As per 1985 Act of Narcotics Cannabis and hemp are one and the same thing. Cannabis (hemp) plant is defined in the Indian law as “Cannabis plant” means any plant of the genus Cannabis. That means All strains of Cannabis (Sativa, Indica, Rudralis, OR any Natural or Artificial hybrid cannabis plant) are treated as one plant Cannabis (hemp).

The Usage of Cannabis Plant differentiates the Purpose. 1985 Narcotics act states legalizes usage of cannabis in two forms with permission from Law making agencies.

1. Medicinal & scientific purpose (Only Extract and Tinctures) BUT no raisin. This is referred as Cannabis for medicinal usage.
2. Industrial usage (permits Seed, fiber and horticulture) BUT nothing else. This is referred as Cannabis for industrial usage.

Indian State governments have just now started formulating laws as per the Authority given to States in the Act. As the Industry is evolving state laws are getting better and more clarity is visible day by day.

Hemp is defined in the USA legislation as the cannabis plant (yes, the same one that produces marijuana) with one key difference: hemp cannot contain more than 0.3 percent of THC (the compound in the plant most commonly associated with getting a person high). In short, hemp can’t get you high. For decades, federal law did not differentiate hemp from other cannabis plants,

Since all species of Cannabis (Sativa, Indica, Rudralis) contain a Chemical referred as intoxicating compound THC , Federal govt. of USA refused to allow the usage of these three species freely. They did it intentionally to avoid the misuse. But vested interested people found out a loophole into the system, they now have mustered the art of playing with Genes of the cells. That’s what they did, they artificially grew such plants which inhibit the growth of this particular chemical called THC. They claim the process used by them is Hybridization , But vast section of the scientists believe that this requires genetic alteration and present day new varieties are all Genetically modified verities .

Now the Federal law of USA has no objection, since this particular chemical is absent in new plants. USA Federal law currently defines this new plant having less than .03 % of THC is referred as Hemp by USA and other associated developed countries. BUT any extract out of this hemp is just used as a food supplement. It is not termed as medicine at all.

Medical cannabis is actually derived from Extract or Tinctures from the Primary Strains like Sativa or Indica. That means THC presence in a limited quantity from the extract of Cannabis is termed as medical cannabis.