Legal Hemp Contains Very Little THC

Legal Hemp Contains Very Little THC

Hemp is legally defined—especially in the United States—as Cannabis sativa with no more than 0.3% Delta-9 THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) by dry weight.

That threshold is important because THC is the compound responsible for the psychoactive effects of marijuana. Hemp, by contrast, does not produce a "high" and is considered non-intoxicating.

This legal distinction allows hemp to be:

• Grown for industrial uses like fiber and building materials.
• Used in food products like hemp seeds and oil.
• Extracted for CBD (cannabidiol) and other non-psychoactive cannabinoids in wellness products.

To comply with the law, hemp crops must be tested before harvest, and if the THC content exceeds 0.3%, the plants are typically considered non-compliant and must be destroyed or remediated.

This tight regulation ensures that legal hemp remains safe, non-intoxicating, and distinct from marijuana under both state and federal law.