This week, Proposition 1 was passed in Made by Hemp’s home state of Michigan. By voting in this legislation, citizens have legalized the personal possession, cultivation, and sale of marijuana for residents 21 years and older. This is a victory for medical and recreational marijuana consumers—and for CBD consumers as well.
A Vote for Marijuana is a Vote for Hemp
2019 UPDATE:
The 2018 Farm Bill has passed, which officially separates hemp from marijuana and clarifies hemp’s federal legality across the U.S.!
In legislation, marijuana and hemp used to be lumped together as one. Of course, we know the hemp and marijuana plants differ. The good news is with the legalization of marijuana comes the legalization of hemp. That means industrial hemp is now legal for cultivation in Michigan.
Although hemp-derived products were legal in Michigan pre-Proposition 1, growing the hemp plant in Michigan was not. Confusing, yes, but this has now changed with the legalization of marijuana.
Farmers can now grow hemp in Michigan, which opens a new market for the state. As farmers introduce the plant into their rotation, we expect to see the growth of an industry in Michigan. This can mean new jobs and more revenue for the state.
In addition, the legalization of industrial hemp presents new opportunities for research. Michigan-sourced hemp can be used by government institutions and universities for testing. In the next few years, we hope to see new studies arise in our home state regarding the therapeutic uses of CBD.
Legalization helps to reduce the stigma of cannabis. As marijuana use becomes normalized, more will recognize the benefits of consumption. This, in turn, will encourage more researchers to back anecdotes with scientific fact.
Industrial Hemp vs. Marijuana: Which Should I Choose?
You may be thinking: with the legalization of marijuana in Michigan, why should I consider consuming hemp products? It’s true: CBD oil can be derived from both hemp and marijuana. Marijuana-derived CBD oil may be suitable for some; however, others may still require the hemp alternative.
The main difference between CBD oil from hemp and marijuana is in the levels of THC, which is the intoxicating compound of the cannabis plant. CBD oil derived from marijuana usually contains high enough levels of THC to get a consumer high. For some, that is acceptable—even welcomed—but for others, it is simply not an option.
Perhaps you need to operate machinery (such as your car) or you live with children. Maybe you don’t like the feeling of being high or don’t want to experience the side effects of THC. It is also possible your employer drug tests. (An important reminder: employers can still drug test for marijuana even though it is legal.) All these situations (and more) require an alternative to high-THC CBD oils.
CBD in itself is non-intoxicating and, when derived from hemp, CBD oil contains low levels of THC (we’re talking less than 0.3%.) Consuming any amount of hemp-derived CBD oil will not get you high. Additionally, there are few recorded side effects of hemp-derived CBD oil. For these reasons, CBD oil from hemp is a suitable (and oftentimes necessary) alternative to its marijuana counterpart.
Legalization for CBD Consumers
Although CBD is already legal in the United States, legalizing all forms of cannabis proves beneficial for CBD consumers. While Made by Hemp does not have current plans to sell marijuana-derived products, we do support the cannabis industry as a whole. We’d like to remind our customers to review the new legislation and to consume responsibly.
Do you have any additional questions regarding Proposition 1 and hemp? Leave a comment below!
