The marijuana products you find in a dispensary are generally made from marijuana plants that have been genetically cross-bred from different strains and is grown very carefully in elaborate climate-controlled indoor environments. These strains are optimized over generations to produce HIGH THC-containing trichomes on the plant’s buds.

Unlike marijuana, hemp is relatively easy to grow outdoors in a range of climates. Hemp stalks can grow up to four meters tall, and because they are very resistant to pests they do not require pesticides to thrive. These stalks are generally much skinnier and taller than marijuana plants. Additionally, hemp leaves are thinner and less densely clustered than the leaves of a marijuana plant.