrations your flower has. Remember that CBD flower must have less than 0.3% THC to be considered legal; this is especially important if you live in a state where THC isn’t legal yet.

To better understand what your flower’s label should look like, go to our hemp flower labeling requirements article to learn more.

Another great way to check what are the exact components in your CBD flower is to check the lab test that the manufacturer of your product should have. Any reliable cannabis company must have a Certificate of Analysis, in which you can find the exact cannabinoid count and terpene content of your product. A third party should run these lab tests, and you should be able to find them on the manufacturer’s website or the product label under a QR code.

Trying CBD flower for the first time must be scary, especially if you’re new to the cannabis world. Fortunately, we like to guide people through their journey with amazing products that push away the misconception society has around hemp.

Hemp buds are defined as Cannabis sativa nugs containing less than 0.3% delta-9 THC. Aside from that one restriction, hemp buds can contain any natural cannabinoid, and they often look, smell, and taste identical to marijuana.

The only primary difference between a hemp bud and a marijuana bud is the effects you experience when you smoke it. Of course, marijuana is also a Schedule I substance while hemp flower is usually defined as “industrial hemp” under the 2018 Farm Bill. Otherwise, hemp and marijuana are essentially identical.

Yes the substances classified as “hemp” and “marijuana” come from the same plant: Cannabis sativa. The only significant difference between hemp and marijuana is regulatory, not biological. Depending on which cannabinoids a cannabis plant has been bred to express, it can either be a federally legal or illegal substance.

Yes, hemp plants have buds just like any other type of cannabis. It is often stated incorrectly that hemp is the male cannabis plant and marijuana is the female plant. The truth is, however, that both hemp and cannabis can be either male or female. In both variations of cannabis, the female plant bears buds while the male plant serves as a pollinator.

In terms of appearance, hemp buds look exactly like cannabis buds. It has been incorrectly claimed that you can tell the difference between hemp and marijuana based on certain visible characteristics. This is simply not so— both hemp and marijuana can express a wide variety of different visual characteristics that are due to their genetic lineage, not the cannabinoid they contain.

Hemp buds smell exactly like marijuana—dank, fruity, and a little bit earthy. Based on aroma alone, it is impossible to distinguish hemp from marijuana.

Having a sample tested at a lab is the only way to make sure cannabis buds contain CBD instead of THC. It is not possible to tell hemp and marijuana apart based on aroma or appearance. If you don’t want to smoke them to find out for yourself, send your mystery buds in for testing.

Use one of the following three methods to definitively determine if the cannabis buds in your possession are legal hemp or illegal marijuana:

By far, the easiest way to identify hemp flower is to simply ask the manufacturer which cannabinoids your buds contain. In fact, it should never come to that— trustworthy hemp flower producers provide comprehensive labeling that tells you the exact concentrations of each cannabinoid present in their products. If this labeling is not present or unclear, contact customer service as your first step.

If the product’s label does not have the information you’re looking for, head online to check its lab test. Reputable hemp flower manufacturers provide lab tests for each batch of product they produce, and these detailed data sheets list out information on cannabinoid concentrations, terpene profiles, and contaminant screens.

If all else fails, there are dozens of analytical labs now present online that have emerged to service the growing cannabis industry. The price to have your buds tested will likely be many more times the amount you paid for them, but lab chromatography is the only way to be sure which cannabinoids your nugs contain without actually smoking them.

During the early days of the CBD flower revolution, there was significant concern over the general difficulty of distinguishing non-intoxicating hemp flower from intoxicating marijuana. Law enforcement officers around the country reported coming across people who seemed to be in possession of marijuana but insisted it was hemp instead.

At first, cops arrested individuals even when they produced lab tests proving the cannabis in their possession was industrial hemp. As more and more cases were thrown out of court after lab tests were ordered, however, a sea change in cannabis policing began occurring around the country.

Nowadays, THC-rich cannabis is legal in more than a third of US states. In these states, law enforcement no longer busts people for smelling like weed or having a small amount of cannabis in their possession. Even in places where recreational cannabis is not yet legal, there’s a general perception that weed is simply not worth arresting someone.

As a result, learning to tell the difference between hemp and marijuana has become more of an academic rather than a practical exercise. In the unlikely event that you’re mistakenly arrested for marijuana possession even though the buds in your possession are hemp, simply commissioning lab tests will put your name in the clear and further prove the uselessness of prosecuting cannabis-related offenses.

To finish up, we’ll answer some of the most common questions related to identifying hemp buds:

The term “hemp” refers to any product made with hemp or to the hemp plant itself. The term “CBD,” however, refers specifically to the hemp-derived cannabinoid cannabidiol.

Despite being found in the hemp plant, CBD is not synonymous with hemp. This plant contains a wide variety of cannabinoids aside from CBD, after all, along with a whole host of additional compounds like terpenes, flavonoids, waxes, and chlorophyll. What’s more, “hemp” can refer to any part of the hemp plant, including its fibers and seeds, which can be used to make consumer products as varied as T-shirts, soap, and printer paper.

When it comes to making products, hemp is one of the most versatile plants in the world. Its fibers can be used to make everything from paper to textiles, and its oils can be used to produce cannabinoid rich extracts or extracts that don’t contain any cannabinoids at all.

It’s even possible to use the whole hemp plants to make fuels, rubber, and a whole host of other products not generally associated with the plant most widely known for containing THC. Overall, hemp is one of the most underutilized crops in the world, and we can only hope that the 21st century sees a resurgence of hemp to its natural place in the plant-fiber pantheon.

The primary reason that hemp remains underutilized is anti-cannabis legislation. Starting in the 1930s, racist and repressive policies disincentivized hemp production and associated the inert components of the plant with psychoactive THC. This mistaken mislabeling of hemp as a dangerous substance only worsened with the passage of the 1971 Controlled Substances Act.

Due to compounding layers of unjust legislation, hemp production in the United States reached a near-standstill for more than four decades. In the meantime, foreign countries attained a monopoly on hemp production and often exported low-quality hemp to the United States. With the passage of the 2014 Farm Bill, the domestic hemp situation took a turn in the right direction, and the 2018 Farm Bill officially reinstated hemp as a viable crop for farmers to grow in the United States.

Thanks to the 2018 Farm Bill, hemp is no longer illegal in the United States. As long as they contain less than 0.3% THC, hemp products are now considered to be industrial hemp, not marijuana. As a result, domestic hemp production has boomed, and consumers have once again gained access to the affordable and plentiful products that can be made with this highly versatile plant.

There are no inherent differences in appearance between hemp plants and marijuana plants. Hemp is often grown outdoors, leading to a taller and lankier appearance than indoor-grown cannabis. Both hemp and marijuana come from the same plant, though—Cannabis sativa—so any visible differences are due to cultivation, not genetics.

Hemp plants grow from their seeds into fibrous, woody stalks. To identify the hemp plant, look for tall stalks (up to 10 ft) with branches emerging from distinct joints. Branches will not extend very far from the plant itself, which tends to grow vertically rather than spreading out horizontally.