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The many names for CBD
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CBD weed, CBD herb, light cannabis, therapeutic cannabis*, 420 Herb, etc… : It's not easy to navigate this veritable jungle of terms used to talk about CBD. While some terms may emphasize one aspect of CBD, others unfortunately often introduce confusion in the minds of the general public.
Before reviewing the main terms used, a quick reminder of the differences between 3 important concepts to properly approach our article.
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* French law prohibits the sale of CBD flowers under the label "therapeutic cannabis". Our products are not medicines.
THC, Hemp, Cannabis: A Reminder
- Hemp and cannabis belong to the same species: Cannabis Sativa L.
- Generally, varieties with low THC levels (less than 0.3% THC) are referred to as hemp.
- Cannabis refers to varieties with high THC levels (between 5% and 30%).
- THC, or tetrahydrocannabinol, is the psychoactive molecule that produces the feeling of being high or stoned. Therefore, cannabis* is considered a drug: it can be used for therapeutic or recreational usa.
- In the European Union, the permitted THC limit is set at less than 0.2%. CBD is therefore different from THC. It is extracted from hemp, the legal variety of Cannabis Sativa L.
- * THC is a prohibited substance in France (if the level exceeds 0.2%).
CBD Weed
"Weed" is an English term meaning "weed/wild herb" (examples: dandelion or couch grass). In slang, it sometimes refers to tobacco, and often to cannabis (the drug). The expression "CBD weed" would be an additional/complementary term for CBD flowers.
Cannabis light
Cannabis light: This term, often used in the press, refers to the main difference between cannabis and regular cannabis, namely a low THC content (the molecule that produces a high). This reference to cannabis is misleading because CBD (cannabidiol) is not addictive and does not produce a high1]
Legal cannabis
Again, the press uses this term quite frequently when talking about CBD. This name refers to the fact that CBD is legal in the EU due to its low THC concentration.
However, referring to CBD as legal cannabis is misleading, because firstly, it does not have the THC content of cannabis, and secondly, true cannabis (THC between 5% and 30%) is legal in some parts of the world [2] (particularly Canada and the western USA). This "legal" cannabis refers to cannabis, not CBD.
Medical cannabis
Medical cannabis: With this term, the same observation applies as above regarding the expression "legal cannabis." We don't know if we're talking about CBD (THC less than 0.2% in Europe and >1% in Switzerland) or the cannabis found in Amsterdam coffee shops. It lumps together a product classified as a (soft) drug and CBD, a product not classified as a non-narcotic [3]. This term excludes only cannabis for usa(the pleasure of getting high).
CBD Cannabis
CBD cannabis: For some, this term seems to specify that it refers to the CBD variety of the cannabis plant. For others, this expression juxtaposes two opposing terms: one is legal and the other is classified as a drug (high).
Sources
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- [2]
- [3]
